Cooking Unit Converter
Convert between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, grams, ounces, and milliliters for baking and cooking.
Volume vs. Weight in Cooking
Recipes in the United States typically use volume measurements (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons), while recipes from Europe and professional baking use weight (grams, kilograms). Weight is more accurate because the same "cup" of flour can weigh anywhere from 110g to 150g depending on how tightly it is packed. For the most consistent results in baking, measuring by weight with a kitchen scale is always preferred.
Why Grams Matter for Baking
Baking is chemistry. Small differences in ingredient amounts can change the texture and structure of baked goods. A cup of flour scooped directly from the bag can weigh 30% more than a cup that was spooned in and leveled. That difference can make your cookies flat or your bread dense. A $15 kitchen scale eliminates this variation entirely.
Cooking Converter FAQ
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons, a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons, and an eighth of a cup is 2 tablespoons.
How many grams in a cup of flour?
Approximately 120 grams for all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled). If you scoop directly from the bag, it can be as much as 150g. For bread flour, a cup is about 130g. For cake flour, about 115g.
Is a fluid ounce the same as an ounce?
No. A fluid ounce (fl oz) measures volume (29.57 mL). An ounce (oz) measures weight (28.35 grams). They happen to be close in value for water (1 fl oz of water weighs about 1 oz), but for other ingredients the conversion depends on density.
How do I convert a recipe from cups to grams?
You need ingredient-specific conversions because different ingredients have different densities. 1 cup of flour is about 120g, but 1 cup of sugar is 200g, and 1 cup of butter is 227g. Use our quick reference table above or search for the specific ingredient.