Culinary Measurement Abbreviations Guide
Decode culinary abbreviations: tbsp vs tsp, oz vs fl oz, pt, qt, gal, lb, and g.
Master Kitchen Abbreviations Table
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Unit Type | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| tsp / t / tsp. | Teaspoon | Volume | 4.93 mL (approx 5 mL) |
| tbsp / T / Tbs / tbsp. | Tablespoon | Volume | 3 teaspoons / 14.79 mL |
| c / C / c. | Cup | Volume | 16 tablespoons / 240 mL |
| fl oz / fl. oz. | Fluid Ounce | Volume | 2 tablespoons / 29.57 mL |
| pt / pt. | Pint | Volume | 2 cups / 16 fluid ounces |
| qt / qt. | Quart | Volume | 2 pints / 4 cups / 32 fl oz |
| gal / gal. | Gallon | Volume | 4 quarts / 16 cups / 128 fl oz |
| oz / oz. | Ounce (Avoirdupois) | Weight (Mass) | 28.35 grams |
| lb / lbs / # | Pound | Weight (Mass) | 16 ounces / 453.59 grams |
| g / g. | Gram | Weight (Mass) | 0.035 ounces / 1000 mg |
| kg / kg. | Kilogram | Weight (Mass) | 1000 grams / 2.205 pounds |
| ml / mL | Milliliter | Volume | 0.034 fl oz / 1 cubic cm |
Purpose of the Cooking Measurement Abbreviations Guide
Decode common culinary measurement abbreviations used in cookbooks worldwide.
How to Use This Tool
- Search or scan the abbreviations table to understand recipe shorthand.
Input & Output Definitions
Input Parameters
- Abbreviation: Shorthand letter representation (e.g. tbsp, tsp, c, pt, qt, gal, oz, fl oz, lb, g, kg).
Calculated Outputs
- Full Unit Name: Complete unit name and definition.
Worked Culinary Example
Scenario: Recipe calls for "2 T flour and 1 t vanilla".
- Capital "T" or "Tbsp" = Tablespoon (15 mL).
- Lowercase "t" or "tsp" = Teaspoon (5 mL).
Result: Use 2 tablespoons of flour and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Common Kitchen Mistakes to Avoid
Confusing T and t
A capital "T" is a tablespoon; a lowercase "t" is a teaspoon (which is 1/3 the volume).