Tablespoons to Cups Converter – tbsp to Cup Chart | TablespoonsToCups
Free Kitchen Converter · US Standard

Tablespoons
to Cups

16 tablespoons = 1 cup. Convert any amount instantly — see the decimal, fraction, and teaspoon equivalent all at once. Used by home bakers and cooks worldwide.

4 tbsp = ¼ cup 8 tbsp = ½ cup 12 tbsp = ¾ cup 16 tbsp = 1 cup
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US standard measurements
Updated 2026
Tablespoons
Cups
0.25 ¼ cup
Tap a value to convert instantly
16
tbsp per cup
3
tsp per tbsp
14.8ml
US tablespoon
240ml
US cup
16
tablespoons per cup
3
teaspoons per tablespoon
14.8ml
per US tablespoon
240ml
per US cup (FDA)
Measuring spoons and cups on a kitchen counter
TablespoonsToCups.com Guide

How Many Tablespoons Are in a Cup?

There are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup — one of the most important kitchen conversions to know. Divide any tablespoon count by 16 to get cups. Multiply any cup measurement by 16 to get tablespoons.

All conversions on TablespoonsToCups.com use US standard measurements — the system used in American recipes, cookbooks, and nutrition labels.

  • 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup — the most common butter measurement
  • 8 tablespoons = ½ cup — half a stick of butter
  • 12 tablespoons = ¾ cup — common in cake recipes
  • 16 tablespoons = 1 cup — the definitive baseline
Reference chart

Tablespoons to Cups — Conversion Chart

Complete tablespoons to cups reference for cooking and baking. Highlighted rows are the most commonly used measurements.

Tablespoons Cups (Decimal) Cups (Fraction) Teaspoons Milliliters
1 tbsp0.06251/16 cup3 tsp14.8 ml
2 tbsp0.125⅛ cup6 tsp29.6 ml
3 tbsp0.18753/16 cup9 tsp44.4 ml
4 tbsp0.25¼ cup12 tsp59.1 ml
5 tbsp0.3125⅓ cup + 1 tsp15 tsp73.9 ml
6 tbsp0.375⅜ cup18 tsp88.7 ml
7 tbsp0.43757/16 cup21 tsp103.5 ml
8 tbsp0.5½ cup24 tsp118.3 ml
9 tbsp0.56259/16 cup27 tsp133.1 ml
10 tbsp0.625⅝ cup30 tsp147.9 ml
11 tbsp0.687511/16 cup33 tsp162.7 ml
12 tbsp0.75¾ cup36 tsp177.4 ml
13 tbsp0.812513/16 cup39 tsp192.2 ml
14 tbsp0.875⅞ cup42 tsp207.0 ml
15 tbsp0.937515/16 cup45 tsp221.8 ml
16 tbsp1.01 cup48 tsp236.6 ml
20 tbsp1.251¼ cups60 tsp295.7 ml
24 tbsp1.51½ cups72 tsp354.9 ml
32 tbsp2.02 cups96 tsp473.2 ml
Note: All values use the US standard tablespoon (14.79 ml) and US cup (240 ml). For UK or Australian recipes, see the US vs Imperial section below.
Quick reference

Common Conversions at a Glance

1
1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup
= 3 teaspoons = 14.8 ml
2
2 tablespoons = ⅛ cup
= 6 teaspoons = 29.6 ml
4
4 tablespoons = ¼ cup
= 12 teaspoons = 59.1 ml
6
6 tablespoons = ⅜ cup
= 18 teaspoons = 88.7 ml
8
8 tablespoons = ½ cup
= 24 teaspoons = 118.3 ml
12
12 tablespoons = ¾ cup
= 36 teaspoons = 177.4 ml
16
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
= 48 teaspoons = 236.6 ml
32
32 tablespoons = 2 cups
= 96 teaspoons = 473.2 ml
The math

How to Convert Tablespoons to Cups

Two simple formulas cover every conversion. No calculator needed for the most common amounts.

Tablespoons → Cups

Cups = Tablespoons ÷ 16
  • 1 ÷ 16 = 0.0625 (1/16 cup)
  • 4 ÷ 16 = 0.25 (¼ cup)
  • 8 ÷ 16 = 0.5 (½ cup)
  • 12 ÷ 16 = 0.75 (¾ cup)
  • 24 ÷ 16 = 1.5 (1½ cups)

Cups → Tablespoons

Tablespoons = Cups × 16
  • ⅛ cup × 16 = 2 tablespoons
  • ¼ cup × 16 = 4 tablespoons
  • ½ cup × 16 = 8 tablespoons
  • ¾ cup × 16 = 12 tablespoons
  • 1 cup × 16 = 16 tablespoons
Why it matters

Accurate Measurements Make Better Baking

Baker using measuring cups and spoons for a recipe

Precision is the difference between a perfect bake and a flat one

Unlike cooking, baking is a chemical process. The ratios of flour, fat, sugar, and liquid determine whether your cake rises, your cookies spread correctly, and your bread holds its crumb.

A single tablespoon too many or too few can ruin the result — which is why every conversion here shows exact decimal, fraction, and millilitre values, not rounded approximations.

  • Always use proper measuring spoons — regular cutlery varies significantly and is not standardised
  • Level dry ingredients with the back of a knife; never pack flour into a spoon
  • Read liquids at eye level on a flat surface for accuracy
  • 1 stick of butter = 8 tablespoons = ½ cup — the most useful US baking fact
Read the baking measurement guide →
Coffee tablespoons being measured for a perfect brew
☕ Popular guide

How Many Tablespoons of Coffee per Cup?

The standard recommendation is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 6 oz of water. For a 12-cup coffee maker (72 oz), that means 12–24 tablespoons total — between ¾ cup and 1½ cups of coffee grounds.

  • Mild brew: 1 tbsp per 6 oz — light and smooth
  • Standard brew: 1.5 tbsp per 6 oz — the industry benchmark
  • Strong brew: 2 tbsp per 6 oz — bold and full-bodied
  • 12-cup coffee maker: 12–24 tbsp total (¾ to 1½ cups of grounds)
Full coffee ratio guide →
Know your units

US, Metric & Imperial — Key Differences

Not all tablespoons are the same size. This matters most when following UK, Australian, or international recipes.

UnitSystemExact VolumeCompared to US tablespoon
TablespoonUS14.79 ml (≈ 15 ml)— baseline used on this site
TablespoonMetric15.00 ml (exact)+1.4% larger — negligible for cooking
TablespoonUK / Imperial17.76 ml (≈ 18 ml)+20% larger — adjust for baking
CupUS FDA240 ml— baseline used on this site
CupMetric250 ml+4.2% larger
CupUK / Imperial284 ml+18.3% larger
All conversions use the US standard tablespoon (14.79 ml) and US cup (240 ml). If you're following a UK or Australian recipe, Imperial tablespoons are approximately 20% larger — factor this in for precision baking.
Common questions

Tablespoons to Cups — FAQs

The most-asked tablespoon and cup conversion questions, answered in full.

There are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is the core conversion — divide any tablespoon count by 16 to get cups, or multiply any cup measurement by 16 to get tablespoons. This applies to all liquids and dry ingredients: water, milk, oil, flour, sugar, butter, and honey.
8 tablespoons = exactly ½ cup (0.5 cups). This is one of the most important everyday baking conversions. Half a cup of butter is 8 tablespoons — or one full stick. This applies to sugar, flour, cocoa powder, oil, or any liquid ingredient.
⅓ cup equals approximately 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon (5.333 tablespoons). Since ⅓ doesn't divide evenly into 16, there is no whole-number answer. For precision baking, always include that extra teaspoon — leaving it out creates a measurable shortfall.
There are exactly 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup. This is one of the cleanest conversions — ¼ of 16 is exactly 4. Quarter-cup amounts appear constantly in baking: 4 tablespoons of butter, cocoa, honey. It also equals 12 teaspoons or approximately 59 ml.
6 tablespoons = ⅜ cup (0.375 cups). This falls between ¼ cup (4 tbsp) and ½ cup (8 tbsp). There is no standard ⅜ cup measuring cup, so measuring 6 tablespoons separately is the most accurate approach. It equals 18 teaspoons or approximately 88.7 ml.
4 tablespoons = ¼ cup (0.25 cups, or 59.1 ml). One of the most frequently used measurements in everyday cooking and baking. Think of it as a quarter of a full cup. Four tablespoons of butter equals half a stick in US measurements. It equals exactly 12 teaspoons.
Not exactly, but the difference is small. A US tablespoon = 14.79 ml, while a metric tablespoon = exactly 15 ml — a difference of just 1.4%, negligible for everyday cooking. However, a UK/Imperial tablespoon is 17.76 ml — about 20% larger — which can matter in precise baking recipes.
Memorise these four anchor points: 4 tbsp = ¼ cup · 8 tbsp = ½ cup · 12 tbsp = ¾ cup · 16 tbsp = 1 cup. For amounts in between, use those as reference points. The divisor is always 16, so any tablespoon amount divided by 16 gives you the exact cup value.
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About this site

Built by Kitchen Measurement Experts

TablespoonsToCups kitchen team
The TablespoonsToCups.com Kitchen Team
Measurement accuracy · Recipe testing · Culinary research

TablespoonsToCups.com was built by home bakers and culinary enthusiasts who got tired of searching for the same conversions mid-recipe. Every page is fact-checked against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) measurement standards, tested against physical measuring tools, and reviewed by experienced home bakers before publication. All values use US standard measurements — the same system used in American cookbooks and FDA nutrition labels.