How To Measure Ounces: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Measure Ounces PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Alex Hong

Last Updated: April 29, 2025 References

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  • Measuring Dry Ounces
    • |
  • Calculating Fluid Ounces
    • |
  • Using a Kitchen Scale
    • |
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  • Expert Interview
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This article was co-authored by Alex Hong. Alex Hong is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Sorrel, a New American restaurant in San Francisco. He has been working in restaurants for over 12 years. Alex is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in the kitchens of Jean-Georges and Quince, both Michelin-starred restaurants. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 272,112 times.

Depending on the recipe, ounces can be a measurement of volume or weight. Fluid ounces are a measurement of volume, whereas dry ounces are a measurement of weight. As long as the ingredient is measured carefully, dry or liquid measuring cups should give you a simple and accurate calculation. For the most precise reading, use a kitchen scale to measure your ingredient.

Things You Should Know

  • 1 ounce is equal to 1/8 cup.[1]
  • 1 ounce is also equal to 2 tablespoons.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Measuring Dry Ounces

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  1. Step 1 Use dry measuring cups for solid ingredients. 1 Use dry measuring cups for solid ingredients. Dry and liquid ounces are slightly different measurements. While dry ounces are a measurement of weight, liquid ounces are a measurement of volume. For solids, choose a dry measuring cup that uses ounces or something that can be easily converted to ounces.
  2. Step 2 Put the ingredient being measured in a wide-mouthed container. 2 Put the ingredient being measured in a wide-mouthed container. You will be better able to put the measuring cup into the container if it has a large, open mouth. If the ingredient is not currently in an open-mouthed jar or bag, pour it into a bowl before you measure it.[2] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 3 Dip a measuring cup into the container. Use a measuring cup that marks ounces or that can be easily converted into ounces (like cups). As you lift the measuring cup out of the ingredient, let it overflow from the top. You can even the measurement out later on.[3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 4 Use a knife to level off the measuring cup. Scrape the back of the knife over the top of the measuring cup to even out your measurement. Level the ingredient off over the bowl or container so it can catch anything that falls off the top of the measuring cup.[4]
    • Any utensil with a straight, flat edge (like a spatula) can be used as an alternative to a knife.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Calculating Fluid Ounces

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  1. Step 1 Use a fluid measuring cup if you are handling a liquid. 1 Use a fluid measuring cup if you are handling a liquid.[5] The measuring cup used will work best if it's for fluid ounces if measuring a liquid. Dry cups won't give as accurate of a reading because they are designed to measure weight instead of volume, but you can still try it if that's all you have![6]
    • One dry measuring cup equals 8 fluid ounces.
  2. Step 2 Place the measuring cup on a flat, stable surface. 2 Place the measuring cup on a flat, stable surface. Choose a measuring cup that measures in ounces or can be easily converted to it. Lay the cup on as even of a surface as possible, like a table.
    • Avoid holding the cup in your hand while measuring, as the reading will be slightly off.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 3 Pour the liquid to approximately the desired line. Fill the measuring cup until it reaches slightly underneath the level you are hoping to reach. Squat down until you are about eye level with the line to check your measurement, as looking from above can give you a warped measurement.[7]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 4 Adjust the measurement until the bottom of the meniscus reaches the line. While measuring liquid ounces, you may notice that the top of the surface is not even and may curve along the edges. This curve is called the meniscus. For the most accurate reading, the bottom (not the top) of the meniscus should reach the desired line.[8]
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Using a Kitchen Scale

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 1 Weigh the cup on a kitchen scale to check your measurements. After you have leveled off the cup, it should be accurate. But if you want a more precise measurement, place the cup on a kitchen scale that can measure in ounces. Compare the scale's reading to your initial measurement to determine how accurate your measuring cup is.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 2 Zero out the measuring cup's weight. Place the empty measuring cup on the scale before you fill it with the ingredient. This will allow you to get the exact measurement of the ingredient in ounces. If you have a digital scale, hit the "on" or "clear" button to zero out the weight.[9]
    • If you have an older, mechanical scale, turn the knob back to the zero mark after placing the measuring cup on it.
    • For balance scales, set the pointer to the center mark.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Measure Ounces 3 Fill the measuring cup with the ingredient and place it on the scale. Lift the measuring cup off of the scale and add the ingredient you want to measure. Adjust the ingredient amount by adding or removing until it reaches the desired amount of ounces.
    • Make sure the scale is set to ounces before measuring your ingredient.
  4. Step 4 Weigh each ingredient separately if weighing multiple items. 4 Weigh each ingredient separately if weighing multiple items. Use different measuring cups to keep the ingredients separate. Remember to zero out each cup before recording the ounce measurement for the most precise reading.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How many ounces are in a measuring cup? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer A single cup is 8 fluid ounces. If your measuring cup is bigger, it will hold more ounces (e.g., a 2-cup measuring cup can hold 16 fluid ounces). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
  • Question How many ounces is a cup of flour? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer By weight, a cup of all-purpose flour is about 4 ½ oz. Cake or pastry flour is a little lighter, so a cup would be closer to 4 oz. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3
  • Question Is 1 oz the same as 1 fl oz? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer Not necessarily. An ounce can be either a measure of weight or a measure of volume (like a cup or a milliliter). A fluid ounce (fl oz) is a volume measurement, usually used for measuring liquids. However, sometimes people will simply say or write “ounce/oz” without the "fluid/fl" when they’re talking about fluid ounces. So, check the context to figure out which is more likely. For instance, 1 oz of milk is likely a fluid ounce, while 1 oz of garlic would probably be a weight measurement. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
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Tips

  • If you have a measuring cup or scale that uses pounds or grams, both can easily be converted to ounces. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about measuring ounces, check out our in-depth interview with Alex Hong.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.cacfp.org/2023/11/14/fundamentals-of-measuring-weight-and-volume/
  2. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-measure-wet-dry-ingredients-for-baking-accurately-best-method
  3. ↑ https://kirbiecravings.com/2015/03/baking-101-liquid-vs-dry-measuring-cups.html
  4. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5450-dry-versus-liquid-measuring-cups
  5. ↑ Alex Hong. Executive Chef & Restaurant Owner. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-ounces-and-fluid-ounces-224303
  7. ↑ https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/5450-dry-versus-liquid-measuring-cups
  8. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-measure-wet-dry-ingredients-for-baking-accurately-best-method
  9. ↑ https://smittenkitchen.com/2010/08/how-to-use-a-kitchen-scale/

About This Article

Alex Hong Co-authored by: Alex Hong Executive Chef & Restaurant Owner This article was co-authored by Alex Hong. Alex Hong is the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Sorrel, a New American restaurant in San Francisco. He has been working in restaurants for over 12 years. Alex is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has worked in the kitchens of Jean-Georges and Quince, both Michelin-starred restaurants. This article has been viewed 272,112 times. 5 votes - 60% Co-authors: 6 Updated: April 29, 2025 Views: 272,112 Categories: Featured Articles | Basic Cooking Skills | Measuring and Marking Tools Article SummaryX

To measure ounces, select either a liquid or dry measuring cup. If you’re measuring a liquid, place the measuring cup on a flat surface and pour the liquid into the cup. Be sure to bend down to view the measurements on the side of the cup. Make sure the liquid reaches the right measurement. For a dry ingredient, use the measuring cup to scoop out the ingredient. If the cup is overflowing, scrape a knife across the top to level it. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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  • Faiza Khan

    Faiza Khan

    Feb 4, 2017

    "Converting the measurements made my life easy."
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Alex Hong Co-authored by: Alex Hong Executive Chef & Restaurant Owner 5 votes - 60% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 6 Updated: April 29, 2025 Views: 272,112 Faiza Khan

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Feb 4, 2017

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Jade William

Jan 8, 2017

"I don't have a scale, so this helped a lot. " Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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