Cups to Tablespoons (cups to tbsp)

How to convert cups to tablespoons

Multiply the cups by 16:

tbsp = cups × 16

1/2 cup × 16 = 8 tbsp. The factor is exact in U.S. customary measure: a cup is 8 fluid ounces and a fluid ounce is 2 tablespoons. The result also shows teaspoons (3 per tablespoon), fluid ounces and milliliters. To go the other way, divide tablespoons by 16.

Measuring cups in tablespoons

Thirds of a cup do not come out to whole tablespoons, because 16 does not divide by 3. The leftover third of a tablespoon is exactly 1 teaspoon, which is why 1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon.

Cups to tablespoons chart

When a measuring cup is missing

If the 1/4 cup is in the dishwasher, four level tablespoons replace it exactly. For a 1/3 cup, measure 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. Counting spoons works well up to about 1/2 cup; beyond that, an error of a few grams per spoon adds up, and a liquid measuring cup is more reliable. For butter, the wrapper of a U.S. stick is marked in tablespoons: a stick is 8 tbsp, half a cup.

Spoon measures in recipes are level unless the recipe says heaped or rounded. A rounded tablespoon of flour can hold half again as much as a level one, so scrape the top with a knife when converting a cup measure into spoons.

Coffee and tea by the tablespoon

Drip coffee is often brewed with 2 level tablespoons of ground coffee for every 6 fluid ounces of water — 3/4 cup. A 12-cup coffee maker counts “cups” of 5 or 6 ounces, not 8, so a full pot of 60 ounces takes about 20 tablespoons, or 1 1/4 measuring cups of grounds. For loose-leaf tea, 1 teaspoon per 8-ounce cup is the usual starting point; a quart pitcher of iced tea takes about 4 teaspoons doubled, or 2 2/3 tablespoons, because iced tea is brewed stronger.

Cups, ounces and milliliters

A cup is also 8 fluid ounces and about 237 mL. For ounces as the main answer, see cups to ounces; for the reverse direction, oz to cups. For teaspoons in milliliters, use tsp to mL. Recipes from the UK and Australia use a 250 mL metric cup, which is 16.9 U.S. tablespoons — close enough for most cooking, but not for baking in large batches.