How many tablespoons in a cup

 Easily calculate how many tablespoons are in a cup so you’ll be able to work with recipes seamlessly! This guide will make tablespoons to cups conversions simple and easy to scale up or down.

If you’ve ever been in a position where you don’t have measuring cups on hand, knowing the tablespoon equivilant will come in handy.

It will allow you to use cup measurements accurately in any recipe that uses cups for their ingredients. It is also super handy when you want to halve or double recipes, and ensure any adjustments you make turn out perfectly.

How many tablespoons in a cup?- 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 1 cup conversions

There is 16 tablespoons in one cup. Use this simple conversion next time you find a recipe in cups and want to convert it to tablespoons and vice versa. 

The US Customary System (USCS) 

The US customary system (USCS) is based on the English measurement system that uses different units for measuring weight, length, temperature, etc., and is primarily used in the United States. While it has many similarities to the British Imperial system, it is not completely identical.

It is safe to say a majority of recipes around the world use US customary measurements, so understanding the conversions will enable you to follow the recipe properly and accurately.

• 1 US Cup = 236.588 mL
• 1 US Cup = 16 US tablespoons (Tbsp)

Metric and Imperial cup 

The imperial system is used in the United States for measuring different things. When Imperial System was introduced, it was called British Imperial System. Later, the Metric system was introduced, which was adopted by most countries of the world. In the United States, the Imperial system is still used for measuring different quantities. 

The fundamental difference between these two systems is their units of measurement. The metric system uses grams, liters, kilograms, kilometers, and meters. Whereas, the imperial system measures things in feet, quarts, miles, inches, and pounds in the Imperial system. 

For example, if you make a chocolate cake using the customary system then try it with the metric system, the results will not be the same.

We can use the tablespoon to cup example to show the difference-

1 US Cup = 16 US tablespoons (Tbsp)
1 US Cup = 15.77 metric tablespoons (UK, international)

Basic tablespoon conversions (tbsp to cup)

As mentioned earlier, there are 16 tablespoons in one cup. You can easily inter-convert lower or higher amounts than this. For example, when you have to add 4 tablespoons in a recipe, it will be equal to 1/4 cup. For more tablespoon conversions, see the simple guideline table below: 

Tablespoons (TBSP)	Dry measurements (cups)	Liquid measurements (fl. oz.)
16 tablespoons	1 cup	8 fluid ounces
12 tablespoons	3/4 cup	6 fluid ounces
10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons	2/3 cup	4 2/3 fluid ounces
8 tablespoons	1/2 cup	4 fluid ounces
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon	1/3 cup	2 1/3 fluid ounces
4 tablespoons	1/4 cup	2 fluid ounces
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons	1/6 cup	1 1/3 fluid ounces
2 tablespoons	1/8 cup	1 fluid ounces
1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons)	1/16 cup	1/2 fluid ounce

Are dry and wet measurements the same? 

Dry and wet measurements are the same when measuring in cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons. When measuring out the liquid ingredients, a measuring cup is a recommended option, as it will save you from unexpected spillovers on your kitchen counter. 

However, when measuring ounces, dry and wet measurements will not be the same. Ounces show the weight of an ingredient, and that differs depending on the ingredient.

How do I convert from cups to ounces? 

Easily convert cups to ounces using the following conversions-

• 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons 
• 2 fluid ounces = 1/4 cup
• 4 fluid ounces = 1/2 cup
• 6 fluid ounces = 3/4 cup
• 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup
• 12 fluid ounces = 1-1/2 cups
• 16 fluid ounces = 2 cups (or 1 pint)
• 32 fluid ounces = 4 cups (or 1 quart)
• 128 fluid ounces = 1 gallon

My recipe calls for dash- How much is that? 

The terms like dash, pinch, and smidgen are often used in cooking/recipes, and all refer to the same thing.

• Pinch: equal to 1/8 of a teaspoon and is used for dry ingredients, like salt, pepper, or spices.
• Dash: used while measuring liquids and is equal to 1/8 of a teaspoon. 
• Smidgen: a negligible amount that it’s nearly equal to nothing, about 1/32 of a teaspoon. 

More cooking resources

• How many ounces in a cup
• How many grams in an ounce

Frequently Asked Questions