How kitchen volume units fit together
US recipes measure by volume in a chain of units that each double or triple the last: 3 teaspoons make a tablespoon, 2 tablespoons make a fluid ounce, 8 fluid ounces make a cup, 2 cups make a pint, 2 pints make a quart, and 4 quarts make a gallon. Metric is simpler: 1,000 milliliters in a liter. The converter links the two systems through the exact size of the US teaspoon.
The formula
1 pint = 2 cups · 1 quart = 4 cups · 1 gallon = 16 cups
1 cup = 236.588 ml · 1 tsp = 4.929 ml · 1 tbsp = 14.787 ml
result = amount × (size of from-unit ÷ size of to-unit)
Example: 1 cup
| Unit | 1 cup equals |
|---|---|
| Teaspoons | 48 tsp |
| Tablespoons | 16 tbsp |
| Fluid ounces | 8 fl oz |
| Pints | 0.5 pints |
| Quarts | 0.25 quarts |
| Gallons | 0.0625 gal |
| Milliliters | 236.6 ml |
| Liters | 0.2366 L |
Handy cup fractions
| Cups | Tablespoons | Fluid ounces | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp | 1 fl oz | 30 ml |
| 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp | 2 fl oz | 59 ml |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp | 2.67 fl oz | 79 ml |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp | 4 fl oz | 118 ml |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tbsp + 2 tsp | 5.33 fl oz | 158 ml |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp | 6 fl oz | 177 ml |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 8 fl oz | 237 ml |
Measuring tips
- Use the right cup. Liquid measuring cups have a spout and headroom; read them at eye level. Dry cups are meant to be filled and leveled.
- Volume isn't weight. 8 fl oz of water weighs about 8 oz, but 8 fl oz of flour weighs about half that. Convert dry ingredients with a cups to grams chart.
- Check where a recipe is from. UK and Australian recipes may use 250 ml cups, 20 ml tablespoons (Australia) or imperial pints.
- Round sensibly. For cooking, 240 ml per cup is close enough. For baking, use the exact figure or, better, weigh.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. That makes 1/2 cup 8 tablespoons, 1/3 cup 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, and 1/4 cup 4 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon, so a cup holds 48 teaspoons.
How many ml are in a cup?
A US customary cup is about 236.6 milliliters. Many recipes round it to 240 ml. Metric cups used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada are 250 ml, so the difference is about 5%, which rarely matters outside of baking.
Are fluid ounces the same as ounces?
No. Fluid ounces measure volume and ounces measure weight. A cup is always 8 fluid ounces, but a cup of flour weighs only about 4 1/4 ounces, while a cup of honey weighs about 12. For weights, use a cups to grams converter.
How many cups are in a quart and a gallon?
2 cups make a pint, 2 pints (4 cups) make a quart, and 4 quarts (16 cups) make a gallon. A gallon is 128 fluid ounces, about 3.79 liters.
Is a UK pint the same as a US pint?
No. A US pint is 16 US fluid ounces (about 473 ml); an imperial pint is 20 imperial fluid ounces (about 568 ml). This converter uses US customary units.
Rates and figures last checked October 2026.
This calculator gives estimates for planning. Check current rates and product labels before you buy, list or file.