The Ultimate Mead-Making Conversion Cheat Sheet
Mead-making is the trifecta: equal parts tradition, chemistry, and a little bit of magic, and a lot of yum. Oops, that’s four, so I suppose that’s the…quadfectra? Whether you're dialing in the perfect honey-to-water ratio, adjusting gravity, or managing staggered nutrient additions, precision is what separates a good mead from a great one. This guide lays it all out for you—essential mead-specific conversions, fermentation calculations, and even an interactive tool to make the numbers easy. The goal? Less guesswork, more mead, and maybe a little extra patience while the magic happens in the fermenter.
Basic Volume Conversions
| Measurement | Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Fluid Ounces (fl oz) | Milliliters (mL) | Cups | Pints | Quarts | Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 1 | 1/3 | 1/6 | 4.93 | - | - | - | - |
| 1 tbsp | 3 | 1 | 1/2 | 14.79 | - | - | - | - |
| 1 fl oz | 6 | 2 | 1 | 29.57 | 1/8 | - | - | - |
| 1 cup | 48 | 16 | 8 | 237 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/4 | 1/16 |
| 1 pint | 96 | 32 | 16 | 473 | 2 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/8 |
| 1 quart | 192 | 64 | 32 | 946 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1/4 |
| 1 gallon | 768 | 256 | 128 | 3,785 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
Mead-Specific Conversions & Formulas
| Conversion | Formula / Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| 1 lb Honey in 1 Gallon Water | ~1.035 SG |
| 1 lb Honey = ? Cups | ~1.33 cups |
| 1 Gallon Must (Fermenting Mead) | ~12 lbs (honey + water + yeast, etc.) |
| Target ABV for Mead | SG Drop of 0.010 = ~1.3% ABV |
| Honey Addition to Boost Gravity | 1 lb Honey = +0.035 SG per gallon |
| Mead Bottling Guide | 750mL, 1L swing-top bottles, or standard wine bottles recommended |
Staggered Nutrient Addition Guide (TOSNA)
To ensure a clean fermentation and avoid stuck fermentation issues, many mead makers use Staggered Nutrient Additions (SNA), also known as the TOSNA method.
| Addition Timing | Recommended Addition |
|---|---|
| 24 Hours | Fermaid O + DAP (1/4 total dose) |
| 48 Hours | Fermaid O + DAP (1/4 total dose) |
| 72 Hours | Fermaid O + DAP (1/4 total dose) |
| 7 Days | Remaining Nutrients |
Interactive Mead-Making Conversion Calculator
Use this interactive tool to quickly convert between different volume measurements, honey additions, and batch sizes.
Why Precision Matters in Mead-Making
Mead is a delicate balance of honey, water, yeast, and nutrients. Even small variations in measurements can impact fermentation, flavor, and aging potential. And let's face it. When we've spent this much money on honey and have waited this much time for the mead to mature, we want it to come out perfect! Happy mead making!