Having an easy guide for measurement conversions is one of the best ways to feel confident and prepared in the kitchen no matter what recipe you’re following!
Cooking and baking should be a low fuss, stress-free enjoyable time, and yet there are still those days when we’re in a groove and we need to stop to figure out a measurement conversion.
So, we search by way of smearing our phones with our messy fingers, time and time again, and even still, the answers can be confusing.
Anytime I can make things just a little easier and a little more streamlined, I’m all for it. So, I have created a simple, easy-to-follow guide and printable to basic kitchen conversions that you’ll be able to use for both wet and dry ingredients when baking or cooking up a storm. Bonus points for not having to stop along the way!
Jump to:
- Recipe Abbreviations
- Measurement tools for both Wet and Dry ingredients
- Measurements, Equivalents, and Conversions
- How many cups are in 1 quart?
- How many cups are in 1 pint?
- How many cups are in 1 gallon?
- How many cups in half gallon?
- How many pints are in 1 quart?
- How many ounces in a gallon?
- How many ounces in a pound?
- How many ounces are in a cup?
- How many ounces in a tablespoon?
- How many pints are in a gallon?
- How many ounces in a half a gallon?
- How many quarts are in a gallon?
- How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
- How many tablespoons are in a cup?
- How many ml are in a quart?
- Converting liquid measurements
- Converting dry measurments
- A simple chart for 1 Cup conversions
- What does it mean to spoon and level?
- What does “packed brown sugar” mean?
- Conversion Sheet
- Comments
Recipe Abbreviations
Take note of the most common abbreviations you’ll come across in recipes. It’s helpful to know what each of them means.
- Tbsp = Tablespoon
- tsp = Teaspoon
- Oz = ounce
- fl. oz = Fluid ounce
- c = Cup
- qt = Quart
- pt = Pint
- gal = Gallon
- lb = Pound
Did you know that measuring cups are different for both wet and dry? It can really alter the outcome of your recipe if you’re not using the correct one.
MEASURING CUPS FOR LIQUIDS (water, oil, broth)
These are usually glass and come with a spout for easing pouring. Once placed on a level surface, it’s easy to see at eye level how much volume the cup is holding and when you’ve reached the correct line.
MEASURING CUPS FOR DRY INGREDIENTS (flour, sugar, oats)
A set of measuring cups for dry ingredients will have no spout. This makes it easier to spoon and level for accuracy.
MEASURING SPOONS
These are actually the same used for both wet and dry. Woohoo!
DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE
If you haven’t invested in a digital kitchen scale yet, I highly recommend you do. They are relatively inexpensive and definitely worth it if you spend loads of time in the kitchen.
It’s the most accurate way to measure the weight of a cup of dry ingredients. Just relying on a cup to find the correct number of ounces, for example, can be tricky. A cup of flour will not equal the same number of ounces as a cup of chickpeas, therefore, using a scale will help with accuracy.
Don’t forget to zero the scale to account for the weight of the measuring device. This means you weigh the measuring cup empty by placing it on the scale and setting the weight back to zero.
Measurements, Equivalents, and Conversions
Unless you’ve been making the same recipe over and over again for years, there’s always a need to read and reread a recipe!
Baking is much more precise than cooking, but even with cooking, the wrong measurements can lead to disaster. This is why a measurement sheet is a game-changer!
How many cups are in 1 quart?
4 cups are equal to 1 quart.
How many cups are in 1 pint?
2 cups are equal to 1 pint.
How many cups are in 1 gallon?
16 cups are equal to 1 gallon
How many cups in half gallon?
8 cups are equal to half (½) gallon
How many pints are in 1 quart?
2 pints are equal to 1 quart
How many ounces in a gallon?
128 ounces are equal to 1 gallon
How many ounces in a pound?
16 ounces are equal to 1 pound
How many ounces are in a cup?
8 ounces are equal to 1 cup
How many ounces in a tablespoon?
.5 ounces are equal to 1 tablespoon
How many pints are in a gallon?
8 pints are equal to 1 gallon
How many ounces in a half a gallon?
64 ounces are equal to half (½) gallon
How many quarts are in a gallon?
4 quarts are equal to 1 gallon
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
3 teaspoons are equal to 1 tablespoon
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
16 tablespoons are equal to 1 cup
How many ml are in a quart?
946.353 ml are equal to 1 quart
Converting liquid measurements
- 1 c = 8 fl. Oz = ½ pt = ¼ qt
- 2 c = 16 fl. Oz = 1 pt = ½ qt
- 4 c = 32 fl. Oz = 2 pt = 1 qt = ¼ gal
- 16 c = 128 fl. Oz = 8 pt = 4 qt = 1 gal
Converting dry measurments
- 1 c = 16 tablespoon = 48 tsp
- ¾ c = 12 tablespoon = 36 tsp
- ½ c = 8 tablespoon = 24 tsp
- ¼ c = 4 tablespoon = 12 tsp
- ⅛ c = 2 tablespoon = 6 tsp
- 1/16 c = 1 tablespoon = 3 tsp
A simple chart for 1 Cup conversions
- 1 c = 8 fl. oz
- 1 c = 16 Tbsp
- 1 c = 48 tsp
- 1 c = ½ pt
- 1 c = ¼ qt
- 1 c = 1/16 gal
- 1 c = 240 ml
What does it mean to spoon and level?
Baking is a science and requires accuracy to get you the best results when baking bread, cakes, donuts, you name it. When you see spoon and level the flour, that means adding spoonfuls of flour to the measuring cup until it’s overflowing and using the backside of a knife to level off the excess, leaving a nice flat surface, level to the top of the cup.
What does “packed brown sugar” mean?
It’s a way of making sure you’re getting the exact right amount of sugar needed by pressing the air out of it and making space for even more of it. What you want to do is add it to the cup and instead of leveling off with the back of a knife, you’re going to pack it in there nice and tight. Keep doing this until it reaches the top of the rim.
Conversion Sheet
When you need to know how to convert measurements from metric to imperial or vice versa, or even from one unit to another within the same system, having a handy sheet makes things so much easier.
This sheet is part of my home management binder (that I honestly don’t know how I’d live without) and I’m giving you this printable today in case it’s helpful for you!
Print it out and keep it inside your cupboard or on your fridge for easy access. This can be especially handy for those new to the kitchen and for kids gaining a little independence and needing to find something without asking. Of course, even the most experienced home cooks need a reminder sometimes.
