Recipe Scaling Calculator
Easily scale your recipes up or down based on your desired yield or serving size.
Fill in the fields above and click Calculate to see your results.
How to use
Enter the number of servings your original recipe makes and the number you need, and the calculator gives you the conversion factor. Multiply every ingredient quantity in the recipe by this factor to get the scaled amounts.
Two practical warnings: convert ingredients to weight (grams) before scaling — cups and spoons compound rounding errors — and do not scale seasonings, spices, chili, or leavening agents linearly. When doubling or more, start with about 70–75% of the scaled amount of strong seasonings, then adjust to taste. Cooking times also do not scale with quantity: a double batch in the same pot needs more time, not double time.
How it's calculated
Conversion Factor
Examples
Scaling up for a party (4 → 20)
- Target Yield (Servings):20
- Original Yield (Servings):4
Result
- Conversion Factor:5
A factor of 5 means every ingredient is multiplied by five — 200g of rice becomes 1kg. Remember to scale chili and fish sauce at about 70–75% first, then season to taste, and expect a longer cooking time in bigger pots.
Scaling down a family recipe (12 → 4)
- Target Yield (Servings):4
- Original Yield (Servings):12
Result
- Conversion Factor:0.33
A factor of 0.33 cuts the recipe to one third. Weigh ingredients rather than using spoons at this size — a rounding error of half a spoon is tiny in a 12-serving pot but noticeable in a 4-serving one.
Industry Benchmarks
| Metric | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Scale strong seasonings, salt, and leavening at ~70–75% of the factor when doubling or more, then adjust to taste. Weigh ingredients for factors below 0.5 or above 2. | — |
Data source: Professional kitchen scaling practice (baker's percentage method)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use the conversion factor?
Why shouldn't spices be scaled linearly?
Do cooking times change when I scale a recipe?
What is the most accurate way to scale baking recipes?
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