Unit Converter Everyday Uses: From Cooking to Construction
We live in a world of mixed measurement systems. Your recipe calls for grams, but your scale shows ounces. The blueprint says meters, but your tape measure reads feet. The weather forecast gives Celsius, but you think in Fahrenheit. A good unit converteris the bridge between all of these.
This guide covers the most common unit conversion scenarios you'll encounter in daily life — and how to handle them without breaking a sweat.
Kitchen Conversions
Volume: Cups, Milliliters, and Liters
The kitchen is where unit conversions happen most often. A US cup is 236.6 mL, but many recipes round to 240 mL. For baking precision, that difference matters.
- 1 cup= 236.6 mL (or 240 mL in many modern converters)
- 1 tablespoon= 14.8 mL (about 15 mL)
- 1 teaspoon= 4.9 mL (about 5 mL)
- 1 fluid ounce= 29.6 mL
Weight: Grams, Ounces, and Pounds
European recipes use grams for everything. American recipes use cups and spoons, which are less precise. 1 ounce = 28.35 grams. 1 pound = 453.6 grams.
Temperature Conversions
Converting between Celsius and Fahrenheit is the most requested conversion after cooking conversions:
- C to F:(°C × 9/5) + 32 = °F
- F to C:(°F − 32) × 5/9 = °C
- 0°C= 32°F (freezing point)
- 100°C= 212°F (boiling point)
- 20–22°C= 68–72°F (room temperature)
Use our unit converterfor instant temperature, volume, weight, and length conversions.
Distance and Length
Metric vs. Imperial
1 inch = 2.54 cm. 1 foot = 0.3048 m. 1 mile = 1.609 km. When traveling between the US and most of the world, these conversions come up constantly.
For help with imperial-only conversions, see our guide on how to convert inches to feet.
Construction & DIY Conversions
- Square footage:1 m² = 10.764 ft². Useful for flooring, paint, and tile estimates.
- Cubic volume:for concrete, soil, or gravel orders.
- Pressure:psi vs. bar vs. kPa for tires or plumbing.
Weight for Travel and Fitness
Luggage limits at airports mix kilograms and pounds. Body weight and gym plates also vary by country. Knowing these conversions saves you from overweight baggage fees.