Tablespoons to Cups Converter
Convert tablespoons (tbsp) to cups using US customary or metric standards.
Conversion Result
📐 Conversion Formulas
Tablespoons to Cups:
Key Constants:
- US Customary: 1 tbsp = 14.78676478125 mL, 1 cup = 236.5882365 mL (16 tbsp per cup)
- Metric: 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 cup = 250 mL (16.667 tbsp per cup)
📝 Step-by-Step Calculation
Enter a value and convert to see the step-by-step breakdown.
Understanding Tablespoons and Cups
Converting tablespoons to cups is a fundamental kitchen skill. Whether you're scaling a recipe up or down or trying to reduce dishes, knowing how many tablespoons make a cup helps you cook and bake with confidence.
How Many Tablespoons in a Cup?
In the US customary system, there are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. This is the standard used in most American recipes. In the metric system (used in Australia, Canada, and many other countries), a metric cup is 250 mL and a metric tablespoon is 15 mL, giving you approximately 16.67 metric tablespoons per metric cup.
US vs. Metric Tablespoon Differences
The US tablespoon is slightly smaller than the metric tablespoon:
- US tablespoon: 14.78676478125 mL (defined as 1/2 US fluid ounce)
- Metric tablespoon: 15 mL exactly (used internationally)
For most recipes, this small difference (about 1.4%) is negligible. However, when precision matters (like in baking), use the correct standard for your recipe source.
Cooking Tips for Tablespoon Measurements
When recipes call for partial cups, it's often easier to measure in tablespoons: half a cup is 8 tablespoons, a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons, and an eighth cup is 2 tablespoons. For very small amounts, convert to teaspoons (3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon).
Quick Reference Table
Common tablespoon to cup conversions:
| Tablespoons | US Cups | Metric Cups | Common Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.063 | 0.060 | — |
| 2 | 0.125 | 0.120 | ⅛ cup (US) |
| 4 | 0.250 | 0.240 | ¼ cup (US) |
| 5⅓ | 0.333 | 0.320 | ⅓ cup (US) |
| 8 | 0.500 | 0.480 | ½ cup (US) |
| 10⅔ | 0.667 | 0.640 | ⅔ cup (US) |
| 12 | 0.750 | 0.720 | ¾ cup (US) |
| 16 | 1.000 | 0.960 | 1 cup (US) |
| 32 | 2.000 | 1.920 | 2 cups (US) |
Frequently Asked Questions
In the US customary system, there are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. In the metric system, there are approximately 16.67 metric tablespoons in a 250 mL metric cup.
For US measurements, divide the number of tablespoons by 16 to get cups. For example, 8 tablespoons ÷ 16 = 0.5 cups (half a cup).
A US tablespoon equals 14.787 mL, while a metric tablespoon equals exactly 15 mL. The difference is small (about 1.4%) but can matter in precise baking.
16 US tablespoons equals exactly 1 US cup. This is a convenient relationship that makes measuring easier in the kitchen.
Half a US cup equals 8 tablespoons. This is useful when you don't have a ½ cup measuring cup handy.
Use the standard from your recipe's country of origin. American recipes use US tablespoons, while Australian, Canadian, and international recipes typically use metric (15 mL) tablespoons.
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