Tablespoons to Cups Converter
Convert between tablespoons and cups for cooking and baking. Get results in cups, teaspoons, fluid ounces, and milliliters with easy-to-read fractions.
Enter an amount to see conversions.
Quick Reference Chart
| Tablespoons | Cups | Teaspoons | Fluid Oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.06 cup | 3 tsp | 0.5 fl oz |
| 2 tbsp | 1/8 cup | 6 tsp | 1 fl oz |
| 3 tbsp | 0.19 cup | 9 tsp | 1.5 fl oz |
| 4 tbsp | 1/4 cup | 12 tsp | 2 fl oz |
| 5 tbsp | 1/3 cup | 15 tsp | 2.5 fl oz |
| 6 tbsp | 3/8 cup | 18 tsp | 3 fl oz |
| 8 tbsp | 1/2 cup | 24 tsp | 4 fl oz |
| 10 tbsp | 5/8 cup | 30 tsp | 5 fl oz |
| 12 tbsp | 3/4 cup | 36 tsp | 6 fl oz |
| 16 tbsp | 1.00 cup | 48 tsp | 8 fl oz |
How It Works
The US measurement system uses a simple relationship: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons. Each tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons and 0.5 fluid ounces.
Common conversions: 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup, 8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup, 12 tablespoons = 3/4 cup. These fractions appear frequently in recipes, making this converter handy for scaling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This means 1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup, or 0.0625 cups. For common fractions: 1/4 cup = 4 tbsp, 1/3 cup ≈ 5.3 tbsp, 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp, 2/3 cup ≈ 10.7 tbsp.
What if my recipe uses metric tablespoons?
A metric tablespoon is 15 mL, while a US tablespoon is about 14.8 mL. The difference is small enough (1.4%) that you can use them interchangeably for most recipes without noticeable effects.
What's the difference between a tablespoon and a dessert spoon?
A US/UK tablespoon is 15 mL. A dessert spoon (common in UK/Australia) is 10 mL, which is 2/3 of a tablespoon. If a recipe calls for dessert spoons, multiply by 0.67 for tablespoons.