Metric to Imperial Cooking Conversion — Grams, Cups, Ounces, and Teaspoons

Following a recipe from a different country almost always means converting measurements. UK recipes use grams and milliliters. US recipes use cups, tablespoons, and ounces. Indian recipes often mix both. Getting a conversion wrong by 20% can ruin a dish, especially in baking where ratios matter more than they do in a curry.

The fundamental difference

Metric cooking measures weight (grams, kilograms) and volume (milliliters, liters). US customary measures volume for almost everything, including solids (1 cup of flour, 2 cups of oats). This is why US measuring cups have different conversions for different ingredients: 1 cup of flour is not the same weight as 1 cup of brown sugar.

A kitchen scale removes this confusion entirely. If a UK recipe says 200g of flour, weigh it. Don't try to convert to cups, because "1 cup of flour" can mean anywhere from 120g to 150g depending on how you scoop it.

Volume conversions for liquids

• 1 US cup = 237 ml (often approximated as 240 ml in recipes)
• 1 US tablespoon = 15 ml
• 1 US teaspoon = 5 ml
• 1 US fluid ounce = 30 ml
• 1 US pint = 473 ml
• 1 US quart = 946 ml (roughly 1 liter)
• 1 US gallon = 3.79 liters

UK vs US cup differences

The UK doesn't officially use cups, but many British recipe sites have adopted them. When they do, they sometimes use metric cups (250 ml) rather than US cups (237 ml). That's a small difference for a single cup but adds up across a recipe with six cups of liquid. When in doubt, check whether the recipe specifies US or metric cups.

Oven temperatures

UK recipes use Celsius and sometimes gas marks. US recipes use Fahrenheit. The conversions that matter most in baking: 180°C = 350°F (moderate, most cakes), 190°C = 375°F, 200°C = 400°F (bread, roasting), 220°C = 425°F (high heat).

Convert any measurement quickly with the Unit Converter, which handles weight, volume, and temperature in one place.