The cup-to-tbsp conversion can seem tricky, but it doesn't have to be. And understanding cup and tablespoon measurements can help you get consistent results every time you cook.
What Is a Cup?
A cup is a unit of volume measurement in recipes. In U.S. measurements, one cup is equal to 8 fluid ounces (236 milliliters). It is often used as a measure for dry and liquid ingredients when baking and cooking. A recipe may call for 1 cup of sugar or ¼ cup of milk, and it’s important to measure the correct amount of each ingredient when preparing your dish.
When measuring liquids with a cup, ensure that you are using a calibrated liquid measuring cup specifically designed for this purpose, rather than an ordinary kitchen drinking glass.
What Is a Tablespoon?
A tablespoon is a unit of measurement used in cooking and serving. It is equal to 15 milliliters or 0.5 fluid ounces. There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon.
With a tablespoon, you are able to measure both dry and liquid ingredients alike, which makes it a versatile tool for cooking and baking projects. Having access to an accurately-sized tablespoon is paramount when measuring out ingredients for recipes. Knowing how much of each ingredient to add is important to achieve the desired outcome.
Cup to tablespoon Conversion
The cup to tablespoon conversion is 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. Converting between cups and tablespoons is a common task in cooking. Most U.S. recipes call for ingredients measured in cups and tablespoons, which can be difficult to measure with accuracy if you don’t have the right tools.
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
Converting Between Cups and Tablespoons
The conversion factor between tablespoons and cups is 16 tablespoons per cup. You can convert from tablespoons to cups or cups to tablespoons by multiplying or dividing by 16.
Cups to tablespoons
Cups to Tablespoons Converter (cups to tbsp)
Type a value in the Cups field to convert the value to Tablespoons:
Tablespoons:
To convert cups to tablespoons, you multiply the number of cups by 16.
Number of tablespoons = Number of cups × 16
For example, if you want to know how many tablespoons are in ½ cup, you multiply 16 by ½.
Number of tablespoons = Number of cups × 16
Number of tablespoons = ½ × 16
Number of tablespoons = 8
So, there are 8 tablespoons in ½ cup.
Tablespoons to cups
Tablespoons to Cups Converter (tbsp to cups)
Type a value in the Tablespoons field to convert the value to Cups:
Cups:
To convert tablespoons to cups, you divide the number of tablespoons by 16.
Number of cups = Number of tablespoons ÷ 16
For example, if you want to know how many cups are in 32 tablespoons, you divide 32 by 16.
Number of cups = Number of tablespoons ÷ 16
Number of cups = 32 ÷ 16
Number of cups = 2
So, there are 2 cups in 32 tablespoons.
Conversion Table Between Cups and Tablespoons
Cups (c) | Tablespoons (Tbsp) |
---|---|
⅛ c | 2 Tbsp |
¼ c | 4 Tbsp |
⅓ c | 5.33 Tbsp |
⅜ c | 6 Tbsp |
½ c | 8 Tbsp |
⅝ c | 10 Tbsp |
⅔ c | 10.67 Tbsp |
¾ c | 12 Tbsp |
⅞ c | 14 Tbsp |
1 c | 16 Tbsp |
1 ⅛ c | 18 Tbsp |
1 ¼ c | 20 Tbsp |
1 ⅓ c | 21.33 Tbsp |
1 ½ c | 24 Tbsp |
1 ⅔ c | 26.67 Tbsp |
1 ¾ c | 28 Tbsp |
1 ⅞ c | 30 Tbsp |
2 c | 32 Tbsp |
2 ¼ c | 36 Tbsp |
2 ½ c | 40 Tbsp |
It's important to understand how to convert cup to tablespoon measurements so you can adjust your recipes with confidence. Remember that 1 cup converts to 16 tablespoons.