The Complete Cooking Conversion Cheat Sheet (Free Printable)

Nothing ruins a recipe faster than using the wrong measurements. Whether you're following an American recipe that calls for cups while you own metric scales, or trying to convert grandma's Fahrenheit oven temperatures to Celsius, cooking conversions can be confusing.

Quick Answer: Common cooking conversions: 1 cup = 240 mL, 1 tablespoon = 15 mL, 1 pound = 454g, 350°F = 175°C. Volume measurements (cups) aren't as accurate as weight (grams) for baking. Use our conversion tools for precise recipe conversions.

This comprehensive guide will become your go-to resource for all cooking and baking conversions. Plus, we've made it printable so you can keep it handy in your kitchen!

Why Cooking Conversions Matter

The Problem with Volume Measurements

Ever wondered why your cookies turn out differently each time, even when you follow the recipe exactly? The culprit is often volume measurements (cups, tablespoons).

Here's why:

A "cup of flour" can weigh anywhere from 120g to 150g depending on how you scoop it
Packed vs unpacked ingredients vary significantly
Humidity affects ingredient density
Different ingredients settle differently

The Solution: Weight measurements (grams, ounces) are more accurate and consistent, especially for baking.

Essential Volume to Volume Conversions

US, Metric, and Imperial Equivalents

US Measurement	Metric	Imperial (UK)
1 teaspoon (tsp)	5 ml	1 UK teaspoon
1 tablespoon (tbsp)	15 ml	1 UK tablespoon
1/4 cup	60 ml	2 fl oz
1/3 cup	80 ml	2.7 fl oz
1/2 cup	120 ml	4 fl oz
1 cup	240 ml	8 fl oz
2 cups (1 pint)	480 ml	16 fl oz
4 cups (1 quart)	960 ml	32 fl oz
1 gallon	3.8 liters	128 fl oz

Quick Kitchen Volume Conversions

Teaspoons and Tablespoons:

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup (30 ml)
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup (60 ml)
5 tablespoons + 1 tsp = 1/3 cup

Cups and Pints:

2 cups = 1 pint
4 cups = 1 quart
16 cups = 1 gallon

Pro Tip: When a recipe calls for "a pinch," that's approximately 1/16 teaspoon!

Volume to Weight Conversions (The Game Changer)

Different ingredients weigh different amounts for the same volume. Here are the most common conversions:

Flour

Volume	Weight (Metric)	Weight (Imperial)
1 tablespoon	8g	0.3 oz
1/4 cup	30g	1 oz
1/3 cup	40g	1.4 oz
1/2 cup	60g	2.1 oz
1 cup	120g	4.2 oz

Important: This is for spooned and leveled all-purpose flour. Scooped flour can be 25% heavier!

Sugar

Granulated White Sugar:

Volume	Weight (Metric)	Weight (Imperial)
1 tablespoon	12g	0.4 oz
1/4 cup	50g	1.75 oz
1/2 cup	100g	3.5 oz
1 cup	200g	7 oz

Brown Sugar (packed):

Volume	Weight (Metric)	Weight (Imperial)
1 tablespoon	15g	0.5 oz
1/4 cup	55g	1.9 oz
1/2 cup	110g	3.9 oz
1 cup	220g	7.75 oz

Powdered/Icing Sugar (unsifted):

Volume	Weight (Metric)	Weight (Imperial)
1 tablespoon	8g	0.3 oz
1/4 cup	30g	1 oz
1/2 cup	60g	2.1 oz
1 cup	120g	4.2 oz

Butter and Oils

Butter (US sticks):

Description	Volume	Weight	Metric
1 stick	1/2 cup	4 oz	113g
1/2 stick	1/4 cup	2 oz	57g
1/4 stick	2 tablespoons	1 oz	28g

Pro Tip: Most butter wrappers have tablespoon markings for easy measuring!

Oils (vegetable, olive, etc.):

Volume	Weight (Metric)	Weight (Imperial)
1 tablespoon	14g	0.5 oz
1/4 cup	55g	1.9 oz
1/2 cup	110g	3.9 oz
1 cup	220g	7.75 oz

Common Baking Ingredients

Cocoa Powder (unsweetened):

1 cup = 100g = 3.5 oz
1 tablespoon = 6g

Baking Powder/Baking Soda:

1 teaspoon = 4g
1 tablespoon = 12g

Salt:

1 teaspoon table salt = 6g
1 teaspoon kosher salt = 4g (Diamond Crystal) or 5g (Morton's)

Honey/Syrup:

1 cup = 340g = 12 oz
1 tablespoon = 21g

Milk:

1 cup = 240g = 8.5 oz
1 tablespoon = 15g

Common Cooking Ingredients

Chopped Vegetables (approximate):

1 cup onions = 160g
1 cup bell pepper = 150g
1 cup tomatoes = 180g

Rice (uncooked):

1 cup white rice = 185g = 6.5 oz
1 cup brown rice = 195g = 6.9 oz

Pasta (uncooked):

1 cup = 100g = 3.5 oz

Cheese (shredded):

1 cup = 100g = 3.5 oz

Nuts (chopped):

1 cup = 120g = 4.2 oz

Temperature Conversions (Oven Temperatures)

Fahrenheit to Celsius Quick Reference

Fahrenheit	Celsius	Gas Mark	Description
225°F	107°C	1/4	Very cool
250°F	121°C	1/2	Very cool
275°F	135°C	1	Cool
300°F	149°C	2	Cool
325°F	163°C	3	Warm
350°F	177°C	4	Moderate
375°F	191°C	5	Moderate
400°F	204°C	6	Hot
425°F	218°C	7	Hot
450°F	232°C	8	Very hot
475°F	246°C	9	Very hot
500°F	260°C	10	Extremely hot

Common Baking Temperatures

Cakes and Cookies:

Most cakes: 350°F (177°C)
Cookies: 350-375°F (177-191°C)
Cheesecake: 325°F (163°C)

Bread:

Most breads: 375-400°F (191-204°C)
Pizza: 450-500°F (232-260°C)

Roasting:

Chicken: 375-425°F (191-218°C)
Beef: 325-450°F (163-232°C) depending on cut
Vegetables: 400-425°F (204-218°C)

Conversion Formulas

Fahrenheit to Celsius:

°C = (°F - 32) × 5/9

Celsius to Fahrenheit:

°F = (°C × 9/5) + 32

Quick Mental Math:

350°F ≈ 180°C (actually 177°C)
400°F ≈ 200°C (actually 204°C)

Recipe Scaling Conversions

Doubling and Halving Recipes

Simple Math for Most Ingredients: Just multiply by 2 or divide by 2.

Exceptions - Adjust Carefully:

Salt and Spices: When doubling, use 1.5x instead of 2x (taste and adjust)

Leavening Agents: Baking powder/soda should be scaled proportionally but watch rise time

Yeast: Can use slightly less when scaling up (yeast multiplies)

Eggs: 3 eggs × 0.5 = 1.5 eggs → use 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk

Converting Serving Sizes

Formula:

New amount = (Original amount × Desired servings) ÷ Original servings

Example: Recipe for 4 servings calls for 2 cups flour. You need 6 servings:

(2 cups × 6) ÷ 4 = 3 cups

International Recipe Conversions

US to Metric Baking

Common US Recipes:

American Pancakes (US → Metric):

2 cups flour → 240g flour
2 tablespoons sugar → 24g sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder → 8g baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt → 3g salt
1 3/4 cups milk → 420ml milk
1 egg → 1 large egg (~50g)
2 tablespoons melted butter → 28g butter

UK to US Conversions

British Scones (UK → US):

450g self-raising flour → 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour + 5 tsp baking powder
75g butter → 5 tablespoons butter
300ml milk → 1 1/4 cups milk

Note: UK uses self-raising flour frequently; US typically uses all-purpose flour + baking powder.

Pro Tips for Accurate Conversions

Measuring Techniques

Flour:

Fluff the flour with a spoon
Spoon it into your measuring cup
Level off with a straight edge
Never pack or tap the cup

Brown Sugar:

Pack firmly into the cup (unless recipe says otherwise)
It should hold its shape when dumped out

Liquids:

Use a liquid measuring cup (with a spout)
Read at eye level
Measure on a flat surface

Butter:

Use wrapper markings for tablespoons
Or use the water displacement method: For 1/2 cup butter, fill measuring cup with 1/2 cup water, add butter until water reaches 1 cup mark

Baker's Percentages (Advanced)

Professional bakers use baker's percentages where flour is always 100%:

Example - Simple Bread:

Flour: 500g (100%)
Water: 350g (70%)
Salt: 10g (2%)
Yeast: 7g (1.4%)

This system scales perfectly to any batch size.

Common Cooking Conversion Mistakes

Mistake #1: Scooping Flour

❌ Wrong: Scooping cup directly into flour bin ✅ Right: Spooning flour into cup and leveling

Impact: Scooped flour can be 25% heavier, leading to dry, dense baked goods.

Mistake #2: Confusing Fluid Ounces and Ounces

Fluid ounces (fl oz) = volume
Ounces (oz) = weight

8 fl oz of water = 8 oz by weight But 8 fl oz of honey ≠ 8 oz by weight

Mistake #3: Measuring Liquids in Dry Cups

Dry measuring cups don't have space for liquids to meniscus (curve at top). Use liquid measuring cups for accuracy.

Mistake #4: Wrong Oven Temperature Conversion

Using approximations instead of actual conversions:

350°F ≈ 180°C is close enough for most baking
But 220°F = 104°C (NOT 110°C) matters for sous vide

Mistake #5: Not Accounting for Ingredient State

"1 cup butter" = different if melted vs solid
"1 cup coconut" = different if shredded vs flaked
Always check recipe notes for how ingredients should be measured

Kitchen Conversion Tools

Essential Equipment

Digital Kitchen Scale:

Most important tool for accurate baking
Look for one that measures in 1g increments
Tare function is essential

Measuring Cups:

Dry: Set with 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup
Liquid: Glass or plastic with spout, 1-2 cup capacity

Measuring Spoons:

Standard set: 1 tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp
Bonus: 1/8 tsp and 1/2 tbsp

Instant-Read Thermometer:

Essential for meat and candy making
Should read in both °F and °C

Digital Tools

Conversion Apps:

UnitsConverter.io - Comprehensive online converter
Kitchen Calculator apps for recipe scaling
Note-taking apps to save converted recipes

Smart Assistants: "Hey Google, convert 350°F to Celsius" "Alexa, how many grams in a cup of flour?"

Printable Conversion Chart

Pro Tip: Print this section and laminate it for your kitchen!

Quick Reference Card

VOLUME TO VOLUME

3 tsp = 1 tbsp
16 tbsp = 1 cup
2 cups = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon

METRIC VOLUME

1 tsp = 5 ml
1 tbsp = 15 ml
1 cup = 240 ml

WEIGHT

1 oz = 28 g
1 lb = 454 g
1 lb = 16 oz

COMMON INGREDIENTS (1 cup)

Flour: 120g
Sugar: 200g
Brown sugar: 220g
Butter: 227g
Milk: 240g
Water: 240g

TEMPERATURE

325°F = 163°C
350°F = 177°C
375°F = 191°C
400°F = 204°C
425°F = 218°C
450°F = 232°C

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert cups to grams for baking?

Converting cups to grams depends on the ingredient. For all-purpose flour, 1 cup = 120-125 grams. For granulated sugar, 1 cup = 200 grams. For butter, 1 cup = 227 grams. Use our weight converter for precise conversions based on your specific ingredient.

What is 350°F in Celsius for baking?

350°F equals 175°C (rounded to 180°C). This is one of the most common baking temperatures. Use our temperature converter for any oven temperature conversion.

How many ounces are in a cup?

There are 8 fluid ounces in 1 US cup for liquids. For dry ingredients measured by weight, it varies: 1 cup of flour = approximately 4.5 ounces, while 1 cup of sugar = approximately 7 ounces.

Why are cup measurements less accurate than grams for baking?

Because ingredients have different densities. 1 cup of flour can weigh 120-150g depending on how you measure. For consistent baking results, use a kitchen scale and our weight converter to convert recipes to grams.

How do I convert a US recipe to metric?

Convert cups to mL with our volume converter, ounces to grams with our weight converter, and Fahrenheit to Celsius with our temperature converter. For best results, convert to weight measurements.

What's the difference between US and UK cups?

US cup = 240 mL, UK cup = 250 mL. The difference is small but can matter in baking. Always check which system your recipe uses. Our volume converter handles both.

Do I need to convert cooking times when changing temperature?

Yes! If you convert temperature, adjust time too. Higher temp = less time. Use online cooking time calculators or test for doneness. Our temperature converter handles the temp conversion part.

You might also find these guides helpful:

Cooking Conversions Deep Dive: Master Recipe Conversions Like a Pro Chef: Complete guide to cooking unit conversions. Convert cups to grams, ounces to milliliters, Fahrenheit to Celsius, and more. Perfect for baking and international recipes.
10 Unit Conversion Mistakes That Could Cost You (And How to Avoid Them): Learn about the most common unit conversion errors that lead to costly mistakes in cooking, construction, travel, and more. Includes real-world examples and prevention tips.
Area Conversions for Real Estate: Square Feet, Square Meters, Acres & More: Complete guide to area conversions for real estate. Convert square feet to square meters, acres to hectares, and understand property sizes for buying and selling.

Your Next Steps

Now that you understand these conversions, here's what to do:

1. Bookmark Our Converters (for instant access):

All converters - Main hub for all conversions
Length converter - Distance, height, depth
Weight converter - Mass, body weight, packages
Volume converter - Liquids, cooking, fuel
Temperature converter - Weather, cooking, science

2. Explore Related Guides:

Browse our blog for more conversion guides
Check out common conversion mistakes
Read the ultimate guide to unit conversions

3. Share This Guide:

Bookmark for future reference
Share with friends who need conversions
Save on your phone for quick access

Conclusion

Key Takeaways:

✅ Use our converter tools for accuracy
✅ Bookmark converters for quick access
✅ Double-check critical conversions
✅ Learn common mental math shortcuts
✅ Explore related guides for more tips

Accurate conversions are the foundation of successful cooking and baking. While volume measurements are convenient, weight measurements provide the consistency professional bakers rely on.

Key Takeaways:

Invest in a digital kitchen scale for baking
Learn the weight equivalents for your most-used ingredients
When following recipes from other countries, convert everything before you start
Bookmark or print this guide for quick kitchen reference
When precision matters, use exact conversions; for everyday cooking, approximations often work fine

Remember:

Baking is science → precision matters → use weight
Cooking is art → approximations okay → taste and adjust

Need a quick conversion while cooking? Use our instant online converter for accurate results in seconds.

Want to master more conversions? Check out our complete conversion guides for detailed tutorials on all types of measurements.

Did we miss a conversion you use frequently? Let us know in the comments below!