To get 2/3 cup, use one 1/3 cup scoop twice or fill a 1 cup measure to about 160 milliliters and remove one third.
If you have ever stood over a bowl and asked yourself “How Do You Get 2/3 Cup?” you are not alone. Recipes love this fraction, yet many measuring sets skip a dedicated 2/3 cup. The good news: once you know a few clean tricks, 2/3 cup becomes as easy as 1 cup.
This guide walks through simple ways to measure 2/3 cup using standard cups, spoons, and metric jugs. You will see where the numbers come from, how to switch between cups and milliliters, and how to avoid small mistakes that throw off a batter or dough.
Why Measuring 2/3 Cup Matters In Recipes
Two thirds of a cup shows up in sauces, cake batters, muffin recipes, and many savory dishes. It often sits in the middle of a recipe’s liquid or dry mix, so if you guess, you can throw off texture and flavor. A slightly wet dough might still bake, yet a bread can end up dense or crumbly.
In standard U.S. cooking measures, 1 cup is divided into 16 tablespoons and 48 teaspoons. That means 2/3 cup is more than half a cup, yet not as much as 3/4 cup. Once you break 2/3 cup into spoons and milliliters, you gain flexible ways to reach the same volume with tools you already own.
How Do You Get 2/3 Cup? Basic Measuring Methods
Here are the most reliable ways to reach 2/3 cup with tools found in a typical kitchen drawer. Pick the option that matches the equipment on your counter, and you will hit the right volume each time.
Method 1: Use A 2/3 Cup Measure If You Have One
Some measuring cup sets include a 2/3 cup piece. If you own one, level it just like any other dry measure. For flour or sugar, spoon the ingredient into the cup and sweep the top flat with a straight edge. For liquids, set the cup on the counter and fill until the surface lines up with the brim without spilling over.
Method 2: Use A 1/3 Cup Measure Twice
Many sets skip the 2/3 cup but include a 1/3 cup. Since 2/3 is simply two times 1/3, filling a 1/3 cup twice gives you 2/3 cup. Level the 1/3 cup each time for dry ingredients, then pour into your mixing bowl. For liquids, fill to the rim of the 1/3 cup two times while the cup sits on a flat surface.
Method 3: Use Tablespoons And Teaspoons
When cups are not handy, spoons come to the rescue. In U.S. measures, 1 cup equals 16 tablespoons. Two thirds of a cup equals 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. So if all you have is a tablespoon and teaspoon, you can still reach 2/3 cup with a bit of counting.
Core Fraction Conversions For 2/3 Cup And Friends
Understanding how 2/3 cup compares to other common cup fractions helps you adjust recipes and double or halve batches on the fly. The table below uses a 1 cup value of 240 milliliters, which matches the Metric Kitchen guide from NIST for home cooking measures.
| Fraction (US Cups) | Milliliters (Approx.) | Tablespoons & Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 30 ml | 2 tablespoons |
| 1/4 cup | 60 ml | 4 tablespoons |
| 1/3 cup | 80 ml | 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | 8 tablespoons |
| 2/3 cup | 160 ml | 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons |
| 3/4 cup | 180 ml | 12 tablespoons |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | 16 tablespoons |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 ml | 24 tablespoons |
Once you know that 2/3 cup equals 10 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons, everything becomes flexible. You can combine smaller measures, like half cups and third cups, to reach the same level if one of your pieces goes missing.
Getting 2/3 Cup Without A Measuring Cup
Sometimes you are in a rental kitchen, at a friend’s place, or digging through a drawer that holds only a jug and a spoon. You can still get close to 2/3 cup with a few easy tricks and a bit of math.
Method 4: Use A Metric Jug With Milliliter Markings
If you have a clear jug with milliliter lines, measuring 2/3 cup is simple. Since 1 cup is about 240 ml in many home charts, 2/3 cup comes to roughly 160 ml. Pour your liquid or pour in water to check volume for a dry ingredient, and stop when the level reaches the 160 ml mark.
Why Some Charts List 158 Milliliters
A few charts use a more exact U.S. customary cup of 236.6 ml. Two thirds of that value is about 158 ml, which is why an extension chart from Ohio State University lists 158 ml for 2/3 cup. In home baking, the 2 ml difference between 158 and 160 ml is tiny, so either value works for most recipes.
Method 5: Use Only Tablespoons
If you do not have a teaspoon, you can still get very close with tablespoons alone. Ten level tablespoons land just under 2/3 cup. Many home cooks accept this slight gap, especially in soups, stews, or marinades where small changes barely show. For baking, try to add two small splashes beyond the ten tablespoons to reach the same level as 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons.
Method 6: Combine Other Cup Sizes
You can also reach 2/3 cup by combining other fraction cups. One option is to fill a 1/2 cup, then add 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons. Another option is to fill a 1/3 cup twice, as mentioned before. A third approach uses a 1/4 cup and a 1/2 cup: fill the 1/4 cup, then fill the 1/2 cup to just below the rim, so together they equal roughly 2/3 cup.
How To Convert 2/3 Cup To Milliliters And Grams
When you bake from international recipes or work with a digital scale, you may prefer metric units. Converting 2/3 cup to milliliters is straightforward. Converting to grams takes one more step, because grams depend on the ingredient’s density.
Milliliters For 2/3 Cup
Using the common metric kitchen chart where 1 cup equals 240 ml, 2/3 cup equals 160 ml. The table from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology lists 1/3 cup at 80 ml, which doubles to 160 ml for 2/3 cup. Many recipe sites follow the same table for home use.
If you follow a chart based on a 236.6 ml cup instead, 2/3 cup converts to about 158 ml. Since every measuring jug and spoon has small tolerances, both 158 ml and 160 ml work in normal cooking. Pick one system and stay consistent inside a single recipe.
Typical Gram Values For 2/3 Cup Of Common Ingredients
Grams tell you how much mass sits in the cup, and that changes with each ingredient. A fluffy ingredient such as all-purpose flour weighs less per volume than sugar. A liquid such as water lines up more closely with its milliliter value. Here are rough starting points home bakers often use when they turn 2/3 cup into grams.
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour: about 85–90 grams, depending on how you fill the cup.
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar: around 130–135 grams.
- 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed: roughly 140–150 grams.
- 2/3 cup water or milk: close to 160 grams.
- 2/3 cup butter: near 150 grams when softened and packed.
Recipe developers sometimes provide exact gram targets for these ingredients. If your recipe lists both cups and grams, trust the gram value listed there, and use 2/3 cup only as a backup guide.
Common Mistakes When You Measure 2/3 Cup
Small habits can throw off 2/3 cup more than you expect. Once you spot them, they are easy to fix. Your cakes, breads, and sauces will thank you with better texture and flavor.
Heaping Or Scooping Directly From The Bag
Many cooks scoop flour straight from the bag with a cup and pack it down without thinking. This adds extra flour beyond the intended 2/3 cup. A better method is to fluff the flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into the measuring cup, and level the top. This light scoop gives a more predictable result.
Packing When The Recipe Assumes Loose Ingredients
Brown sugar is often packed, but white sugar usually is not. If you pack white sugar into 2/3 cup as if it were brown sugar, you can overshoot by a wide margin. Check whether the recipe mentions “packed” for sugar. If it does not, fill 2/3 cup loosely and level it gently.
Reading Liquid Levels From Above Or Below
When you measure liquids, place the cup or jug on the counter. Bend down so your eyes are level with the scale. If you read the line while looking down from above, you may think you have 2/3 cup when the surface sits lower on the scale. Reading at eye level gives a more honest picture.
Mixing Systems Inside One Recipe
Switching between a 240 ml cup chart and a 236.6 ml chart in the same recipe can create small mismatches. The difference seems slight, yet once you add several cup measures, the error grows. Choose one standard while you cook and stick to it from start to finish.
Quick Reference Ways To Get 2/3 Cup In The Kitchen
At this point you have seen several ways to reach 2/3 cup. The table below pulls them together so you can scan and pick the method that fits the tools on your counter right now.
| Method | What You Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Single 2/3 cup measure | One 2/3 cup | Dry or liquid ingredients when your set includes this size |
| Two 1/3 cup scoops | 1/3 cup, filled twice | Any time you have a full cup set with a 1/3 cup |
| Spoons only | 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons | Working from a spoon set without cup measures |
| Tablespoons only | 10 level tablespoons plus small extra splash | Soups and sauces when teaspoons are not handy |
| Metric jug | Fill to 160 ml line | Recipes written in cups when you prefer metric units |
| Half cup plus spoons | 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons | When your set has 1/2 cup but not 1/3 cup |
| Two metric thirds | Fill a 1/3 cup to 80 ml twice | Mixing recipes that show both metric and cup measures |
If you often bake from U.S. recipes while living in a metric country, keeping a small chart like this on the fridge or inside a cabinet door can save a lot of guesswork.
Can You Double Or Halve A Recipe With 2/3 Cup?
Many bakers bump into 2/3 cup when they scale recipes for different pan sizes. Doubling or halving this fraction looks messy on paper, yet once you convert it to tablespoons or milliliters, the new amounts feel manageable.
Doubling 2/3 Cup
When you double 2/3 cup, you get 4/3 cup, which equals 1 1/3 cups. In spoon terms, double 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons to get 20 tablespoons plus 4 teaspoons. That may sound like a lot of counting, so many cooks switch to cups and milliliters instead: measure 1 cup plus 1/3 cup, or fill a jug to about 320 ml.
Halving 2/3 Cup
Halving 2/3 cup gives 1/3 cup. This is one reason recipe writers love 2/3 cup. If you want only half a batch of sauce, custard, or batter, you can swap 2/3 cup for 1/3 cup and keep the same ratios across the recipe. When you halve a recipe, halve every other ingredient as well to keep the balance.
Practical Tips For Reliable Measuring
By now the question “How Do You Get 2/3 Cup?” has more than one answer. To finish, here are a few habits that make every measuring step more reliable, no matter which method you use.
Use The Right Tool For Dry And Liquid Ingredients
Dry measuring cups work best for flour, sugar, oats, and other scooped ingredients. Liquid measuring cups with spouts and clear sides suit milk, water, oil, and stock. You can swap in a pinch, yet using the right style keeps spills down and levels accurate.
Level Dry Ingredients Gently
After you spoon flour or sugar into a dry cup, draw a straight edge across the top. A butter knife or the back of a straight spatula works well. Do not press down while you level. Gentle leveling keeps the measure light and consistent from one bake to the next.
Stir Liquids Before You Measure
Milk, stock, and some sauces can separate while they sit. Give them a quick stir before you pour them into the cup or jug. This helps each 2/3 cup scoop match the recipe writer’s intent for thickness and flavor.
Write Your Favorite Conversions Near Your Work Area
Small kitchen notes help you relax while you cook. A sticky note that says “2/3 cup = 10 tbsp + 2 tsp = about 160 ml” on the inside of a cabinet door turns a confusing fraction into a simple reminder you can glance at while your hands stay busy.
Once you know the answers to “How Do You Get 2/3 Cup?” you can focus on flavor, timing, and heat instead of wrestling with fractions. A few clear numbers, a couple of spoons, and a reliable jug are all you need to hit that same 2/3 cup every single time.