Cooking conversions.
Cups ↔ mL, oven temperatures across Fahrenheit, Celsius, and gas marks, and ingredient density (grams per cup) for accurate baking. The reference for cooking from international recipes.
The chart
| Measure | US Customary | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 1 tsp = 1/3 tbsp | ≈ 4.93 mL (round to 5 mL) |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 1 tbsp = 3 tsp = 1/16 cup | ≈ 14.79 mL (round to 15 mL) |
| 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) | 1 fl oz = 2 tbsp = 1/8 cup | ≈ 29.57 mL (round to 30 mL) |
| 1/4 cup | 1/4 cup = 4 tbsp = 2 fl oz | ≈ 59.15 mL (round to 60 mL) |
| 1/3 cup | 1/3 cup = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp | ≈ 78.86 mL (round to 80 mL) |
| 1/2 cup | 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp = 4 fl oz | ≈ 118.29 mL (round to 120 mL) |
| 2/3 cup | 2/3 cup = 10 tbsp + 2 tsp | ≈ 157.73 mL (round to 160 mL) |
| 3/4 cup | 3/4 cup = 12 tbsp = 6 fl oz | ≈ 177.44 mL (round to 180 mL) |
| 1 cup | 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 8 fl oz | ≈ 236.59 mL (round to 240 mL) |
| 1 pint (US) | 1 pt = 2 cups = 16 fl oz | ≈ 473.18 mL |
| 1 quart (US) | 1 qt = 2 pt = 4 cups | ≈ 946.35 mL |
| 1 gallon (US) | 1 gal = 4 qt = 16 cups | ≈ 3.785 L |
About 'cups' globally. The US legal cup is 240 mL; the US customary cup is 236.59 mL; the metric cup (Australia/NZ) is 250 mL; the imperial cup (UK, historical) is 284 mL. Most US recipes use the customary 236.59 mL, but rounding to 240 mL is fine for almost everything — except very precise baking.
Common applications
| Oven temperature (F) | Oven temperature (C) | Gas mark (UK) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 225 °F | 110 °C | Gas mark 1/4 | Very slow (drying, slow cooking) |
| 250 °F | 120 °C | Gas mark 1/2 | Very slow |
| 275 °F | 140 °C | Gas mark 1 | Slow / low |
| 300 °F | 150 °C | Gas mark 2 | Slow |
| 325 °F | 165 °C | Gas mark 3 | Moderately slow |
| 350 °F | 175 °C | Gas mark 4 | Moderate (standard baking) |
| 375 °F | 190 °C | Gas mark 5 | Moderately hot |
| 400 °F | 200 °C | Gas mark 6 | Hot |
| 425 °F | 220 °C | Gas mark 7 | Hot (roasting) |
| 450 °F | 230 °C | Gas mark 8 | Very hot |
| 475 °F | 245 °C | Gas mark 9 | Very hot (pizza, breads) |
| 500 °F | 260 °C | Gas mark 10 | Very hot (high-temp pizza) |
| 550 °F | 290 °C | Beyond gas | Broiler / pizza-stone temperatures |
Common pitfalls
- Fan / convection ovens run ~20 °C (35 °F) hotter than conventional ovens. A recipe calling for 180 °C conventional means about 160 °C fan-assisted. Always check whether the recipe specifies which.
- Volume measures vary by ingredient density. 1 cup of flour is ~120 g; 1 cup of sugar is ~200 g; 1 cup of brown sugar (packed) is ~220 g; 1 cup of butter is ~227 g. Baking by weight (grams) is always more accurate than by volume.
- UK and US measurements differ. A UK pint is 568 mL; a US pint is 473 mL — a 20% difference. UK 'fl oz' = 28.4 mL; US 'fl oz' = 29.6 mL. Recipes from the UK won't scale cleanly to US measures.
- Liquid vs dry measuring cups matter for baking. Liquid cups have a spout and measure to the line. Dry cups are flat-topped and meant to be leveled. Using one for the other shifts the actual quantity by 5-10%.
- Old recipes use unfamiliar units. A 'dram' is 1/8 fl oz; a 'gill' is 1/2 cup; a 'jigger' is 1.5 fl oz (cocktail measure). When in doubt, use volume in mL.
Common questions
Why does my recipe say 350°F and my oven only shows 180°C?
350°F equals about 177°C, so 180°C is the standard metric equivalent (most ovens have 10°C increments, not exact conversions). For most recipes the difference is negligible. A more precise table: 250°F = 120°C, 325°F = 165°C, 350°F = 175-180°C, 375°F = 190°C, 400°F = 205°C, 425°F = 220°C.
How much is a 'stick' of butter?
In US recipes, one stick = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 ounces = 113 grams. The standard US butter package is 4 sticks (1 pound). If a UK or European recipe calls for grams, just use the metric directly — easier than going through tablespoons.
Are UK and US tablespoons the same?
No. US tablespoon = 14.79 ml, UK/imperial tablespoon = 17.76 ml, Australian tablespoon = 20 ml. The difference matters for dry ingredients like baking soda or yeast where a 20-30% miscalibration ruins the recipe. For Australian recipes specifically, check whether the tablespoon is 15 ml or 20 ml — both conventions exist.
How do I convert 'a cup of flour' to grams?
Depends on the flour and how packed it is. Standard US conversions: 1 cup all-purpose flour = 125 g (spooned, leveled) or 140 g (scooped). 1 cup bread flour = 130 g. 1 cup whole wheat = 120 g. For accurate baking, weigh ingredients — volume measurements vary ±15% based on packing.
Why are baking measurements more sensitive than cooking?
Baking is chemistry: ratios between flour, fat, leavening, and liquid determine structure. A 10% error in flour can make a cake collapse. Stovetop cooking is more forgiving because you can adjust as you go — taste and tweak. For baking, always weigh; for cooking, volume measurements are usually fine.
Sources
- US legal cup: US FDA 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5) — 240 mL for nutrition labeling.
- US customary cup: 1/16 US gallon = 236.59 mL.
- Metric cup (AU/NZ): 250 mL by national convention.
- Oven conversions: Industry-standard gas mark to °C conversions per UK ovens.
Disclaimer. Baking is more sensitive to measurement than savory cooking. For consistent baking results, weigh ingredients in grams rather than measuring by volume.