A quarter cup is 4 tablespoons, 12 teaspoons, 2 US fluid ounces, or about 59 milliliters. In many metric kitchen charts, that rounds to 60 mL. For dry ingredients, the volume is the same, but the weight changes by ingredient.
Quarter Cup Conversion Chart
| Quarter cup equals | Use this for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4 tablespoons | Most cooking and baking | The easiest substitute if you do not have a 1/4 cup measure |
| 12 teaspoons | Small-volume measuring | Useful only when tablespoons are not available |
| 2 US fluid ounces | Liquid measuring | Fluid ounces measure volume, not ingredient weight |
| About 59 mL | Metric conversion | Often rounded to 60 mL in kitchen use |
| 1/16 gallon | Large-volume math | Rarely needed in everyday cooking |
How to Measure a Quarter Cup
- Use a 1/4 cup measuring cup if you have one.
- For dry ingredients, spoon the ingredient into the cup and level the top with a straight edge.
- For liquids, use a liquid measuring cup and check the level at eye height.
- If you do not have a quarter cup, measure 4 level tablespoons.
- For flour, sugar, cocoa, grated cheese, and chopped ingredients, weigh the ingredient when precision matters.
Dry vs Liquid Quarter Cup
A quarter cup is a volume either way, but measuring technique matters. A dry measuring cup is filled and leveled. A liquid measuring cup is read from the side. For ingredients that pack down or vary in shape, such as flour, brown sugar, oats, nuts, or shredded cheese, a kitchen scale is more consistent than volume.
Common Quarter Cup Uses
- Oil, milk, water, broth, cream, or melted butter in small recipes.
- Flour, sugar, cocoa, oats, nuts, or chocolate chips in baking.
- Small sauce, dressing, and marinade amounts.
- Portioning toppings such as grated cheese, seeds, or dried fruit.
FAQ
How many tablespoons are in a quarter cup?
There are 4 tablespoons in a quarter cup.
How many teaspoons are in a quarter cup?
There are 12 teaspoons in a quarter cup.
How many ounces are in a quarter cup?
A quarter cup is 2 US fluid ounces by volume. Weight ounces depend on the ingredient.
How many mL is a quarter cup?
A quarter cup is about 59 mL, often rounded to 60 mL in kitchen conversions.
Is a quarter cup the same for dry and liquid ingredients?
The volume is the same, but dry and liquid ingredients are measured differently. For baking precision, weigh dry ingredients when possible.