Liquid Measure Converter
Convert liquid measurements for cooking, baking, and everyday use. Easily convert between US customary units (cups, fluid ounces, gallons, quarts, pints, tablespoons, teaspoons) and metric units (milliliters, liters).
What are the basic liquid measurement conversions?
US liquid measurements: 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces. 1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups = 32 fl oz. 1 pint = 2 cups = 16 fl oz. 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons. 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 0.5 fl oz. Metric: 1 liter = 1000 mL = 4.23 cups = 33.8 fl oz.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces. Breakdown: 1 cup = 16 Tbsp, ½ cup = 8 Tbsp, ⅓ cup = 5.3 Tbsp, ¼ cup = 4 Tbsp, ⅛ cup = 2 Tbsp. Each tablespoon = 3 teaspoons. Common cooking: "stick of butter" = ½ cup = 8 Tbsp. Accurate measuring: 1 Tbsp = 15 mL, 1 tsp = 5 mL.
What is the difference between dry and liquid measuring cups?
Liquid measuring cups have a spout and extra space above the measurement line to prevent spills; read at eye level for accuracy. Dry measuring cups are flat-topped for leveling; fill and level with a straight edge. Using wrong type can cause errors: dry ingredients in liquid cups may be under-measured, liquids in dry cups may spill or be over-measured. Use correct type for best results.
How do I convert milliliters to cups and ounces?
1 cup = 236.6 mL (often rounded to 240 mL). 1 fluid ounce = 29.6 mL (often 30 mL). Conversions: 250 mL = 1.06 cups = 8.5 fl oz, 500 mL = 2.1 cups = 16.9 fl oz, 1 liter (1000 mL) = 4.23 cups = 33.8 fl oz. For cooking: 100 mL ≈ 0.4 cup = 3.4 fl oz, 200 mL ≈ 0.85 cup = 6.8 fl oz. Metric recipes often use mL instead of cups.
What is a fluid ounce vs a regular ounce?
Fluid ounce (fl oz) measures VOLUME of liquids. Regular ounce (oz) measures WEIGHT. They're different units: 8 fl oz of water weighs about 8.3 oz, but 8 fl oz of honey weighs 12 oz (denser), and 8 fl oz of oil weighs 7.4 oz (lighter). In recipes: "ounces" for solids = weight, "fluid ounces" for liquids = volume. Don't substitute one for the other.
How many cups are in a liter of liquid?
1 liter = 4.227 cups = 33.8 fluid ounces = 1.06 quarts = 0.26 gallons. Quick conversions: 2 liters = 8.5 cups (half gallon), 1.5 liters = 6.3 cups, 0.5 liter = 2.1 cups. Soda bottles: 2-liter bottle = 8.5 cups = 67.6 fl oz. Water intake: Recommended 2 liters/day = 8-9 cups. Metric recipes: 1 liter = 1000 mL.
How do I measure liquids accurately for recipes?
Use clear liquid measuring cup with measurement marks. Place on flat surface, pour liquid, read at eye level (not from above) at the bottom of the meniscus (curved liquid surface). For small amounts (1-2 Tbsp), use measuring spoons. For precise baking, weigh liquids in grams: 1 cup water = 237g, 1 cup milk = 244g, 1 cup oil = 220g. Room temperature for accuracy.