Cups to Tablespoons Converter

Cups to Tablespoons Conversion

Accurate measurements are essential in cooking and baking, especially when recipes list ingredients in different units. One of the most common conversions people search for is cups to tablespoons. Understanding this conversion can save time in the kitchen and ensure your recipes turn out exactly as intended.

The standard formula is simple: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons. This means if a recipe requires half a cup of sugar, you can measure it as 8 tablespoons. Likewise, if you need a quarter cup of butter, that equals 4 tablespoons. This conversion is particularly useful when you don’t have a full cup measurement tool available, but you do have a tablespoon on hand.

Our Cups to Tablespoons Converter makes this process fast and reliable. Instead of calculating manually, you can just enter the number of cups, and the converter will instantly provide the equivalent in tablespoons. It’s designed for both home cooks and professional chefs who want consistent results every time.

It’s also helpful to note that regional differences can exist. In the United States, 1 tablespoon equals 14.79 mL, while in Australia, 1 tablespoon equals 20 mL. For this reason, using an online converter ensures precise conversions tailored to your measurement system. also check out Volume Converter Free Toolkit.

What Is a Cup?

A cup is a unit of volume widely used in cooking and baking, particularly in the US. One US cup equals:

• 8 US fluid ounces

• 236.588 milliliters

• Exactly 16 US tablespoons

In other regions, cup sizes differ:

• Metric Cup (Australia, New Zealand, Canada): 250 ml, approximately 16.907 US tablespoons.

• UK Imperial Cup (used in older UK recipes): 10 imperial fluid ounces, approximately 284.131 ml or 19.215 US tablespoons.

This guide primarily uses the US cup, as it’s the standard for most recipes. Cups are practical for measuring larger quantities of liquids (e.g., water, milk) or dry ingredients (e.g., flour, sugar), and their volume is easily visualized as a standard measuring cup or a small coffee mug (1–1.5 cups).

What Is a Tablespoon?

A tablespoon (tbsp) is a smaller unit of volume, equal to:

• 1/16 of a US cup

• 1/2 US fluid ounce

• Exactly 14.78676478125 milliliters

Tablespoons are used for measuring smaller quantities of ingredients, such as spices, oils, or extracts, and are marked on standard measuring spoons. In the US, tablespoons are consistent, but in Australia, a tablespoon equals 20 ml (approximately 1.35256 US tbsp). This guide focuses on the US tablespoon unless otherwise noted.

Cups to Tablespoons Formula

The formulas for conversion are:

• Cups to Tablespoons: Tablespoons = Cups × 16

• Tablespoons to Cups: Cups = Tablespoons ÷ 16

Example: 2/3 cup to tablespoons = 2/3 × 16 ≈ 10.667 tbsp (or 10 tbsp + 2 tsp). For non-integer results, use measuring spoons for precision (e.g., teaspoons for fractions).

Cups to Tablespoons Conversion Chart

This chart provides conversions for common US cup values to tablespoons, addressing terms like “cups to tablespoons chart” or “cup to tablespoon conversion”:

Cups to Tablespoons for Specific Ingredients

Cups to Tablespoons Flour

Flour conversions are volume-based, but density (≈0.53 g/ml) affects weight if converting to grams. Examples:

• 1/4 cup flour = 4 tbsp

• 1 cup flour = 16 tbsp ≈ 120–140 grams (varies by sifting) Use dry measuring cups for accuracy, leveling off the top to avoid packing errors.

Cups to Tablespoons Butter

Butter is often measured in sticks (1 stick = 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp). Examples:

• 1/2 cup butter = 8 tbsp (1 stick)

• 1/3 cup butter ≈ 5.333 tbsp (5 tbsp + 1 tsp)

• 1 cup butter = 16 tbsp (2 sticks) One stick weighs approximately 113 grams. For soft or melted butter, ensure level measurements.

Cups to Tablespoons Coffee

For coffee, tablespoons typically measure ground coffee for brewing, not the brewed liquid. A standard ratio is 1–2 tbsp ground coffee per 6 fl oz (3/4 cup) of water. Examples:

• 1 cup water (8 fl oz) ≈ 1.333–2.667 tbsp ground coffee (1–2 tbsp for mild to strong).

• 12 cups water (96 fl oz) ≈ 24–48 tbsp ground coffee, depending on desired strength.

Cups to Tablespoons Liquid

For liquids like water, milk, or oil, conversions are direct as cups and tablespoons measure volume. Examples:

• 1/4 cup liquid = 4 tbsp = 59.147 ml

• 1 cup liquid = 16 tbsp = 236.588 ml Use liquid measuring cups for best results, checking at eye level.

Regional Cups to Tablespoons Conversions

Cups to Tablespoons UK

Older UK recipes may use imperial cups (284.131 ml ≈ 19.215 US tbsp), but modern recipes often adopt the metric cup (250 ml ≈ 16.907 US tbsp). For US conversions:

• 1 US cup = 16 US tbsp Example: 1/4 UK imperial cup ≈ 4.804 US tbsp. Confirm the cup type based on recipe origin.

Cups to Tablespoons Australia

Australia uses the metric cup (250 ml ≈ 16.907 US tbsp). For US tablespoons:

• 1 metric cup ≈ 16.907 US tbsp For simplicity, Australian recipes often treat 1 cup as ≈16 US tbsp. Example: 1/4 metric cup ≈ 4.227 US tbsp.

Specific Cups to Tablespoons Conversions

Below are conversions for frequently queried values, using US standards, expressed in whole numbers or practical fractions:

1/16 Cup to Tablespoons

1/16 cup = 1/16 × 16 = 1 tbsp.

1/8 Cup to Tablespoons

1/8 cup = 1/8 × 16 = 2 tbsp. Also referred to as “1 8th cup to tablespoons.”

1/4 Cup to Tablespoons

1/4 cup = 1/4 × 16 = 4 tbsp. Also referred to as “1/4th cup to tablespoons” or “quarter cup is equal to how many tablespoons.”

1/3 Cup to Tablespoons

1/3 cup = 1/3 × 16 ≈ 5.333 tbsp (5 tbsp + 1 tsp). Also referred to as “1 3 cup to tablespoons.”

1/2 Cup to Tablespoons

1/2 cup = 1/2 × 16 = 8 tbsp. Also referred to as “half a cup to tablespoons” or “1 2 cup to tablespoons.”

2/3 Cup to Tablespoons

2/3 cup = 2/3 × 16 ≈ 10.667 tbsp (10 tbsp + 2 tsp). Also referred to as “2 3 cup to tablespoons” or “2/3 cup is equivalent to how many tablespoons.”

3/4 Cup to Tablespoons

3/4 cup = 3/4 × 16 = 12 tbsp.

1 Cup to Tablespoons

1 cup = 1 × 16 = 16 tbsp. Also referred to as “cup to tablespoon” or “cup equivalent to tablespoon.”

2 Cups to Tablespoons

2 cups = 2 × 16 = 32 tbsp.

3 Cups to Tablespoons

3 cups = 3 × 16 = 48 tbsp.

4 Cups to Tablespoons

4 cups = 4 × 16 = 64 tbsp.

0.13 Cups to Tablespoons

0.13 cup = 0.13 × 16 = 2.08 tbsp (≈2 tbsp + 0.24 tsp).

0.25 Cups to Tablespoons

0.25 cup = 0.25 × 16 = 4 tbsp (same as 1/4 cup).

Butter-Specific Conversions

1/2 Cup Butter to Tablespoons

1/2 cup butter = 8 tbsp (1 stick).

1/3 Cup of Butter to Tablespoons

1/3 cup butter ≈ 5.333 tbsp (5 tbsp + 1 tsp).

Coffee-Specific Conversions

Cups of Water to Tablespoons of Coffee

For brewing coffee, use 1–2 tbsp ground coffee per 6 fl oz (3/4 cup) of water:

• 1 cup water (8 fl oz) ≈ 1.333–2.667 tbsp ground coffee (1–2 tbsp for mild to strong).

• 12 cups water (96 fl oz) ≈ 24–48 tbsp ground coffee, depending on strength.

Tablespoons to Make a Cup of Coffee

For 1 cup (8 fl oz) brewed coffee, use 1–2 tbsp ground coffee (1 tbsp for mild, 2 tbsp for strong).

FAQs

How many tablespoons to a cup?

1 US cup = 16 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons is equal to 1/4 cup?

1/4 cup = 4 tbsp. Yes, 4 tablespoons is equal to 1/4 cup.

How many tablespoons is equal to 1/3 cup?

1/3 cup ≈ 5.333 tbsp (5 tbsp + 1 tsp).

How many tablespoons to 1/2 cup?

1/2 cup = 8 tbsp.

How many tablespoons to make 12 cups of coffee?

For 12 cups (96 fl oz) brewed coffee, use 24–48 tbsp ground coffee (1–2 tbsp per 6 fl oz water).

How many tablespoons to make a cup of coffee?

For 1 cup (8 fl oz) brewed coffee, use 1–2 tbsp ground coffee.

How many tablespoons to a cup of butter?

1 cup butter = 16 tbsp (2 sticks).

Is 3 tablespoons equal to 1/4 cup?

No, 3 tbsp = 0.1875 cups (3/16 cup), less than 1/4 cup (4 tbsp).

Is 2 tablespoons equal to 1/4 cup?

No, 2 tbsp = 1/8 cup, half of 1/4 cup (4 tbsp).

What is 6 tablespoons equal to in cups?

6 tbsp = 6 ÷ 16 = 0.375 cups (3/8 cup).