Need to know this difference between metric measurements and imperial measurements? Or how to convert an oven temp from Celsius to Fahrenheit? You’re in the right place! Keep this page and all the cooking conversions charts below handy by bookmarking this page or printing for later!
Cups? Grams? Liters? Ounces? What?!
With the internet literally at our finger tips and access to different cultures and cuisines a click of a button away – don’t let the headache of converting from grams to cups to whatever deter you from trying something new!
As an American now living in England I am all too familiar with the whole metric vs imperial vs US measurements confusion. That’s why I first started compiling my Cups to Grams Conversions Measurement Chart. It’s a massive list of common ingredients and their cups/grams/ml/ounces equivalencies.
Knowing how much I would benefit from a centralised list of ingredient conversions, I knew it could be helpful to my fellow cooks and bakers out there. It also helps me as a way to stay consistent with my own amounts (there can be quite a lot of variation in ingredient conversions).
The goal of this page it to go a little deeper into the how’s & why’s of measuring units and what proper tools you need to get there.
I’ve included a few free printable cooking conversion charts for viewing here in addition to color free versions you can download for your own personal use.
Otherwise, feel free to bookmark this page for future use. If you need a little more clarification or info on anything in particular, please let me know I’ll try to help as best I can!
Important Things to Remember about Cooking Conversions
First things first – let’s get on the same page:
- Recipes usually measure ingredients based on either weight (the Metric System) or volume (Imperial System).
- Volume = how much space something takes up
- Weight = how heavy something is
- U.S. recipes use US Customary Units which is based on the Imperial System, but it is not actually the Imperial System.
- One cup does not always equal one cup and this manifests in a couple ways:
- Cups sizes vary depending on where in the world you are – different countries have different cups sizes. One UK measuring cup holds 250 ml while one US cups hold 240 ml. One imperial cups is about 280 ml.
- Cups measure for volume/density which means that different ingredients will weigh different amounts. Example: 1 cup of butter weighs 226 grams (higher density) but 1 cup of flour weighs 140 grams (lower density).
- Wet and dry ingredients need to be measured differently. One fluid ounce does not equal the same as one ounce.
- Fluid Ounces are not the same as ounces.
- Fluid ounces measure volume (space) while ounces measure weight (density).
- Fluid Ounces are not the same as ounces.
Use the Right Measuring Tools
Ok, so now that we know there are a number of different measurement systems, let’s move on to how we typically measure our ingredients. Below I’ll cover the four main tools used to measure ingredients and how to use them:
- Dry Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Kitchen Scale
Dry Measuring Cups
- Typical sizes: 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup
- It’s the most popular measuring tool for dry measurements in the United States.
- Measuring cups measure the volume of dry ingredients (how much space it takes up) as opposed to the weight. This is why 1 cup of whole nuts weighs different from 1 cup chopped nuts.
- US legal cups (used in most US based recipes) hold up 240 ml. This is standardized by law so that serving sizes and nutrition labels can be more accurately determined.
- Easy to use, but not always reliable for getting exact measurements.
How Much Is in 1 US Legal Cup?
- 240 ml
- 16 tablespoons
- 8 fluid oz
- 1/2 pint
- 1/4 quart
- 1/16 gallon
Measuring Spoons
- Typical sizes: 1/4 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1 teaspoon, 1 tablespoon
- Spoons measure dry ingredients and small amounts of liquid ingredients.
- Measuring spoons are found in both US based recipes and metric recipes.
- The UK also has a ‘dessertspoon’ which is equal to two teaspoons (10ml).
US Spoons
- 1 teaspoons = 5 ml
- 1 dessertspoon = 10 ml
- 1 tablespoon = 15 ml
Liquid Measuring Cups
- Typically sizes: 1 cup, 2 cup, 4 cup 8 cup
- Liquid measuring cups measure large amounts of liquid ingredients (anything above 1/4 cup).
- You can measure liquids with dry measuring cups, but you’re more likely to spill since you have to fill up the cup all the way to the top.
- Dry ingredients shouldn’t be measured in a liquid measuring cup because can’t level off the top – meaning you will likely end up with too much.
US Liquids
- 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint = 1/4 quart
- 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces = 1 pint = 1/2 quart
- 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces = 2 pints = 1 quart
- 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces = 8 pints = 4 quarts =1 gallon
Kitchen Scale
- A kitchen scale will provide the most accurate measurement leading to more consistent results in the kitchen.
- Scales measure the weight of your ingredients as opposed to cups which measure volume.
- Digital scales usually allow you to see the weight in grams, mililiters, ounces, fluid ounces, and pounds.
- You can use a kitchen scale to measure both wet and dry ingredients.
- Scales can easily weight awkwardly shaped ingredients like nuts, berries, chocolate, etc.
The Cup Conundrum
While measuring cups are super easy to use, they do pose a potentially big problem to your cooking and baking. We’ve gone through it a few times already, but I’ve included a visual demonstration below.
The problem? Not all cups weigh the same.
Below I have pictured five identical jars filled with five different ingredients:
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (85 grams)
- 1/2 cup whole blackberries (72 grams)
- 1/2 cup flour (70 grams)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup (158 grams)
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (110 grams)
Even though each jar holds 1/2 cup of a particular ingredient, the weight of each jar is quite different. This is because measuring cups measure for volume – how much space something takes up.
The whole blackberries left quite a lot of empty space in the measuring cup which meant that I could only fit 72 grams worth inside.
On the other hand, the maple syrup (a liquid) filled up every nook and cranny of the measuring cup. This meant that I could fit 158 grams of maple syrup into 1/2 cup.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Even ingredients that look alike will almost always amount to different weights when measured up. For example, one cup of almond flour weighs 96 grams compared to one cup of all purpose flour weighs 140 grams.
This is why it’s important not to deviate too much from a given recipe unless you’re quite experienced in substituting ingredients or the recipe author encourages it. You could very easily accidentally end up adding too much or too little of what you need.
Unit of Measurement Abbreviations
Weight & Volume Conversions
Use these conversion charts below to find the correct measurements for converting metric units in and out of US based Units.
Key Volume Conversions
Fluid Ounces | Mililiters | Tablespoons | US Cups |
---|---|---|---|
1 fl oz | 30 ml | 2 tbsp | - |
2 fl oz | 60 ml | 4 tbsp | 1/4 cup |
- | 80 ml | - | 1/3 cup |
3 fl oz | 90 ml | 6 tbsp | - |
4 fl oz | 120 ml | 8 tbsp | 1/2 cup |
5 fl oz | 150 ml | 10 tbsp | - |
- | 160 ml | - | 2/3 cup |
6 fl oz | 180 ml | 12 tbsp | 3/4 cup |
7 fl oz | 210 ml | 14 tbsp | - |
8 fl oz | 240 ml | 16 tbsp | 1 cup |
9 fl oz | 270 ml | 18 tbsp | - |
10 fl oz | 300 ml | 20 tbsp | 1 1/4 cup |
12 fl oz | 360 ml | 24 tbsp | 1 1/2 cup |
14 fl oz | 420 ml | 28 tbsp | 1 3/4 cup |
16 fl oz | 480 ml | 32 tbsp | 2 cup |
Key Weight Conversions
Ounces | Tablespoons | Grams | Pounds |
---|---|---|---|
1/2 oz | 1 tbsp | 14 g | - |
1 oz | 2 tbsp | 28 g | - |
2 oz | 4 tbsp | 57 g | 1/8 lb |
3 oz | 6 tbsp | 85 g | - |
4 oz | 8 tbsp | 114 g | 1/4 lb |
6 oz | 12 tbsp | 170 g | - |
8 oz | 16 tbsp | 226 g | 1/2 lb |
12 oz | 24 tbsp | 340 g | - |
16 oz | 32 tbsp | 454 g | 1 lb |
If you’d like to find conversions for more specific ingredients I recommend you check out my Cups to Grams Conversions page. I am always updating the list with new ingredients and am always happy to add ingredient conversions on request!
Oven Temperature Conversions
If you need to convert from cups to grams then there is a good chance you’ll also need to convert your oven temps as well.
Fahrenheit vs Celsius
The US is in a small minority of countries that uses Fahrenheit (F°) instead of Celsius (C°).
- In, water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F (at sea level).
- In Celsius, water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C (at sea level).
Convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: Subtract 32, multiply by 5, divide by 9
Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: Multiply by 9, divide by 5, add 32
Example: F° to C°
300°F – 32 = 268
268 x 5 = 1,340
1,340/9 148.89
Round 148.89 to 150 to get to the possible nearest oven tempExample: C° to F°
*This is not the exact formula used to covert to and from Fahrenheit and Celsius, but it can be used to easily convert oven temperature.
200°C x 9 = 1,800
1,800/5 = 360
360 + 32 = 392
Round 392 to nearest possible oven temp = 400
Use the infographic above to find the correct temperature you need. I’ll also include a text chart in case that’s easier to navigate.
Oven Temperature Conversions
F° | C° | Gas | Heat Type |
---|---|---|---|
200 | 90 | - | very cool |
250 | 120 | 1/2 | very slow |
275 | 140 | 1 | very slow |
300 | 150 | 2 | slow |
325 | 165 | 3 | slow |
350 | 180 | 4 | moderate |
375 | 190 | 5 | moderate |
400 | 200 | 6 | moderately hot |
425 | 220 | 7 | hot |
450 | 230 | 8 | hot |
475 | 245 | 9 | very hot |
500 | 260 | 10 | extremely hot |
Valentina says
This was extremely helpful as I prepare to teach some children about the kitchen… thank you so much, specially for the downloadable files!
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Valentina! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment – I’m so thrilled these have been helpful 🙂
Karen says
Thank you Sarah! These charts are going to be so helpful.
Sarah Nevins says
I hope so! Thanks Karen 🙂
Deanna Staunton says
Thank you Sarah for the conversion charts posted. It is so helpful
Regards
Deanna
Sarah Nevins says
So glad you’ve found them helpful! Thanks Deanna 🙂
Cindy says
I want to thank you for all the work you put in publishing this on your blog. There are so many times that I am trying to figure out how many TBS in a cup or something similar. You are an angel for doing this!!!
Sarah Nevins says
Yay! Thank you so much, Cindy! I’m so glad this has helped! I know I found cooking/measuring SO much easier and faster once I was able to remember how many teaspoons/tablespoons went into cups and things like that. I’m happy to be able to pass some of that info on 🙂
Linda says
Hi Sarah, just wanted to thank you for this or all of these charts, WOW! Didn’t realize there were so many different ways to measure. I’ve been cooking for over 55 years and didn’t know some of these measurements.
Thank you for your time and effort in making up all of these different charts. I really appreciate you and like your site.
My Husband Bob is sensitive to Wheat, so we have to be careful about what he eats and I bake.
Anyway thank you for everything, God Bless, Linda
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Linda!
I’m am so glad you’ve found this helpful! Your kind words really do mean a lot to me so thank you also for taking time out of your day to come by to leave such a kind note 🙂
PAT says
THANK YOU FOR THIS INFO. PAT
Sarah Nevins says
You’re absolutely welcome! 🙂