# Cooking Unit Converter

Convert between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, milliliters, fluid ounces, and liters. Free cooking measurement converter for recipes.

## What this calculates

Following a recipe that uses unfamiliar measurements? This cooking unit converter instantly translates between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, milliliters, fluid ounces, and liters. Simply enter the amount and source unit, and see all equivalent measurements at once.

## Inputs

- **Amount** — min 0
- **From Unit** — options: Cups, Tablespoons (tbsp), Teaspoons (tsp), Milliliters (mL), Fluid Ounces (fl oz), Liters (L)

## Outputs

- **Cups**
- **Tablespoons**
- **Teaspoons**
- **Milliliters**
- **Fluid Ounces**
- **Liters**

## Details

Cooking measurements can be confusing, especially when converting between US customary units and metric. Here are the standard conversions used by this calculator (all US customary):

  - 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 236.588 mL = 8 fl oz

  - 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 14.787 mL = 0.5 fl oz

  - 1 teaspoon = 4.929 mL

  - 1 fluid ounce = 29.574 mL = 2 tablespoons

  - 1 liter = 1,000 mL = 4.227 cups

Important notes:

  - These are volume measurements, not weight. The weight of an ingredient depends on its density.

  - US cups differ from UK/Imperial cups (US = 236.588 mL, Imperial = 284.131 mL). This calculator uses US cups.

  - For baking accuracy, weighing ingredients with a kitchen scale is more reliable than volume measurements.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How many tablespoons in a cup?**

A: There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. A half cup is 8 tablespoons, and a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons.

**Q: How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?**

A: There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. This is true for both US and metric tablespoons.

**Q: Are US and UK cups the same?**

A: No. A US cup is 236.588 mL while an Imperial (UK) cup is 284.131 mL. This calculator uses US cups. If you are following a British recipe, use the mL field for accurate conversion.

**Q: Is a fluid ounce the same as an ounce by weight?**

A: No. A fluid ounce (fl oz) measures volume, while an ounce (oz) measures weight. They happen to be nearly equal for water (1 fl oz of water weighs about 1.043 oz), but this varies widely for other ingredients.

**Q: Why do baking recipes sometimes use weight instead of volume?**

A: Volume measurements can vary depending on how you scoop and pack ingredients. For example, a cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120g to 160g depending on technique. Weight measurements are more precise and reproducible.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/food/cooking
Category: Food & Cooking
Last updated: 2026-04-21