The Recipe Scaler resizes any recipe up or down and shows every version side by side. Enter the ingredients from the original recipe — the quantity, unit, and name of each — and the tool builds a table with a column for each scale you choose (½×, 1×, 2×, 3×, or any custom multiplier), so you can read off the exact amounts for whatever batch size you are making.
It is built for real cooking: quantities in cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons are shown as friendly fractions like ½ cup or ⅓ tsp instead of awkward decimals, while grams, millilitres, and counts stay as clean numbers. You can paste an ingredient list to fill it in instantly, set the original servings so each column is labelled with its serving count, switch between fractions and decimals, and download the scaled table as an image or PDF. Everything runs in your browser and your recipe is saved on your device for next time.
How to scale a recipe
- Enter each ingredient (quantity, unit, name), or click “Paste a list” and paste the whole list to fill the rows automatically.
- Pick the scale columns you want — ½×, 1×, 2×, 3×, or add a custom multiplier — and optionally enter the original servings to label each column.
- Read the scaled table, with cook-friendly fractions for cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons (switch to decimals if you prefer).
- Copy the list, or download the table as a PNG image or a PDF.
A column for every batch size
Instead of scaling to just one size, the tool shows several at once. Choose any set of multipliers and each becomes a column, so a single table gives you the recipe at half, normal, double, and triple size together — handy as a printable reference. Your example — a dish written for 2kg when you only want 1kg — is simply the ½× column, but you can keep the others visible too.
If you enter the original number of servings, every column is also labelled with the servings it produces (for example “2× (8 servings)”), which makes it easy to pick the batch you need.
Why the fractions matter
Recipes rarely use decimals. Halving ⅔ cup gives ⅓ cup, and scaling 1 tsp by 1.5 gives 1½ tsp — so the tool snaps volume measures (cups, tablespoons, teaspoons) to the nearest sensible kitchen fraction and shows it with proper symbols. Weight and volume in grams or millilitres, and plain counts, are shown as ordinary numbers. If you would rather see plain decimals everywhere, switch the display to “decimals”.
Paste, save, and export
Copying ingredients from a video description or a website is quick: click “Paste a list”, paste everything, and the tool splits each line into a quantity, unit, and name. Your recipe is saved in your browser automatically, so it is still there when you come back. When you are done, download the scaled table as a PNG image (great for sharing) or a PDF (great for printing and taking into the kitchen).
What does not scale linearly
Ingredient amounts scale linearly, but a few things do not. Cooking and baking times change with quantity but not in direct proportion; pan and tin sizes affect thickness and timing; and salt, spices, and leavening agents such as baking soda and baking powder are best adjusted by taste and judgement rather than exact multiplication — especially when scaling a recipe up a lot. Use the scaled amounts as a strong starting point and taste as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I halve or double a recipe?
Enter the original ingredients and make sure the ½× column (to halve) or 2× column (to double) is shown. The table displays every selected scale at once, so you can see half, normal, and double side by side.
Can I scale by the number of servings?
Enter the original number of servings and each column is labelled with the servings it makes (for example “2× (8 servings)”), so you can pick the batch size you need. Add a custom multiplier for any exact ratio.
Can I paste a whole ingredient list?
Yes. Click “Paste a list”, paste the ingredients (one per line), and the tool splits each line into a quantity, unit, and name to fill the rows automatically.
Why are some amounts shown as fractions like ½ cup?
Cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons are measured in fractions in the kitchen, so the tool snaps those to the nearest sensible fraction (⅛, ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, and so on). Grams, millilitres, and counts are shown as ordinary numbers. You can switch to decimals if you prefer.
Can I download or print the scaled recipe?
Yes. You can copy the scaled list as text, or download the table as a PNG image or a PDF — the PDF is handy for printing and taking into the kitchen.
Is scaling always exact?
Ingredient quantities scale exactly, but cooking time, pan size, and seasonings like salt, spices, and leavening may need adjusting by judgement — particularly when scaling a recipe up significantly. Treat the results as a reliable starting point.