How many cups in a gallon (and other kitchen measures)

American recipes use volume (cups, quarts, gallons) instead of weight. The ladder is easy to memorize:

The measure ladder

• 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 16 cups ≈ 3.79 L
• 1 quart = 2 pints = 4 cups ≈ 0.95 L
• 1 pint = 2 cups ≈ 473 ml
• 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 240 ml
• 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 15 ml

What about grams?

It depends on the ingredient: 1 cup of flour ≈ 127 g, of sugar ≈ 204 g, of honey ≈ 340 g — same cup, different weights (different densities). Use our cooking converter for the exact ingredient.

Tip

For precision in breads and cakes, prefer a scale: volume changes with how packed the ingredient is.

FAQ

Is a US cup the same as a metric cup? Almost: the US cup is 240 ml; a metric cup is often 250 ml. For precise recipes, check the standard.

US or UK gallon? They differ: US is 3.79 L; UK (imperial) is 4.55 L. US recipes use the US gallon.