What is a Cooking Measurement Converter?
The cooking measurement converter switches between tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, and milliliters — useful for matching recipe measurements to your kitchen tools.
How it's calculated
1 tablespoon (Tbsp) = 15 mL, 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL. Cup sizes vary by country — the US cup is about 240 mL, while some other countries use 200 mL or other standards.
Units that are easy to mix up
| Units | Why it's confusing | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|---|
| US cup vs metric cup | Same "1 cup," different volume | US is about 240mL, many other countries use 200mL — about a 40mL gap |
| tablespoon vs teaspoon | Easy to swap by accident | 1 Tbsp = 15mL, 1 tsp = 5mL — a 3x difference |
Cup sizes differ by country
Using a 200 mL measuring cup for a US recipe calling for '1 cup' leaves you about 40 mL short. For baking, where ratios matter precisely, this gap can noticeably affect results — always check which country's cup standard a recipe is written in.
Good to know
- '1 cup = 8 fl oz' is about volume, not weight. A cup of water weighs about 240g, but a cup of flour weighs only about 120g — because of air trapped between the particles.
- That is exactly why serious baking recipes use a kitchen scale instead of cups — how tightly flour is packed into a cup can shift the amount by 30g or more.
- A 'pinch' is informally treated as about 1/8 teaspoon (0.6 mL), though there's no official standard — it's a cooking convention, not a precise unit.
- Liquid and dry measuring cups are shaped differently — liquid cups have headroom above the line for pouring without spilling, while dry cups are meant to be leveled off flat.
- 1 tablespoon (15 mL) equals exactly 3 teaspoons (5 mL each) — handy to remember when a recipe only gives one unit.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How many mL is 1 tablespoon?
15 mL. Since 1 teaspoon is 5 mL, 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons.
Q. Does it matter whether I use a US or metric cup?
Yes, especially for baking. US cups are about 240 mL, while some countries use a 200 mL standard — always check what your recipe assumes.
Q. What's the difference between liquid and dry measuring cups?
Liquid cups have extra headroom for pouring without spilling; dry cups are designed to be leveled flat across the top for accuracy.