Cooking Measurement Conversions: The Complete Guide
If you've ever tried to follow a recipe from a different country, you've likely run into the frustration of unfamiliar measurements. American recipes use cups and tablespoons, while British and European recipes use grams and milliliters. This guide covers everything you need to convert between cooking measurement systems confidently.
US Volume Measurements
The US customary system for cooking uses cups as its primary unit, broken down into tablespoons and teaspoons for smaller amounts. Here's how they relate to each other:
| Unit | Equivalent | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | — | 4.93 ml |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 3 teaspoons | 14.79 ml |
| ⅛ cup | 2 tablespoons | 29.57 ml |
| ¼ cup | 4 tablespoons | 59.15 ml |
| ⅓ cup | 5⅓ tablespoons | 78.86 ml |
| ½ cup | 8 tablespoons | 118.29 ml |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 236.59 ml |
| 1 pint | 2 cups | 473.18 ml |
| 1 quart | 4 cups | 946.35 ml |
| 1 gallon | 16 cups | 3,785 ml |
Cups to Milliliters — Quick Reference
This is the most common conversion cooks need when switching between American and metric recipes:
| Cups | Milliliters | Fluid Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 60 ml | 2 fl oz |
| ⅓ cup | 80 ml | 2.7 fl oz |
| ½ cup | 120 ml | 4 fl oz |
| ¾ cup | 180 ml | 6 fl oz |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | 8 fl oz |
| 1½ cups | 360 ml | 12 fl oz |
| 2 cups | 480 ml | 16 fl oz |
| 4 cups | 960 ml | 32 fl oz |
Quick tip: 1 cup is approximately 240ml for most cooking purposes, though the precise measurement is 236.59ml. For baking, use the precise figure.
Weight Conversions for Cooking
Many professional and international recipes use weight measurements rather than volume, which is actually more accurate — especially for baking. Here are the most common weight conversions:
| Grams | Ounces | Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| 28g | 1 oz | 0.06 lb |
| 100g | 3.5 oz | 0.22 lb |
| 250g | 8.8 oz | 0.55 lb |
| 500g | 17.6 oz | 1.1 lb |
| 1 kg | 35.3 oz | 2.2 lb |
Common Ingredient Weight vs Volume
One cup of different ingredients weighs completely different amounts depending on density. Here are common baking ingredients and how much one cup weighs:
| Ingredient | 1 Cup Weight |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 120–125g (4.25 oz) |
| Bread flour | 130g (4.6 oz) |
| Granulated sugar | 200g (7 oz) |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 220g (7.75 oz) |
| Powdered sugar | 120g (4.25 oz) |
| Butter | 227g (8 oz / 2 sticks) |
| Honey | 340g (12 oz) |
| Water / milk | 240g (8.5 oz) |
| Rolled oats | 90g (3.2 oz) |
| Rice (uncooked) | 185g (6.5 oz) |
Australian and UK Tablespoon Difference
One important note for international cooks: the Australian tablespoon is 20ml (4 teaspoons), while the US and UK tablespoon is 15ml (3 teaspoons). If you're following an Australian recipe, keep this in mind — it can make a meaningful difference in savory dishes and baking.
Tips for Accurate Measuring
- Dry ingredients: Spoon into the measuring cup and level off with a straight edge. Don't scoop directly from the bag, which compacts the ingredient and can add 20% more than intended.
- Liquid ingredients: Use a clear liquid measuring cup and check at eye level.
- Brown sugar: Pack it firmly into the cup unless the recipe specifies otherwise.
- Butter: Most US butter wrappers have tablespoon markings — use them.
- For precision baking: Use a kitchen scale. Weight measurements are always more accurate than volume.
Need to convert a specific measurement right now?
Use the Free Measurement Converter →