About the Recipe Scaler

What it does

Multiplies or divides all ingredient quantities in a recipe by a scale factor you choose. Enter your ingredients with amounts and units, set the desired multiplier, and all quantities update instantly.

When scaling doesn't apply linearly

Most ingredients scale straightforwardly, but leavening agents (baking powder, yeast) should not always be scaled proportionally for large multipliers. Cooking time and temperature also do not scale with portion size.

Scale factor — 0.5 halves the recipe, 2 doubles it, 1.5 makes one and a half batches
Baking tip — for 3× or larger, slightly reduce leavening agents to avoid over-rising
Cooking time — does not scale linearly; check doneness by appearance and temperature

Scaling baking recipes accurately

Scaling cooking recipes is usually linear, but baking requires care. Leavening agents (baking powder, yeast) do not scale proportionally — doubling a recipe does not mean doubling the yeast. Spices and salt are also less than linear: when doubling, start with 1.5x and adjust to taste. Cooking times and temperatures do not scale with quantity; a double batch in the same size pan will need longer in the oven.

Leavening — use 75-80% of the scaled amount for baking powder and yeast when doubling or tripling
Salt and spices — scale to 1.5x when doubling a recipe; taste and adjust before adding more
Baking time — larger quantities need more time; check doneness earlier and extend if needed
Pan size — doubling a recipe ideally needs two pans of the original size, not one double-sized pan

Frequently Asked Questions

Does scaling always work for baking?

For most recipes, yes — but with some caveats. Leavening agents (baking powder, yeast) should not always scale linearly; for large multipliers (3×+) you may need to reduce them slightly. Cooking time and temperature also don't scale proportionally.

Can I scale down to fractions?

Yes. A 0.5× scale halves every ingredient. You can also enter decimal values like 0.33 for a third of a recipe.

What happens to cooking time when I scale a recipe?

This is one of the most important things to remember: cooking time does not scale linearly. If you double a recipe, you do not double the cooking time. For baked goods, check for doneness a few minutes early. For liquids, scaling works more predictably.

Do I need to adjust seasoning proportionally?

Salt and spices should be scaled proportionally as a starting point, but always taste and adjust. Strong flavours like garlic, chilli, and certain spices can become overpowering when a recipe is significantly scaled up — use roughly 75% of the calculated amount and add to taste.

What are the trickiest ingredients to scale?

Leavening agents (baking powder, yeast, baking soda) do not always scale linearly — doubling a cake recipe does not always mean doubling the baking powder. Eggs (which are discrete units) can also be awkward. When in doubt, find a recipe written at the scale you need.

Recipe Scaler

Scaled ingredients (×)

About the Recipe Scaler

What it does

When scaling doesn't apply linearly

Scaling baking recipes accurately

Frequently Asked Questions