Common Unit Conversions
| Unit | Equivalent | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp / 8 fl oz | 240 ml |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 15 ml |
| 1 tsp | — | 5 ml |
| 1 oz (weight) | — | 28.35 g |
| 1 lb | 16 oz | 453.6 g |
The Ultimate Recipe Scaling Calculator: Perfect Portions Every Time
Scaling a recipe shouldn’t be guesswork. Whether you're cooking for 2 or 200, our Recipe Scaling Calculator instantly adjusts ingredients by servings, weight, or volume — with smart unit conversion and fraction support. No more mental math or ruined batches.
Why Scale Recipes?
Most recipes serve 4–6 people. But life doesn’t. Hosting a party? Halving a cake? Meal prepping? Scaling ensures flavor balance and prevents waste. Professional chefs use multipliers — now you can too.
How to Use the Recipe Scaling Calculator
- Enter Original & Desired Servings: e.g., 4 → 12
- Paste Ingredients: One per line, with quantity and unit
- Click “Scale Recipe”: Get adjusted list instantly
- Toggle Unit Conversion: 12 tbsp → ¾ cup automatically
Example: 2 cups flour for 4 servings → 6 cups for 12 servings.
Supported Formats
- Fractions: 1/2, 3/4, 1 1/3
- Decimals: 0.5, 1.25
- Units: cups, tbsp, tsp, oz, lb, g, kg, ml, pinch, dash
- Mixed: 1 1/2 cups, 250g, 2–3 cloves
Smart Unit Conversion
Our calculator converts intelligently:
| Original | Scaled (×3) | Converted |
|---|---|---|
| 6 tbsp butter | 18 tbsp | 1 cup + 2 tbsp |
| 0.5 lb chicken | 1.5 lb | 680g |
| 1/3 cup sugar | 1 cup | — |
When NOT to Scale Linearly
Some ingredients don’t scale 1:1:
- Leavening (baking powder/soda): Reduce slightly for large batches
- Spices: Start with 70–80% increase, taste and adjust
- Salt: Scale 80–90% to avoid over-salting
- Garlic/Onion: Full scale (flavor compounds don’t concentrate)
Volume vs Weight
Best Practice: Weigh flour, sugar, liquids. 1 cup flour ≠ 120g always (depends on packing). Use our Ingredient Conversion Calculator for precision.
Scaling Baking vs Cooking
- Baking: Precise. Never round leavening or liquids.
- Cooking: Flexible. Round to nearest ½ tsp or ¼ cup.
Common Scaling Mistakes
- Scaling pan size without adjusting bake time
- Forgetting to scale cooking time (larger roasts need more time)
- Using volume for dense ingredients (brown sugar packs differently)
- Not preheating scaled pans (affects rise)
Scaling for Special Diets
- Gluten-Free: Scale xanthan gum carefully
- Vegan: Egg replacers don’t scale linearly
- Keto: Almond flour absorbs more liquid
Batch Cooking Tips
- Double soups/stews safely
- Triple cookie dough, freeze extras
- Scale sauces in stages to adjust seasoning
- Use larger pots to prevent boil-over
Scaling Around the World
- US: Cups, ounces, Fahrenheit
- UK: Grams, ml, gas marks
- France: Grams only
- India: Often by “handfuls” — convert to grams
Pro Chef Hacks
- Write master recipe for 10 servings
- Use percentage (baker’s %) for doughs
- Label scaled batches clearly
- Test small batch first when scaling ×5+
Pair with Other Tools
Need to convert units? Use our Ingredient Converter. Cooking meat? Try Meat Cooking Time.
Conclusion
Stop guessing. Use our Recipe Scaling Calculator to cook confidently for any crowd. Accurate, fast, and free. Pair with a kitchen scale and fresh ingredients for perfect results every time. Explore more in our Cooking Calculators section.