Cooking Measurement Converter
Free cooking measurement converter — US cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fl oz, mL, L, grams, and ounces. US customary values. Runs in your browser.
Pick a “from” unit, a “to” unit, and a value. Converts between common US cooking measurements (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fl oz) and metric (mL, L), plus grams and ounces for weight.
Volume and weight are separate groups — converting between them requires knowing the density of the ingredient. For generic volume conversion (including UK units, gallons, and cubic metres) see the volume converter.
Conversion table — volume
All volume units route through millilitres. Factors are US customary (NIST Handbook 44).
| Unit | In mL |
|---|---|
| 1 tsp (US) | 4.92892159375 mL |
| 1 tbsp (US) | 14.7867647812 mL |
| 1 fl oz (US) | 29.5735295625 mL |
| 1 cup (US) | 236.5882365 mL |
| 1 L | 1,000 mL |
US kitchen relationships:
3 tsp = 1 tbsp → 2 tbsp = 1 fl oz → 8 fl oz = 1 cup → 2 cups = 1 pint
US cup vs. metric cup
The US cup is 236.588 mL (8 US fl oz, exact). This is the standard in American recipes. The metric cup used in Australia and Canada is 250 mL — about 5.7% larger. A recipe that calls for “1 cup” without specifying which system means the US cup in an American context and the metric cup in an Australian context. When in doubt, weigh the ingredient.
Conversion table — weight
| Unit | In grams |
|---|---|
| 1 oz (avoirdupois) | 28.349523125 g |
Worked examples
1 cup of water in mL:
1 cup × 236.5882365 mL/cup = 236.588 mL
3 tablespoons in teaspoons:
3 tbsp × (1 tbsp = 3 tsp) = 9 tsp
2.5 oz in grams:
2.5 × 28.349523125 = 70.874 g
Cups to grams — why the converter won’t do it
Volume and mass are related by density: mass = volume × density. The density of an ingredient varies (flour is ~0.5–0.6 g/mL depending on how it was measured; butter is ~0.91 g/mL; water is 1 g/mL). No single factor can convert cups to grams for all ingredients — only ingredient-specific tables can.
Worked examples
-
1 US cup in mL
1 cup = 236.5882365 mL
-
1 tablespoon in mL
1 tbsp = 14.7867647812 mL
-
1 oz in grams
1 oz = 28.349523125 g
Frequently asked questions
Why does 1 US cup equal 236.588 mL and not 240 mL?
The US customary cup is exactly 8 US fluid ounces, and 1 US fl oz = 29.5735295625 mL (NIST exact). That gives 8 × 29.5735... = 236.5882365 mL. The round '240 mL' figure floating around the internet is the metric cup used in Australia and Canada — not the US cup. This converter uses the precise US customary value.
What is a metric cup?
Australia, Canada, and some other countries define a metric cup as exactly 250 mL. This converter does not include the metric cup as a selectable unit because mixing it with US customary units would cause confusion. If a recipe specifies metric cups, treat 1 cup as 250 mL. For generic volume conversion see the volume converter.
Can I convert cups to grams?
No — and neither can any calculator that doesn't know the ingredient. Cups measure volume; grams measure weight. 1 cup of flour ≈ 120 g; 1 cup of water = 236.6 g; 1 cup of honey ≈ 340 g. The converter correctly refuses this conversion. Use ingredient-specific tables instead.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Exactly 3 US teaspoons = 1 US tablespoon. 1 tsp = 4.92892 mL, 1 tbsp = 14.78676 mL, so 3 × 4.92892 = 14.78676. That relationship is exact by definition in the US customary system.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 US tablespoons = 1 US cup. The chain is 3 tsp = 1 tbsp, 2 tbsp = 1 fl oz, 8 fl oz = 1 cup, so 3 × 2 × 8 = 48 tsp = 16 tbsp = 1 cup.
Are US fluid ounces the same as UK fluid ounces?
No. 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL; 1 UK fl oz = 28.4131 mL. They're close but not the same. UK recipes typically measure by weight (grams) rather than volume spoons and cups, so the difference rarely causes practical problems. This converter uses US fluid ounces only.
Related calculators
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