Cooking Conversion Calculator
Convert between cooking volume units, translate ingredient weights to volumes, and convert oven temperatures. Select a conversion mode below.
Convert between teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, fluid ounces, milliliters, liters, pints, quarts, and gallons.
Convert between weight and volume for common cooking ingredients. Different ingredients have different densities, so 1 cup of flour does not weigh the same as 1 cup of sugar.
Convert oven and cooking temperatures between Fahrenheit and Celsius. Click a common preset or enter your own value.
Quick-Reference: Volume Conversions
Common cooking volume equivalents at a glance.
| Measurement | Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Fluid Oz | Cups | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 1 | 0.333 | 0.167 | 0.021 | 4.93 |
| 1 tablespoon | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.063 | 14.79 |
| 1 fluid ounce | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0.125 | 29.57 |
| 1/4 cup | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0.25 | 59.15 |
| 1/3 cup | 16 | 5.333 | 2.667 | 0.333 | 78.86 |
| 1/2 cup | 24 | 8 | 4 | 0.5 | 118.29 |
| 1 cup | 48 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 236.59 |
| 1 pint | 96 | 32 | 16 | 2 | 473.18 |
| 1 quart | 192 | 64 | 32 | 4 | 946.35 |
| 1 gallon | 768 | 256 | 128 | 16 | 3785.41 |
Ingredient Density Reference
Weight per 1 US cup for common baking and cooking ingredients. Use these values to convert between volume and weight in recipes.
| Ingredient | Grams per Cup | Ounces per Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose Flour | 125 | 4.4 | Spooned and leveled |
| Bread Flour | 130 | 4.6 | Spooned and leveled |
| Cake Flour | 114 | 4.0 | Spooned and leveled |
| Whole Wheat Flour | 128 | 4.5 | Spooned and leveled |
| Granulated Sugar | 200 | 7.1 | -- |
| Brown Sugar (packed) | 220 | 7.8 | Firmly packed |
| Powdered Sugar | 120 | 4.2 | Unsifted |
| Butter | 227 | 8.0 | 2 sticks = 1 cup |
| Cooking Oil | 218 | 7.7 | Vegetable, canola, etc. |
| Milk (whole) | 244 | 8.6 | -- |
| Water | 237 | 8.4 | At room temperature |
| Honey | 340 | 12.0 | -- |
| Heavy Cream | 238 | 8.4 | -- |
| Cream Cheese | 232 | 8.2 | -- |
| Cocoa Powder | 86 | 3.0 | Unsweetened |
| Rolled Oats | 90 | 3.2 | Old-fashioned |
| White Rice (uncooked) | 185 | 6.5 | Long grain |
| Table Salt | 288 | 10.2 | Fine grain |
| Baking Powder | 230 | 8.1 | -- |
| Cornstarch | 128 | 4.5 | -- |
Common Oven Temperature Reference
Standard oven temperature equivalents between Fahrenheit, Celsius, and gas marks.
| Description | Fahrenheit | Celsius | Gas Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Low / Warming | 250 | 121 | 1/2 |
| Low | 275 | 135 | 1 |
| Low | 300 | 149 | 2 |
| Moderate Low | 325 | 163 | 3 |
| Moderate | 350 | 177 | 4 |
| Moderate High | 375 | 191 | 5 |
| Hot | 400 | 204 | 6 |
| Hot | 425 | 218 | 7 |
| Very Hot | 450 | 232 | 8 |
| Very Hot | 475 | 246 | 9 |
| Broil / Extremely Hot | 500 | 260 | 10 |
US vs Metric Cooking Measurements
US recipes predominantly use volume measurements -- cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons -- while most of the world uses metric weight measurements (grams and milliliters). Understanding the differences is important when converting recipes across systems.
Why weight is more accurate than volume
Volume measurements are convenient but imprecise. How tightly you pack flour into a cup, whether you sift it first, or even the humidity in the air can change how much flour ends up in your cup by 20% or more. A cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 110 to 150 grams depending on technique.
Weight measurements eliminate this variability. 125 grams of flour is always 125 grams of flour, regardless of how you scoop it. This is why professional bakers and most international recipes use grams.
Key differences to know
- US cup = 236.59 ml -- This is slightly different from a metric cup (250 ml) used in Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries.
- US tablespoon = 14.79 ml -- An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (4 teaspoons instead of 3).
- US fluid ounce = 29.57 ml -- A UK (Imperial) fluid ounce is 28.41 ml.
- US pint = 473 ml (16 fl oz) -- A UK pint is 568 ml (20 fl oz). This is a common source of confusion in beer and recipe contexts.
Tips for accurate measuring
- For flour: Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level off with a straight edge. Never scoop directly from the bag or pack it down.
- For brown sugar: Pack it firmly into the cup so it holds its shape when turned out.
- For liquids: Use a liquid measuring cup (glass or plastic with a spout) placed on a flat surface. Read at eye level.
- For butter: Use the markings on the wrapper (each US stick is 1/2 cup = 113 g = 8 tbsp).
- Best practice: If possible, use a kitchen scale for dry ingredients. A basic digital scale costs under $15 and dramatically improves baking consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is equivalent to 48 teaspoons or approximately 236.6 milliliters. For quick reference: 1/4 cup = 4 tbsp, 1/3 cup = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp, 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp.
How do I convert cups of flour to grams?
1 US cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 125 grams (4.4 oz) when properly measured (spooned and leveled). This differs from other ingredients because density varies -- 1 cup of granulated sugar weighs about 200 grams, and 1 cup of butter weighs about 227 grams. Use the ingredient weight converter above or the density reference table to look up specific ingredients.
What is the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces?
Fluid ounces (fl oz) measure volume, while ounces (oz) measure weight. 1 fluid ounce of water weighs approximately 1 ounce, but this relationship does not hold for other ingredients. For example, 1 fluid ounce of honey weighs about 1.5 ounces due to its higher density, while 1 fluid ounce of flour weighs only about 0.55 ounces.
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius?
Subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9. For example: 350F = (350 - 32) x 5/9 = 177C. For a rough estimate, subtract 30 and divide by 2. The most common baking temperature is 350F / 177C (Gas Mark 4).
Why do US and metric recipes give different results?
US recipes use volume measurements (cups, tablespoons) while metric recipes use weight (grams). Volume is less precise because the same volume of different ingredients can have very different weights. Professional bakers generally prefer weight measurements for consistency. When converting, always account for ingredient density rather than assuming volume equals weight.
What is a "stick" of butter?
In the US, butter is sold in sticks. One stick = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 ounces = 113 grams. A standard US package contains 4 sticks (1 pound / 454 grams / 2 cups total).
Is an Australian tablespoon different from a US tablespoon?
Yes. A US tablespoon is approximately 14.79 ml (3 teaspoons), while an Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (4 teaspoons). When using Australian recipes, you may need to adjust tablespoon quantities. Teaspoons are the same size (5 ml) in both systems.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and nothing is stored.
Related Tools
- Cooking Measurement Converter -- simple volume unit conversion for recipes
- Liquid Measurement Converter -- convert between liquid volume units
- Ounces to Grams Converter -- quick weight conversion
- Temperature Converter -- convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin
- Weight & Mass Converter -- convert between metric and imperial weight units
Privacy
This calculator runs entirely in your browser. No ingredient data, measurements, or conversion results are transmitted or stored anywhere. All computations happen client-side using JavaScript.
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Cooking Conversion Calculator FAQ
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is equivalent to 48 teaspoons or approximately 236.6 milliliters.
How do I convert cups of flour to grams?
1 US cup of all-purpose flour weighs approximately 125 grams (4.4 oz). This differs from other ingredients because density varies -- 1 cup of granulated sugar weighs about 200 grams, and 1 cup of butter weighs about 227 grams.
What is the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces in cooking?
Fluid ounces (fl oz) measure volume, while ounces (oz) measure weight. 1 fluid ounce of water weighs approximately 1 ounce, but this relationship does not hold for other ingredients. For example, 1 fluid ounce of honey weighs about 1.5 ounces due to its higher density.
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius for oven temperatures?
To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9. For example, 350F = (350 - 32) x 5/9 = 177C. Common oven temperatures: 325F = 163C, 350F = 177C, 375F = 191C, 400F = 204C, 425F = 218C, 450F = 232C.
Why do US and metric recipes give different results?
US recipes typically use volume measurements (cups, tablespoons), while metric recipes use weight (grams). Weight is more precise because the same volume of different ingredients can have very different weights. Professional bakers generally prefer weight measurements for consistency.
Does this calculator store my data?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, and nothing is stored.