This article will guide you on how to use Gaia's recipe scaling calculator effectively.
Gaia's recipe scaling calculator allows you to scale your recipe based on the total number of portions you want to make or the amount of ingredients you want to use.
Scaling Based on Servings
To scale based on servings, click into the total portions field. The calculator will automatically calculate the amount of ingredients you need and choose the nearest unit. If you prefer to see the measurements in fractions instead of decimals, toggle on the view option.
⚠️ Important — Portion counts must be whole numbers: The total portions field accepts whole numbers only. If you enter a decimal value (e.g., 37.5), Gaia will round down to the nearest whole number (e.g., 37).
Scaling Based on Ingredients
If you want to scale based on a specific amount of an ingredient, type the amount in the respective field. The calculator will automatically recalculate the amount of other ingredients you need and the number of portions you will get.
Scaling Based on Batches
If the recipe has a batch size set, a Batches field appears. Type a number of batches and Gaia fills in the matching total portions and scales accordingly. This honors the recipe's existing batch rules: scaling to a partial batch shows a warning, or is blocked entirely if the recipe is locked to whole batches. See Batch Size and Locking a Recipe to Whole Batches for how to set one.
Selecting Preferred Unit
If you want to use a specific unit, like a full case, pin that as your unit.
The calculator will remember your pinned unit when you update the total portions or another ingredient.
Print Recipe
To print a recipe PDF, select the three dots in the upper right corner of your recipe page and select Scale and Print Recipe.
💡 Decimal vs. Fraction display: Use the toggle to switch how ingredient amounts are displayed. In fraction mode, all values are rounded to the nearest 1/8 (e.g., 3.9 displays as 3.875). In decimal mode, the 1/8 rounding restriction is removed and values like 3.9 display exactly as calculated. If you need precise measurements that don't fall on an eighth, switch to decimal mode. The recipe export amounts will match the selected mode.
After scaling the recipe, select Export to open the print options panel.
Choose orientation (portrait or landscape) and 1 to 3 columns, and set Scale anywhere from 50% to 200%. Turn on Fit to 1 page and Gaia adjusts columns, orientation, and scale on its own until the recipe fits. A Print all ingredients switch controls the Ingredients page.
💡 Nutrition pages on the export: Two independent options control the nutrition pages.
Include FDA label (previously "Include Nutrition Facts") adds the standard nutrition facts panel and % are calculated based on Daily total.
Include Composition report adds a page with the serving size and six USDA required values for the grade group you select where % are calculated based on the Recipe total.