Cooking Measurement Converter
Enter a value in any cooking measurement unit to see conversions across cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, millilitres and fluid ounces.
Reviewed by the ToolNestr Editorial Team — July 2026
Enter a value and select a unit to see all conversions.
How it works
The Cooking Measurement Converter uses a set of fixed conversion ratios between common kitchen volume units. Every unit is first converted to millilitres as the base reference, then converted onward to every other unit. This chain method ensures consistency — whether you start with cups, tablespoons or fluid ounces, the results are mathematically coherent across all five units.
The standard conversions used are: 1 US cup = 236.588 ml, 1 tablespoon = 14.787 ml, 1 teaspoon = 4.929 ml, and 1 fluid ounce = 29.574 ml. These are the values defined by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and are the most widely accepted figures in modern recipe development and food science.
How the conversion works
All conversions go through millilitres as the base unit. Enter any value in any unit and the calculator converts it to every other unit using these fixed factors:
Worked example
A recipe calls for 0.5 cups of milk, but you only have a measuring jug marked in millilitres. What is 0.5 cups in ml, tbsp, tsp and fl oz?
International recipe follower
Following a US recipe with European measuring tools, or a British recipe with American cups — convert between systems instantly without mental maths.
Cookbook collector
Old cookbooks use pinches, dashes and gills, while modern ones use millilitres. Convert everything to your preferred unit with this tool.
Baking enthusiast
Baking recipes from different websites use different units. Convert everything to one consistent system before you start measuring ingredients.
Culinary student
Learning professional kitchen measurements and need to practise conversions between metric and imperial volume units for exams and recipes.
How to use the Cooking Measurement Converter
Enter the amount
Type the numeric value you want to convert, such as 2, 0.5 or 3.75. Decimals and whole numbers are both supported.
Select the unit
Choose the unit of your entered value from the dropdown — cups, tbsp, tsp, ml or fl oz. The results update automatically.
Read all conversions
See the equivalent value in every unit at once. Use whichever unit matches your measuring tools in the kitchen.
Tips for best results
Use the right tool for the job
Liquid measuring cups (with spouts) are best for fluids; dry measuring cups (flat-edged) are for solids. Scooping flour with a liquid cup compacts it and changes the volume significantly.
Level off dry ingredients
When measuring tablespoons and teaspoons of dry ingredients, use a straight edge (like the back of a knife) to level off the top for an accurate measure.
Know your tablespoon origin
If you are using an Australian recipe, remember their tablespoon is 20 ml (4 tsp) rather than the standard 15 ml (3 tsp). Adjust accordingly or use this converter with the standard setting.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are US and metric cooking measurements different?
The US customary system uses cups of 236.6 ml (or 240 ml in nutrition labelling), while the metric system uses millilitres and litres. The UK imperial cup was historically 284 ml, but modern British recipes often use metric weights rather than cups. This converter uses the standard US cup (236.6 ml) as its reference.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons (tbsp) in 1 US cup. This is a fixed ratio: 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp. Memorising these three numbers makes most recipe conversions quick and easy.
Are tablespoons different in different countries?
Yes. The US tablespoon is 14.8 ml (usually rounded to 15 ml), the Australian tablespoon is 20 ml, and the UK tablespoon is 15 ml. This converter uses the standard US/UK 15 ml tablespoon. Australian users should note their tablespoon is slightly larger.
What is the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces?
Fluid ounces (fl oz) measure volume, while ounces (oz) measure weight. One fluid ounce of water weighs approximately one ounce, but for other ingredients (like flour or honey), the volume-to-weight ratio differs. This converter handles fluid ounces for volume only.
Can I use this for dry ingredients too?
For volume-to-volume conversions, yes — a cup of flour is the same volume as a cup of water. However, a cup of flour weighs much less than a cup of water. If you need weight equivalents, use the Baking Conversion Calculator which accounts for each ingredient's density.