How many tablespoons are in 1 cup?

Exactly 16 tablespoons. This is the standard US measurement: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces.

How many tablespoons are in ¼ cup?

4 tablespoons. A quarter cup is a very common recipe measurement and equals exactly 4 level tablespoons.

How many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup?

Approximately 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (5.33 tablespoons total). Since ⅓ does not divide evenly into tablespoons, most cooks use 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon.

Does this use US cups or metric cups?

This converter uses US customary cups (236.588 mL). An Australian metric cup is 250 mL, which equals about 16.9 tablespoons. For US recipes, 16 tablespoons per cup is correct.

How many tablespoons are in ½ cup?

Exactly 8 tablespoons. Half a cup is one of the easiest conversions: 0.5 × 16 = 8 tablespoons.

Can I convert tablespoons back to cups?

Yes — divide the number of tablespoons by 16. For example, 12 tablespoons ÷ 16 = 0.75 cups (¾ cup). This tool shows both directions.

Cups to Tablespoons Converter

Enter a volume in cups and get the exact number of tablespoons — 1 cup = 16 tablespoons.

Cups

Quick:

cups

Decimals and fractions both work (e.g. 0.25 or 0.333)

Reverse: Tablespoons → Cups

tbsp

Result

Tablespoons

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Common Cups to Tablespoons Reference

Cups	Tablespoons	Teaspoons	Fluid Oz
1/8 cup (2 tbsp)	2	6	1
1/4 cup	4	12	2
1/3 cup	5.3333	16	2.6667
1/2 cup	8	24	4
2/3 cup	10.6667	32	5.3333
3/4 cup	12	36	6
1 cup	16	48	8
1 1/2 cups	24	72	12
2 cups	32	96	16
4 cups	64	192	32

Summary

1 US cup equals exactly 16 tablespoons. This converter handles any amount — whole numbers, decimals, and common fractions like ¼, ⅓, or ½ — so you can scale recipes up or down without doing the arithmetic yourself.

How it works

Enter the number of cups in the input field.
The converter multiplies by 16 (the exact cups-to-tablespoons factor).
The result shows tablespoons as a decimal and as a rounded fraction.
Use the fraction shortcuts (¼, ½, ¾, 1, 2) for common recipe amounts.
Copy the result with one click for use in notes or other apps.

Use cases

Scale a recipe that lists ingredients in cups when you only have a tablespoon measure.
Convert a baking recipe that calls for ⅓ cup of oil to tablespoons.
Quickly find how many tablespoons are in ¾ cup without mental math.
Double or halve a recipe by converting the adjusted cup amounts to tablespoons.
Measure liquids like broth or milk when a tablespoon is the only utensil available.
Teach cooking measurements to students learning kitchen math.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu