Tablespoons to Cups Converter

Tablespoons (tbsp)

Common amounts

Tbsp	Cups	Measure it
1 tbsp	0.0625	1 tbsp
2 tbsp	0.125	2 tbsp
3 tbsp	0.1875	3 tbsp
4 tbsp	0.25	¼ cup
5 tbsp	0.3125	¼ cup + 1 tbsp
6 tbsp	0.375	¼ cup + 2 tbsp
8 tbsp	0.5	½ cup
10 tbsp	0.625	½ cup + 2 tbsp
12 tbsp	0.75	¾ cup
16 tbsp	1	1 cup

16 US tablespoons = 1 US cup exactly. 1 tbsp = 3 tsp.

Type tablespoons, get cups. There are exactly 16 US tablespoons in a US cup, so the math is one division — but 0.4375 cups isn't something you can pour. So under the decimal answer you also get the way to actually measure it with a normal set of cups and spoons: 7 tbsp becomes ¼ cup + 3 tbsp, 11 tbsp becomes ⅔ cup + 1 tsp. The combination fills whole cups first and then takes the fewest scoops for what's left, which means fewer chances to lose count halfway through. Just over a cup is the one place it skips the whole cup, because two fractional measures get there in fewer scoops: 19 tbsp is ⅔ cup + ½ cup + 1 tsp. You'll also see the amount in milliliters and in metric cups, for recipes written with 15 mL spoons and 250 mL cups. Use it to scale a recipe up, swap a pile of tablespoons for one cup measure, or check how much butter, oil, or broth a recipe really wants.

Built by Bob QA by Ben Shipped September 14, 2026

How to use

1
Type the number of tablespoons. Decimals (1.5), fractions (1 1/2 or 1½), and a trailing tbsp or tablespoons all work.
2
Read US cups in the result card. The line under it shows how to measure that amount with cups and spoons.
3
Need metric? The next line gives milliliters and cups for 15 mL spoons and 250 mL cups.
4
Tap Copy for the cup number, or Copy formula for the whole calculation. The table below lists the amounts recipes use most.

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Frequently asked questions

How many tablespoons are in a cup?

16 US tablespoons make 1 US cup. That breaks down neatly: ½ cup is 8 tbsp, ¼ cup is 4 tbsp, and ⅛ cup is 2 tbsp. To go from tablespoons to cups, divide by 16. One tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, so a cup is also 48 teaspoons.

How many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup and ⅔ cup?

⅓ cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. ⅔ cup is 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. Thirds don't divide evenly into 16, which is why these two leave a teaspoon remainder. If you're scooping by hand, it's faster to use the ⅓ cup measure once than to count out five tablespoons and a teaspoon.

Why does the tool say ¼ cup + 3 tbsp instead of 7 tbsp?

Fewer scoops, fewer mistakes. Counting seven level tablespoons is easy to lose track of, especially with sticky ingredients like honey or peanut butter. The breakdown picks from a standard set — 1, ¾, ⅔, ½, ⅓, and ¼ cup, plus tablespoons and teaspoons — and uses the smallest number of scoops. When two options tie, it takes the one with fewer teaspoons.

Is a metric tablespoon the same as a US tablespoon?

Close, but not quite. A US tablespoon is 14.79 mL, and most metric recipes use a 15 mL tablespoon — a 1.4% difference nobody will taste. Cups are the bigger gap: a US cup is 236.59 mL and a metric cup is 250 mL. That's why 16 tablespoons is 1 US cup but only 0.96 of a metric cup. Australia is the odd one out: its tablespoon is 20 mL, so 12½ Australian tablespoons fill a 250 mL cup.

Does it matter if the ingredient is dry or liquid?

Not for this conversion. Tablespoons and cups are both volume, so 4 tbsp of flour and 4 tbsp of water are both ¼ cup. What changes is the weight: a ¼ cup of flour weighs far less than a ¼ cup of honey. If your recipe is in grams, use a tablespoon-to-grams converter that knows the ingredient. And measure dry ingredients level — a heaped tablespoon holds a lot more than a level one, and every conversion here assumes level.

How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?

A US stick of butter is 8 tablespoons, which is ½ cup. The wrapper usually has tablespoon lines printed on it, so if a recipe calls for 6 tbsp, you can cut at the 6 mark instead of measuring. Two sticks make 1 cup.

What does "about" mean in the measure line?

The breakdown goes down to ⅛ teaspoon, the smallest spoon in a normal set. If what you typed falls between those steps, like 0.1 tbsp, the tool rounds to the nearest ⅛ teaspoon and adds "about" so you know. The decimal cup number above it is never rounded that way; it shows up to four decimal places.

Is nutrition-label "1 cup" the same as a kitchen cup?

Not exactly. US nutrition labels use a rounded 240 mL cup, while the customary kitchen cup this tool uses is 236.59 mL. The difference is about 1.4%, so it won't change a recipe. It only matters if you're matching serving sizes to the label to the milliliter.

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