Recipe Scaler
Scale a recipe up or down to any number of servings, with kitchen fractions.
How it works
Type the servings the recipe makes and the servings you want. Add each ingredient with its quantity and unit, using decimals such as 0.5 for ½. Every quantity is multiplied by desired servings divided by original servings.
Scale factor = desired servings ÷ original servings
New quantity = original quantity × scale factorExample
A recipe for 4 that you want to serve to 6 has a scale factor of 6 ÷ 4 = 1.5. Then 250 g of flour becomes 375 g, 1 cup of milk becomes 1 ½ cups, 0.5 tsp of vanilla becomes ¾ tsp, and 2 eggs become 3.
Common mistakes
- Entering fractions as text. Type 0.5 for ½ and 1.25 for 1¼ in the quantity box.
- Mixing units in one ingredient. Pick one unit per row and add a second row if the recipe lists, say, 1 cup plus 2 tbsp.
- Assuming time and temperature scale too. Doubling a recipe rarely doubles the baking time, and a larger pan changes how it cooks.
About this calculator
Enter the number of servings the recipe makes, the number you want, and your ingredients with their quantities and units. The calculator works out one scale factor, desired servings divided by original servings, and multiplies every quantity by it.
Cups, spoons, pieces and custom units are shown as kitchen fractions such as 1 ½ or ¾ when the amount is within 0.02 of one, with the exact decimal alongside when it is not exact. A fractional count of pieces, like 2 ½ eggs, is flagged so you can round it yourself. The tool scales amounts only: cooking times, pan sizes and how strongly salt, spices or raising agents behave do not always scale in step, so check those when making a big change.
Frequently asked questions
How does the recipe scaler work out new quantities?
It divides the servings you want by the servings the recipe makes to get a scale factor, then multiplies every ingredient by it. Going from 4 to 6 servings gives × 1.5, and going from 4 to 2 gives × 0.5.
Why do some amounts appear as fractions?
For cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, pieces and custom units, an amount within 0.02 of a common fraction (⅛, ¼, ⅓, ⅜, ½, ⅝, ⅔, ¾, ⅞) is shown as that fraction. If it is not exactly equal, the exact decimal is shown next to it. Grams, kilograms, millilitres and litres stay as decimals.
What happens to ingredients like 2.5 eggs?
The tool shows the exact result, for example 2 ½ pieces, with a note that you can round it. It never rounds the number for you. Whether to use 2 or 3 eggs is a cooking decision.
Can I use any unit?
You can choose grams, kilograms, millilitres, litres, cups, tablespoons, teaspoons or pieces, or pick a custom unit and type your own, such as cloves or pinch. The tool does not convert between units, so a cup stays a cup.