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How Many Tablespoons in a Cup + Conversion Chart

This handy guide will answer all your questions about tablespoon, teaspoon, and cup conversions. Such as the age-old question: how many tablespoons are in a cup?

Glass measuring cups for liquid, metal measuring cups, and measuring spoons with teaspoons, tablespoons, and conversions.

I have these conversions permanently etched in my brain. That comes with years of home economics, nutrition, and food science classes. And from years of recipe development.

I sometimes forget that it isn’t common knowledge. Until someone asks me how many tablespoons are in a teaspoon or I see someone scratching their head.

You know the feeling. Your only tablespoon is covered in peanut butter and soaking in the sink. You need a tablespoon of sugar for a recipe, and you need it fast. What’s that pesky conversion? 

Or you want to make a triple batch of spiced pecans and clean up the converted ingredient amounts. The salt goes up to 3 teaspoons, but it’s easier to measure if you know that’s 1 tablespoon.

About This Guide

I wanted to make a resource to help you make those conversions in your kitchen. You can bookmark or pin this guide for easy reference. Don’t forget to grab the free printable cooking conversion chart below.

These handy conversions work for liquid and dry ingredients. They work for water, milk, oil, flour, butter, you name it. Use the correct measuring cups and techniques for dry and liquid ingredients, and you’ll be good to go.

Please note these conversions are for recipes and measurements in the United States. In the US, we most commonly use volume for recipes instead of weight. The majority of homes don’t have a scale for cooking. We have specific sets of cups and spoons for measuring the volume of our ingredients.

Quick Memorization

Memorize these 3 things, and you’ll be able to figure out the rest in your head or with a calculator. 

  • A pinch or dash = less than ⅛ teaspoon
  • 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
  • 1 cup = 16 tablespoons

Cooking Conversion Chart (Free Printable)

Title page for kitchen conversions download that reads Cooking Conversion Chart, with the Mandi of the Mountains logo.
A cooking conversion chart with common kitchen measurement equivalents in tablespoons, teaspoons, and cups.

Grab your Free copy

Cooking Conversion Chart

Download this printable chart of common kitchen conversions and you’ll never have to wonder how many tablespoons are in a cup again!

Now, let’s get into the details and answer your remaining questions!

Converting Between Teaspoons, Tablespoons, and Cups

What is a Cup

In US measurements, a cup is 8 ounces or ½ a pint.

What are Tablespoons and Teaspoons

In the US, we use tablespoons and teaspoons to measure ingredients by volume. A tablespoon is 15 ml or ½ an ounce, and a teaspoon is 5 ml.

How Many Tablespoons in a Cup

There are 16 tablespoons in a cup and 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. Remember that, and use simple division to calculate other conversions.

¼ cup = 4 tablespoons

⅓ cup = 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon

½ cup = 8 tablespoons

⅔ cup = 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons

¾ cup = 12 tablespoons

1 cup = 16 tablespoons

How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon

There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. And for the times when a recipe calls for that pesky 1/2 tablespoon, ½ tablespoon equals 1 ½ teaspoons.

How Much is a Pinch

A pinch is ⅛ of a teaspoon or less.

Tablespoons to Ounces and Milliliters

Tablespoons to Ounces

1 tablespoon = ½ a fluid ounce

2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce

This conversion is helpful when you’re making cocktails without a jigger or a shot glass.

How Many Milliliters (ml) in a Tablespoon 

1 tablespoon = 15 ml

What About Pints, Quarts, and Gallons

How Many Tablespoons in a Pint

There are 32 tablespoons in a pint.

1 cup = ½ pint

2 cups = 1 pint

4 cups = 2 pints = 1 quart

8 cups = 4 pints = 2 quarts = ½ gallon

16 cups = 8 pints = 4 quarts = 1 gallon

How to Tell if a Recipe Calls for Teaspoons or Tablespoons

Tablespoon

The old school abbreviation for tablespoon is Tbsp with a capital T.

You may also see it written as tbsp, TBSP, TB, or simply T. Take note of those capitalizations and watch out for a B.

I choose to spell out tablespoon in my recipes to avoid confusion.

Teaspoon

The old school abbreviation for teaspoon is tsp with a lowercase t.

You may also see it written as TSP or simple t. It usually uses lowercase letters and never has a B.

I choose to spell out the word teaspoon in my recipes.

Measuring spoons with teaspoons and tablespoons.

Liquid vs. Dry Measurements

Liquid Measuring Cups vs. Dry Measuring Cups

Let’s start with liquid measuring cups. They’re designed for pouring liquid and accurately reading the volume. They’re see-through and designed so that you can read the meniscus to get an accurate measurement.

Dry measuring cups are designed so that dry ingredients can be scooped and leveled. This is the best way to get an accurate measurement.

How to Measure Liquid Ingredients

Here is how to measure liquids such as water, milk, and oil.

Fill in the measuring line. To read in a measuring cup, position yourself at eye level with the cup. The slight curve you see in the liquid is called the meniscus. Read the lowest point of the meniscus curve to measure.

How to Measure Dry Ingredients

Here is how to measure dry ingredients such as flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, etc. 

Scoop the dry ingredient with a dry measuring cup or spoon, then level it off. The flat back of a butter knife works great for this.

Scoop and swoop. 😀

More Tips for Measuring

  • Be mindful of the units the recipe calls for and the country it’s from. Measurements are not universal, so you may need to adjust.
  • Baking generally requires precision. You need to measure ingredients carefully to get the expected outcome.
  • Read the recipe carefully before beginning. Then, measure the ingredients as described. 
    • For example, the recipe calls for 1 cup of flour, sifted. You need to scoop the un-sifted flour into a 1-cup dry measuring cup, level it off, and then sift it.
    • If a recipe calls for 1 cup of chopped carrots, you will chop the carrot and then measure it.
    • If a recipe calls for a heaping cup of chopped kale, you’ll get a generous scoop and skip the leveling. This isn’t an accurate measurement, but it works well for some recipes like soup, salad, and smoothies. 
A stainless steel 1 tablespoon measuring spoon.

Pop Quiz

How many tablespoons are in a cup of water?

There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup of water.

How many tablespoons are in a cup of butter?

There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup of butter.

How many tablespoons are in a cup of sugar?

There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup of sugar.

See, it doesn’t matter what ingredient you measure. There are 16 tablespoons in a US 8-ounce cup! Be aware that this works for volume measurements like cups to tablespoons and teaspoons. It’s not an even conversion for the weight of dry ingredients.

I hope that clears up any questions or confusion you have about recipe conversions. If you have any more questions, please ask away in the comment section!

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