How this calculator works
This converter handles the volume measurements used in recipes: US teaspoons, tablespoons, fluid ounces, cups, pints, quarts and gallons, alongside milliliters, liters, and the metric tablespoon and teaspoon (15 ml and 5 ml) common in recipes written outside the US.
Every unit here converts through milliliters. The two US customary anchors are exact defining constants — 1 US cup = 236.5882365 ml and 1 US tablespoon = 14.78676478125 ml — from which the rest of the US ladder follows exactly: 3 teaspoons per tablespoon, 16 tablespoons (or 8 fluid ounces) per cup, and 2, 4 and 16 cups per pint, quart and gallon respectively.
How it converts
result = value × (milliliters per from-unit) ÷ (milliliters per to-unit)Exact anchors: 1 US cup = 236.5882365 ml · 1 US tbsp = 14.78676478125 ml · 1 metric tbsp = 15 ml · 1 metric tsp = 5 mlThis calculator is volume-only. It does not convert to grams or ounces by weight, because that conversion depends on the ingredient's density (a cup of flour is much lighter than a cup of honey) — see the FAQ below.
Worked example: 1 US cup to milliliters
- 1 US cup is defined as exactly 236.5882365 ml.
- As a check: 1 cup ÷ 16 tablespoons = 14.786764781... ml per tablespoon, matching the tablespoon's own exact definition.
- So a recipe calling for '1 cup' of a liquid needs about 237 ml — most cooks round to 240 ml for convenience.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't this converter do grams or ounces by weight?
Weight depends on what you are measuring, not just the volume. A US cup of water weighs about 236.6 g, but a cup of all-purpose flour weighs roughly 120-150 g and a cup of honey weighs roughly 340 g, because each ingredient has a different density. Converting volume to weight correctly requires an ingredient-specific density figure. Where a recipe's accuracy matters (especially in baking), enter the weight in grams directly from the recipe or a kitchen scale rather than converting from a volume measurement.
Is a UK tablespoon the same as a US tablespoon?
No. A UK tablespoon is standardized at 15 ml, the same as the metric tablespoon, while a US tablespoon is 14.78676478125 ml — close enough that most recipes ignore the roughly 1.5% difference. Note that the Australian tablespoon is a different unit at 20 ml, which is not included in this converter.
Why is a US cup not a round number of milliliters?
The US customary cup derives historically from the US liquid gallon (231 cubic inches), not from the metric system, so its exact metric equivalent comes out to 236.5882365 ml rather than a round number like 250 ml. Many recipes and kitchen tools informally round a 'cup' to 240 ml or 250 ml for convenience.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
3 US teaspoons make 1 US tablespoon, and this ratio also holds for the metric spoons (3 × 5 ml = 15 ml).
How many tablespoons are in a quarter cup?
4 US tablespoons. Since 1 US cup equals exactly 16 US tablespoons, a quarter cup is one quarter of that: 16 ÷ 4 = 4 tablespoons.