Recipe Portions Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/3/2026
To scale a recipe, multiply the quantity of each ingredient by the new number of servings, then divide by the original number. Example: a recipe for 4 people with 200 g of flour, scaled for 6 people, needs 300 g of flour.
Explanation
Scaling a recipe up or down for more or fewer diners means applying the same proportion to every ingredient: it's a rule of three (see our rule of three calculator for the general principle), repeated for each line of the recipe. This calculator handles one ingredient at a time — repeat the operation for each line of your recipe. Note: this simple proportionality rule works well for most ingredients (flour, sugar, liquids), but less well for some elements that don't scale linearly — strong spices and seasonings (chili, salt) are better adjusted gradually and tasted rather than strictly scaled, and cooking time never scales by the same factor as quantities.
Example: a recipe for 4 scaled to 6 diners
Inputs
Planned servings: 4. Flour quantity: 200 g. Desired diners: 6.
Calculation
Adjusted quantity = (initial quantity × desired servings) ÷ initial servings = (200 × 6) ÷ 4 = 1,200 ÷ 4 = 300.
Result
You need 300 g of flour for 6 people, instead of 200 g for 4.
Frequently asked questions
Does this method work for every recipe?
It works well for most basic ingredients (flour, sugar, liquids, fats). It's less reliable for spices and salt, which are better adjusted gradually while tasting, and it never applies to cooking time, which doesn't vary in the same proportions as quantities.
How do I scale all the ingredients in a recipe at once?
This calculator handles one ingredient at a time: repeat the operation for each line of your recipe, keeping the same ratio of initial servings to desired servings each time.
Does cooking time change with quantity?
Not in the same proportions as the ingredients. A larger quantity (for example, a thicker cake in a bigger pan) may need a longer cooking time at the same or a slightly lower temperature — this calculator doesn't cover that aspect; adjust based on your own experience or your source recipe's guidance.