← Measurements & Conversions

Illustration of three kitchen spoons in different sizes, a measuring jug, and a cup.

Cups and Spoons

Teaspoons, dessert spoons, tablespoons, millilitres, and cups

Edit any field; metric, UK imperial, and US customary kitchen measures stay in sync via millilitres.

Metric: 5 mL tsp, 15 mL tbsp, 250 mL cup, 10 mL dessert spoon. US: tsp and tbsp from the US fluid ounce; cup 236.588 mL (8 US fl oz). UK imperial: tsp, tbsp, and dessert spoon from the UK fluid ounce; cup is ½ UK pint (284.131 mL). Many modern UK recipes use metric spoon sizes; check your recipe if amounts look unfamiliar.

Check the country of origin of your recipe if possible. Measure your spoons and cups in millilitres if possible to see which ones you are actually using. Some countries use a mix of measurement systems just to confuse us all :).

Related converters: Drink Glasses, Liquids, and Weight.

How metric, UK, and US kitchen measures differ

Cups and spoons are not universal

Teaspoons, tablespoons, dessert spoons, and cups come in metric, UK imperial, and US customary sizes. A US cup is commonly treated as 240 ml on labels; metric cups are often 250 ml; UK spoonfuls historically differ again. This converter synchronises those kitchen volumes through millilitres so a recipe can be translated instead of guessed.

Worked example

A US recipe calling for 1 cup of milk (~240 ml) is not the same as a 250 ml metric cup used in many modern charts. Swapping tablespoons without converting can shift salt or baking powder enough to change texture.

Practical tips

  • Prefer grams for flour and sugar when a recipe provides them.
  • Level spoons unless the recipe says heaped.
  • Confirm which scale a “cup” means before batch-scaling.

Common mistakes

  • Using a mug as a measuring cup.
  • Confusing dessert spoons with tablespoons.
  • Mixing liquid cups with unevenly packed dry scoops.

FAQs

Where is the longer explanation?
See US, UK, and metric cup sizes.
Beer glass sizes?
Use Drink Glasses for pub serves.

When this page helps

Use it when you want a transparent, browser-side calculation with the assumptions spelled out — then verify anything high-stakes against primary docs, a professional, or your own measurements. The related links below point to sibling tools and longer guides when you need more context.

Accuracy notes

Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the simplified model described above. Device clocks, tape measurements, market rates, and recipe conventions can all differ from a perfect textbook case. If an output looks surprising, re-check units first, then re-read the formula section.

Related: Liquids, Oven Temperature, Weight.

Last updated: July 2026