Recipe Scaler Scale recipe ingredients up or down by changing the number of servings with fraction display.

What Is Recipe Scaler?

The Recipe Scaler adjusts all ingredient quantities when you change the number of servings in a recipe. Enter the original serving count, your desired serving count, and all ingredients with their amounts and units. The calculator scales everything proportionally and displays results using common cooking fractions (¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, etc.) for easy measuring. Whether you're cooking for a crowd, halving a recipe for two, or adjusting to use available ingredients, this tool does the math instantly.

Why Use Recipe Scaler?

• Proportionally scales all ingredients for any serving size
• Displays results as cooking-friendly fractions
• Dynamic ingredient list — add or remove as needed
• Multiple unit options for different ingredient types

Common Use Cases

Cooking for a Crowd

Scale a family recipe up for parties or large gatherings.

Halving Recipes

Reduce a recipe for smaller households or fewer servings.

Batch Cooking

Scale recipes for meal prep quantities.

Baker's Math

Adjust baking recipes proportionally for different pan sizes.

Technical Guide

The scaling calculation is straightforward: Scaled Amount = Original Amount × (Desired Servings / Original Servings). The scale factor = Desired / Original. Fraction display uses approximate matching to common cooking fractions: ⅛ (0.125), ¼ (0.25), ⅓ (0.333), ⅜ (0.375), ½ (0.5), ⅝ (0.625), ⅔ (0.667), ¾ (0.75), ⅞ (0.875), with a tolerance of ±0.05. Values that don't match a fraction are displayed as decimals. For baking, scaling beyond 2-3× may require recipe reformulation due to non-linear behavior of leavening agents.

Tips & Best Practices

• 1
  For baking, scaling more than 2-3× may require recipe adjustments beyond simple multiplication
• 2
  Leavening agents (baking powder, yeast) may not scale linearly — reduce slightly for large batches
• 3
  Cooking times may need adjustment when scaling — temperature usually stays the same
• 4
  Round to practical measurements — nobody measures 0.37 tablespoons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q Does everything scale equally?

Ingredient quantities scale linearly. However, cooking time, pan size, and seasoning may need non-linear adjustments.

Q Do I need a bigger pan when scaling up?

Yes, use a larger pan or cook in batches. Overcrowding affects cooking quality and times.

Q Does baking powder scale linearly?

For small scaling (1.5-2×), yes. For larger scaling (3×+), use slightly less baking powder proportionally to avoid a soapy taste.

Q How do I scale cooking time?

Cooking time does not scale linearly with recipe size. Keep temperature the same and check for doneness rather than relying on scaled times.

Q What fractions does the display support?

The calculator shows ⅛, ¼, ⅓, ⅜, ½, ⅝, ⅔, ¾, and ⅞ when the scaled amount is close to these values.

About This Tool

Recipe Scaler is a free online tool by FreeToolkit.ai. All processing happens directly in your browser — your data never leaves your device. No registration or installation required.