Tablespoons to Cups Converter
Quickly convert between tablespoons, teaspoons, cups, and fluid ounces. Enter any amount and select your units to get an instant conversion for your recipe.
Kitchen Measurement Conversion Chart
Understanding the relationships between common kitchen measurements saves time and prevents recipe mistakes. Here is the complete US standard volume conversion reference:
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces
- 3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons = 36 teaspoons = 6 fluid ounces
- 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
- 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 24 teaspoons = 4 fluid ounces
- 1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons = 12 teaspoons = 2 fluid ounces
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 0.5 fluid ounce
Common Conversions You Will Use Often
These are the conversions home cooks reach for most frequently:
- 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup (one of the trickiest to remember)
- 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup (useful for butter, which is often marked in tablespoons on the wrapper)
- 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce (helpful when measuring small amounts of liquids)
- 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces
Tips for Accurate Measuring
Accurate measuring can be the difference between a recipe that works and one that falls flat, especially in baking:
- Dry ingredients: Spoon the ingredient into the measuring spoon or cup and level off with a straight edge. Do not scoop directly from the container, as this packs the ingredient and gives you too much.
- Liquid ingredients: Place a liquid measuring cup on a flat surface and read at eye level. The measurement should be taken at the bottom of the meniscus (the curved surface of the liquid).
- Sticky ingredients: For honey, molasses, or peanut butter, lightly coat the measuring spoon with cooking spray first so the ingredient slides out cleanly.
- When precision matters: For baking, consider using a kitchen scale for weight measurements, which are more accurate than volume measurements for dry ingredients like flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is a fixed standard measurement. Some common fractions: 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons, 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons, 1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, 3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
There are exactly 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. This means 1 cup contains 48 teaspoons (16 tablespoons times 3). When halving a recipe that calls for 1 tablespoon, use 1.5 teaspoons. When you need a third of a tablespoon, use 1 teaspoon.
How many fluid ounces in a cup?
There are 8 fluid ounces in 1 US cup. One fluid ounce equals 2 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons. Note that fluid ounces measure volume, not weight — 8 fluid ounces of water weighs 8 ounces, but 8 fluid ounces of flour weighs only about 4.25 ounces.
Is a tablespoon the same size everywhere?
No. A US tablespoon is approximately 14.79 mL, while an Australian tablespoon is 20 mL. The UK traditionally used a tablespoon of about 17.76 mL but has largely adopted the metric 15 mL tablespoon. If you are following a recipe from another country, check which tablespoon standard it uses.