How to Convert Cooking Measurements
Cooking recipes use two types of measurements: volume (cups, tablespoons, ml) and weight (grams, ounces). Volume-to-volume conversions are fixed regardless of ingredient. Volume-to-weight conversions depend on the ingredient's density — one cup of water weighs 237g, but one cup of flour weighs only about 125g. Using a kitchen scale and weight measurements gives more consistent baking results.
Last updated: March 31, 2026
The Formula
Volume conversions (US): 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp = 237 ml 1 tbsp = 3 tsp = 14.79 ml 1 fl oz = 2 tbsp = 29.57 ml 1 litre = 4.227 US cups Weight: 1 oz = 28.35 g | 1 lb = 453.59 g Volume to weight (density-dependent): Weight = Volume × Ingredient Density
Variable Definitions
| Symbol | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| tbsp | Tablespoon | 15 ml (US). A heaped tablespoon of flour ≈ 10g; a level one ≈ 8g. |
| tsp | Teaspoon | 5 ml (US). One teaspoon of salt ≈ 6g, one teaspoon of sugar ≈ 4g. |
| Density | Ingredient Density | Grams per millilitre — water = 1 g/ml, oil ≈ 0.92 g/ml, flour ≈ 0.53 g/ml, sugar ≈ 0.85 g/ml |
Step-by-Step Example
Convert ¾ cup of all-purpose flour and ½ cup of butter to grams.
Given
Solution
- 1Convert ¾ cup to ml:
0.75 × 237 = 177.75 ml - 2Flour density ≈ 0.53 g/ml:
177.75 × 0.53 ≈ 94 g flour - 3Convert ½ cup to ml:
0.5 × 237 = 118.5 ml - 4Butter density ≈ 0.91 g/ml:
118.5 × 0.91 ≈ 108 g butter
¾ cup flour ≈ 94 g. ½ cup butter ≈ 108 g (or approximately 1 US stick).
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming all cups are equal — US, metric, and imperial cups differ. Check your recipe's origin.
Treating volume = weight for everything — only water has exactly 1 g/ml. Flour, sugar, and oil all differ significantly.
Packing flour into a measuring cup — this adds up to 20–30% more flour and ruins baked goods. Spoon flour into the cup and level off.
Confusing fluid ounces and weight ounces — 1 fl oz ≠ 1 oz by weight (except for water).