Cooking Unit Converter
Instantly convert cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, ml, ounces, grams, Fahrenheit, and Celsius for any recipe.
🍳 What is a Cooking Unit Converter?
A cooking unit converter translates measurements between the volume, weight, and temperature units used in recipes from different culinary traditions. A recipe from a US cookbook might call for 2 cups of flour; a British recipe might use grams; a French recipe might specify millilitres. Converting accurately between these systems is essential for recipe success, especially in baking where precise measurements make the difference between a perfect cake and a dense brick.
Volume measurements vary significantly between countries. The US cup (236.6 ml) differs from the Australian and Canadian metric cup (250 ml) - a difference of about 5.7% that can affect baked goods. The UK tablespoon (15 ml) matches the metric tablespoon, while the US tablespoon is slightly smaller (14.787 ml). Pints are dramatically different: the US pint is 473 ml, while the UK imperial pint is 568 ml - 20% larger. When adapting recipes across borders, these distinctions matter.
Temperature conversion is particularly important for oven settings. Most US recipes give temperatures in Fahrenheit; most European recipes use Celsius; UK recipes often use Gas marks. A 350°F oven is 177°C or Gas mark 4 - the standard "moderate" baking temperature. For fan-forced (convection) ovens, subtract 20°C or 25°F from the stated temperature, as forced air circulation distributes heat more efficiently.
This converter handles all three domains: volume (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, ml, litres, fluid ounces, pints, quarts, gallons), weight (grams, kilograms, ounces, pounds), and temperature (Fahrenheit, Celsius, Gas mark). Use the tabs to switch between conversion types.
📐 Key Conversion Factors
📖 How to Use This Calculator
Steps
💡 Example Conversions
Example 1 — Cups to Millilitres (Volume)
A US recipe calls for 2½ cups of milk. How many ml is that?
Example 2 — Ounces to Grams (Weight)
A recipe needs 6 oz of dark chocolate. What is that in grams?
Example 3 — Fahrenheit to Celsius (Temperature)
A US recipe says bake at 375°F. What Celsius setting should you use?
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔗 Related Calculators
How many millilitres are in one cup?
1 US legal cup = 240 ml. 1 US customary cup = 236.588 ml (often rounded to 236.6 ml or simply 237 ml). The metric cup used in Australia and Canada = 250 ml. Most US recipes use the customary cup (≈237 ml), while Australian recipes use 250 ml - this difference can matter in baking. This calculator uses the US customary cup (236.6 ml) by default.
How do I convert tablespoons to millilitres?
1 US tablespoon = 14.787 ml (about 15 ml for practical purposes). 1 UK/Australian tablespoon = 15 ml exactly. 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. 16 tablespoons = 1 cup. So 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup ≈ 59.1 ml. For recipes, rounding to 15 ml per tablespoon introduces less than 1.5% error, which is acceptable for most cooking but may affect delicate baking recipes.
How do I convert ounces to grams in cooking?
1 fluid ounce (volume) = 29.574 ml. 1 troy ounce (weight) = 31.1 g. 1 avoirdupois ounce (the standard cooking weight) = 28.35 g. 16 oz = 1 pound = 453.6 g. So: 4 oz ≈ 113 g; 8 oz ≈ 227 g; 12 oz ≈ 340 g. Note that fluid ounces measure volume, not weight - 1 fl oz of water = 28.35 g, but 1 fl oz of honey weighs about 42 g due to higher density.
How do I convert Fahrenheit to Celsius for oven temperatures?
Formula: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. Common oven conversions: 325°F = 163°C (moderate/Gas 3); 350°F = 177°C (moderate/Gas 4); 375°F = 190°C (moderate-hot/Gas 5); 400°F = 204°C (hot/Gas 6); 425°F = 218°C (hot/Gas 7); 450°F = 232°C (very hot/Gas 8). For fan-forced (convection) ovens, reduce the temperature by 20°C (or 25°F).
What is a gas mark and how does it convert to Celsius or Fahrenheit?
Gas mark is a UK oven temperature scale. Gas mark 1 ≈ 140°C / 275°F (very cool). Gas mark 4 ≈ 180°C / 350°F (moderate). Gas mark 6 ≈ 200°C / 400°F (hot). Gas mark 9 ≈ 240°C / 475°F (very hot). Most modern gas mark scales run from 1 to 9. If you have a UK recipe with a Gas mark, use this converter to find the equivalent Celsius or Fahrenheit temperature.
How do I convert cups of flour to grams?
The weight of 1 cup depends on the ingredient and how it is measured. All-purpose flour (spooned and levelled): 1 cup ≈ 125 g. Bread flour: 1 cup ≈ 130 g. Cake flour: 1 cup ≈ 100 g. Self-raising flour: 1 cup ≈ 125 g. Note: scooping flour directly from the bag compacts it, giving up to 150–160 g per cup - this is a major source of baking failures. Always spoon flour into the cup and level off.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon, universally in US, UK, and metric systems. 48 teaspoons = 1 cup. 1 teaspoon = 5 ml (metric standard). These are among the most consistent conversions in cooking. However, a 'dessertspoon' (used in UK/AU) = 2 teaspoons = 10 ml - not a standard US measure, so watch for it in older British recipes.
What is the difference between a dry cup and a liquid cup?
In the US measurement system, 1 dry cup and 1 liquid cup are both 236.6 ml - the volume is the same. The difference is practical: liquid measuring cups have a pour spout and markings up to the top for easy filling; dry measuring cups are meant to be overfilled and levelled off. Using a liquid measuring cup for dry ingredients (or vice versa) can introduce errors, especially for sticky or light ingredients.
How do I convert a recipe from US measurements to metric?
Key conversions: 1 cup → 237 ml or 240 ml; 1 tablespoon → 15 ml; 1 teaspoon → 5 ml; 1 oz → 28 g; 1 lb → 454 g; 350°F → 180°C. For serious baking, convert by weight (grams) rather than volume (ml) - it is more accurate and consistent. Most professional recipes use weight. A kitchen scale removes all ambiguity from ingredient measurement.
How many cups are in a pint, quart, and gallon?
US: 1 pint = 2 cups = 473 ml; 1 quart = 4 cups = 946 ml; 1 gallon = 16 cups = 3.785 litres. UK (imperial): 1 UK pint = 2.4 US cups = 568 ml (20 fl oz) - noticeably larger than the US pint. When using a British recipe that calls for pints, use the UK conversion (568 ml), not the US (473 ml). This is a common source of error in international recipe conversions.