Cooking Measurements Guide
Convert cups to grams, tablespoons to milliliters — US volume vs metric weight systems
Overview
Cooking measurements vary significantly between countries, which can make following international recipes challenging. The United States uses a volume-based system (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons), while most other countries use weight-based measurements (grams, kilograms).
Understanding these differences is essential for accurate recipe conversion and consistent cooking results.
US Volume System
US Customary Cooking Units
Volume-based measurements| Unit | Abbreviation | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cup | c, C | 16 tablespoons / 240 ml |
| 1 Tablespoon | tbsp, Tbsp, T | 3 teaspoons / 15 ml |
| 1 Teaspoon | tsp, t | 5 ml |
| 1 Fluid Ounce | fl oz | 2 tablespoons / 30 ml |
| 1 Pint | pt | 2 cups / 480 ml |
| 1 Quart | qt | 4 cups / 960 ml |
| 1 Gallon | gal | 4 quarts / 3.8 L |
Metric Cooking Units
Metric Cooking Units
Weight and volume basedMost countries outside the US use metric measurements, with weight (grams) being preferred for dry ingredients due to greater accuracy.
| Unit | Abbreviation | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Gram | g | Flour, sugar, butter |
| Kilogram | kg | Large quantities |
| Milliliter | ml, mL | Liquids, small amounts |
| Liter | L | Large liquid volumes |
Common Ingredient Conversions
Because different ingredients have different densities, 1 cup of flour does not weigh the same as 1 cup of sugar. Here are common conversions:
| Ingredient | 1 Cup (US) | 1 Tablespoon |
|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose Flour | 125 g | 8 g |
| Granulated Sugar | 200 g | 12.5 g |
| Brown Sugar (packed) | 220 g | 14 g |
| Butter | 227 g (2 sticks) | 14 g |
| Milk / Water | 240 ml | 15 ml |
| Honey / Syrup | 340 g | 21 g |
| Rice (uncooked) | 185 g | 12 g |
| Oats | 90 g | 6 g |
Quick Reference Chart
Handy conversions to memorize:
1 cup = 240 ml
1 tbsp = 15 ml
1 tsp = 5 ml
1 oz = 28 g
1 lb = 454 g
1 stick butter = 113 g
350F = 175C
400F = 200C
450F = 230C
1 cup = 8 fl oz
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 4 cups