If you’ve ever tried to follow a recipe only to find it uses cups when you need grams, or millilitres when you have tablespoons, you know the frustration. Recipes from different countries use different measurement systems — and getting them wrong can ruin a dish.
This kitchen conversion guide covers every common cooking measurement conversion you’ll need: volume, weight, temperature, and spoon sizes. Bookmark it, print it, or keep it open while you cook.
The Two Measurement Systems in Cooking
| System | Used In | Volume Units | Weight Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric (grams, ml) | Europe, Asia, Australia, most of the world | Millilitres (ml), litres (L) | Grams (g), kilograms (kg) |
| Imperial / US Customary | US, UK (partially) | Cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces | Ounces (oz), pounds (lb) |
Key difference: In the US, a cup is 236.6 ml. In the UK (now mostly metric), an imperial cup is 284 ml. Stick to US standard for American recipes, metric for everything else.
Cups to Grams Conversion
This is the most searched kitchen conversion — and the trickiest, because the weight of a cup depends entirely on what you’re measuring. A cup of flour weighs very differently from a cup of sugar.
Dry Ingredients: Cups to Grams
| Ingredient | 1 Cup | 3/4 Cup | 1/2 Cup | 1/4 Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 125g | 94g | 63g | 31g |
| Bread flour | 130g | 98g | 65g | 33g |
| Whole wheat flour | 120g | 90g | 60g | 30g |
| Cake flour | 115g | 86g | 58g | 29g |
| Granulated sugar | 200g | 150g | 100g | 50g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 220g | 165g | 110g | 55g |
| Powdered sugar | 120g | 90g | 60g | 30g |
| Butter | 227g | 170g | 113g | 57g |
| Honey / Syrup | 340g | 255g | 170g | 85g |
| Rolled oats | 90g | 68g | 45g | 23g |
| Cocoa powder | 100g | 75g | 50g | 25g |
| Rice (uncooked) | 200g | 150g | 100g | 50g |
| Almonds (whole) | 140g | 105g | 70g | 35g |
| Walnuts (chopped) | 120g | 90g | 60g | 30g |
| Chocolate chips | 175g | 131g | 88g | 44g |
How to Measure Flour Correctly
The spoon and level method: fluff the flour with a spoon, spoon it into the measuring cup, then level off with a flat edge. Never scoop directly with the measuring cup — this packs the flour and can add 20-30% more.
Quick Cups to Grams by Ingredient Type
| Type | 1 Cup = Grams | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Flour (all types) | 115-130g | All-purpose: 125g |
| Sugar (granulated) | 200g | White sugar: 200g |
| Sugar (brown, packed) | 220g | Light/dark brown: 220g |
| Butter | 227g (~1/2 lb) | 1 stick = 113g |
| Liquids | 237g (236.6ml) | Water weighs ~237g per cup |
| Syrups / Honey | 340g | Much denser than water |
| Oats | 90g | Rolled oats |
| Cocoa / Powdered sugar | 100-120g | Varies by grind |
| Nuts (chopped) | 110-140g | Depends on chop size |
Tablespoons and Teaspoons to Millilitres
Spoon measurements are the most common source of kitchen conversion errors. A “tablespoon” differs between countries.
| Spoon Size | US (ml) | UK (ml) | Australia (ml) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 4.93 | 4.93 | 5.0 |
| 1 dessert spoon (dstspn) | — | 9.86 | 10.0 |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 14.79 | 14.79 | 20.0 |
Quick Spoon Conversion Table
| Measurement | Millilitres | Fluid Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 teaspoon | 1.25 ml | — |
| 1/2 teaspoon | 2.5 ml | — |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml | 0.17 fl oz |
| 2 teaspoons | 10 ml | 0.34 fl oz |
| 1 tablespoon (US) | 15 ml | 0.5 fl oz |
| 2 tablespoons | 30 ml | 1 fl oz |
| 3 tablespoons | 45 ml | 1.5 fl oz |
| 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) | 60 ml | 2 fl oz |
Common Baking Spoon Conversions
| Amount | Spoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp flour | 1 tbsp | 8g |
| 1 tbsp sugar | 1 tbsp | 12.5g |
| 1 tbsp butter | 1 tbsp | 14g |
| 1 tbsp honey | 1 tbsp | 21g |
| 1 tbsp cocoa powder | 1 tbsp | 6g |
| 1 tsp vanilla extract | 1 tsp | 4g |
| 1 tsp baking powder | 1 tsp | 4g |
| 1 tsp salt | 1 tsp | 6g |
Fluid Ounces to Millilitres
| Fluid Ounces (fl oz) | Millilitres (ml) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.6 | Shot glass |
| 2 | 59.1 | Small juice serving |
| 4 | 118 | Half cup |
| 6 | 177 | Small coffee mug |
| 8 | 237 | 1 cup (US) |
| 12 | 355 | Can of soda |
| 16 | 473 | Pint / tall beer |
| 32 | 946 | Quart |
| 33.8 | 1,000 | 1 litre water bottle |
| 128 | 3,785 | 1 US gallon |
Volume Conversion: Cups, ML, Pints, Quarts, Gallons
| Cups | Millilitres | Pints | Quarts | Gallons | Litres |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 237 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 0.06 | 0.24 |
| 2 | 473 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.125 | 0.47 |
| 3 | 710 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 0.188 | 0.71 |
| 4 | 946 | 2 | 1 | 0.25 | 0.95 |
| 8 | 1,893 | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 1.89 |
| 16 | 3,785 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3.79 |
Use our Volume Converter to convert any volume — litres, gallons, quarts, cups, millilitres — instantly.
Ounces to Grams (Weight)
Unlike fluid ounces (volume), weight ounces measure mass. This conversion is constant regardless of ingredient.
| Ounces (oz) | Grams (g) | Common Foods |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28.3 | Slice of bread |
| 2 | 56.7 | Small apple |
| 4 | 113 | Stick of butter |
| 8 | 227 | Cup of flour |
| 12 | 340 | Can of soda (weight) |
| 16 (1 lb) | 454 | Loaf of bread |
| 32 | 907 | Large bag of flour |
| 100 | 2,835 | Thanksgiving turkey (small) |
Grams to Ounces Quick Reference
| Grams | Ounces | Rough Visual |
|---|---|---|
| 10g | 0.35 oz | 2 teaspoons of butter |
| 25g | 0.88 oz | 2 tablespoons of flour |
| 50g | 1.76 oz | 1/4 cup of sugar |
| 100g | 3.53 oz | 1/2 cup of flour |
| 200g | 7.05 oz | 1 cup of sugar |
| 250g | 8.82 oz | 1 cup of butter (approx) |
| 500g | 17.6 oz | 2 cups of sugar |
| 1 kg | 35.3 oz | 2.2 lb |
Use our Mass Converter to convert between grams, kilograms, pounds, ounces, and more.
Butter Conversion
Butter is one of the trickiest ingredients because different countries sell it in different shapes.
| US Sticks | Cups | Grams | Ounces | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 stick | 1/2 | 113 | 4 | 8 |
| 2 sticks | 1 | 227 | 8 | 16 |
| 3 sticks | 1.5 | 340 | 12 | 24 |
| 4 sticks | 2 | 454 | 16 (1 lb) | 32 |
Butter by Country
| Country | Standard Pack Size | Markings |
|---|---|---|
| US | 1 stick = 113g (4 oz) | Marked in tablespoons |
| UK / Europe | 250g block | Marked in 50g increments |
| Australia / NZ | 250g or 500g block | Marked in 50g increments |
A level tablespoon of butter weighs 14g. For cold butter, cut marks are surprisingly accurate — 1 tablespoon is about the size of your thumb tip.
Liguid vs Dry Measuring Cups
Important: Use liquid measuring cups (glass with pour spout) for liquids and dry measuring cups (metal/plastic with flat top) for dry ingredients. They measure the same volume, but liquid cups let you read the meniscus at eye level, while dry cups let you level off the top with a straight edge.
Oven Temperature Conversion
| Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) | Gas Mark | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 225 | 1/4 | Very cool |
| 130 | 250 | 1/2 | Very cool |
| 140 | 275 | 1 | Cool |
| 150 | 300 | 2 | Cool |
| 160 | 325 | 3 | Warm |
| 175 | 350 | 4 | Moderate |
| 190 | 375 | 5 | Moderate hot |
| 200 | 400 | 6 | Hot |
| 220 | 425 | 7 | Hot |
| 230 | 450 | 8 | Very hot |
| 240 | 475 | 9 | Very hot |
Use our Temperature Converter for precise oven temperature conversions.
Ingredient Weight Reference: Most Common Baking
| Ingredient | 1 Cup (g) | 1 Tbsp (g) | 1 Tsp (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 125 | 8 | 2.6 |
| Whole wheat flour | 120 | 7.5 | 2.5 |
| Granulated sugar | 200 | 12.5 | 4.2 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 220 | 14 | 4.7 |
| Butter | 227 | 14 | 4.7 |
| Honey | 340 | 21 | 7 |
| Cocoa powder | 100 | 6 | 2 |
| Baking powder | — | — | 4 |
| Baking soda | — | — | 4.6 |
| Salt (table) | — | — | 6 |
| Vanilla extract | — | 4 | 1.3 |
Printable Kitchen Conversion Cheat Sheet
The 6 Conversions Every Cook Should Memorise
- 1 cup = 237 ml (round to 240 for easy math)
- 1 tablespoon = 15 ml (or 3 teaspoons)
- 1 teaspoon = 5 ml
- 1 oz (weight) = 28 grams (round to 30 for easy math)
- 1 cup flour = 125 grams
- 1 cup sugar = 200 grams
Quick Substitution Chart
| You Need | But Have | Use This Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup buttermilk | 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice | Let sit 5 minutes |
| 1 cup brown sugar | 1 cup white sugar + 2 tbsp molasses | Mix well |
| 1 cup cake flour | 1 cup all-purpose flour - 2 tbsp | Sift together |
| 1 tbsp cornstarch | 2 tbsp all-purpose flour | For thickening |
| 1 cup heavy cream | 3/4 cup milk + 1/4 cup melted butter | Won’t whip, fine for baking |
| 1 tsp baking powder | 1/4 tsp baking soda + 1/2 tsp cream of tartar | Mix immediately |
| 1 cup self-rising flour | 1 cup all-purpose flour + 1.5 tsp baking powder + 1/4 tsp salt | Whisk to combine |
| 1 cup honey | 1.25 cups sugar + 1/4 cup liquid | Reduce oven by 25°F |
International Recipe Measurements Guide
| Term | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablespoon | 15 ml | 15 ml | 20 ml |
| Teaspoon | 5 ml | 5 ml | 5 ml |
| Cup | 237 ml | 284 ml (imperial) | 250 ml (metric) |
| Pint | 473 ml | 568 ml | 570 ml |
| Quart | 946 ml | 1,136 ml | 1,140 ml |
| Stone (weight) | Not used | 6.35 kg (14 lb) | 6.35 kg (14 lb) |
FAQ
How many grams are in a cup of flour? 125 grams for all-purpose flour. This varies by ingredient — a cup of sugar weighs 200g, a cup of butter weighs 227g.
How many tablespoons in a cup? 16 tablespoons in 1 cup (US). That’s 4 tablespoons per quarter cup, 8 per half cup.
How many ml in a cup? 237 ml in a US cup, 250 ml in a metric cup, 284 ml in an imperial cup.
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon? 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. 1 tablespoon = 15 ml, 1 teaspoon = 5 ml.
What’s the difference between a dry and liquid measuring cup? They measure the same volume, but liquid cups have a pour spout and space above the fill line to prevent spilling. Dry cups let you level off the top with a straight edge for precise measurement.
Why do some recipes use weight instead of volume? Weight is more accurate. A cup of flour can vary from 115g to 155g depending on how you scoop it. Weighing guarantees consistency — which is why professional bakers always use grams.
How do I convert a recipe from metric to US measurements? Multiply grams by 0.035 to get ounces. Divide millilitres by 237 to get cups. For small amounts, 15 ml = 1 tablespoon and 5 ml = 1 teaspoon.
What’s a stick of butter in grams? One US stick of butter = 113 grams (4 ounces). Two sticks = 227 grams (8 ounces / 1/2 pound).
How much does 1 cup of water weigh? 237 grams (8.34 ounces). Water’s density makes volume-to-weight conversion straightforward — 1 ml of water = 1 gram.
Can I use the same measuring cup for liquids and dry ingredients? You can, but it’s less accurate. Liquid measuring cups are designed to be filled to the line and read at eye level. Dry measuring cups are meant to be filled and levelled. For best results, use each for its intended purpose.
Convert any kitchen measurement instantly with FreeToolz’s Volume Converter and Mass Converter — no signup required.