Lemon juice vs Lime juice
They swap 1:1 and are almost identical in acidity, so either will curdle milk for a buttermilk substitute or brighten a dressing. The difference is flavor: lemon is rounder and brighter, lime sharper and more floral. In most baking the swap is invisible; where the citrus is the star, like a tart or a key lime pie, use the one the recipe names.
At a glance
| Ingredient | Grams per cup | Type | Key trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon juice | 244 g | Liquids | Lemon juice is slightly denser than water, so a cup weighs a little more than 240 grams. |
| Lime juice | 242 g | Liquids | Bottled and fresh weigh nearly the same; slightly denser than water from dissolved acids. |
How to swap lemon juice and lime juice
- 1 tbsp lemon juice = 1 tbsp lime juice (The Kitchn)Closest acidity and brightness match; works in dressings, marinades, and most baking.
- 1 tbsp lime juice = 1 tbsp lemon juice (The Kitchn)Closest swap in acidity and brightness. Slightly less floral than lime.
Full conversions: Lemon juice converter · Lime juice converter. More swaps: Lemon juice substitutes · Lime juice substitutes.
More comparisons
* Conversion figures are typical average weights for one US customary cup (236.6 ml), based on the King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart and cross-referenced with the U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central database. Actual weight varies with packing, brand and humidity — see our methodology.