Convert cups to tablespoons
1 cup = 16 tbsp · Formula and table below. Converting the other way? Tablespoons to Cups →
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Other units
- Liter (l) 0.236588237
- Milliliter (ml) 236.5882
- Deciliter (dl) 2.365882
- Kiloliter (kl) 0.000236588
- Cubic meter (m³) 0.000236588
- Cubic centimeter (cm³) 236.5882
- Gallon (US) (gal) 0.0625
- Gallon (UK) (gal) 0.052042137
- Quart (US) (qt) 0.25
- Pint (US) (pt) 0.5
- Fluid ounce (US) (fl oz) 8
- Cup (US) (cup) 1
- Tablespoon (US) (tbsp) 16
- Teaspoon (US) (tsp) 48
- Cup (metric) (cup) 0.946352946
Reviewed on by the Skala Convert team
Multiply cups by 16. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons is a cup?
tbsp = cups × 16
- ⅛ cup = 2 tbsp
- ¼ cup = 4 tbsp
- ⅓ cup = 5⅓ tbsp
- ½ cup = 8 tbsp
- ⅔ cup = 10⅔ tbsp
- ¾ cup = 12 tbsp
Scaling a recipe down
Cutting a recipe to a quarter turns ¼ cup into 1 tablespoon and ⅓ cup into 1⅓ tablespoons (1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon). Below about ¼ cup, spoons are more accurate than a measuring cup: small amounts in a big cup are hard to read, and a level tablespoon is consistent.
Dry cups and liquid cups hold the same — but fill differently
A nested dry measuring cup and a glass liquid cup hold the same volume. The difference is how they are filled: dry cups are levelled off with a knife, liquid cups are read at eye level with the bottom of the curve on the line. Scooping flour straight from the bag packs it and can add 20% or more by weight, which is why bakers prefer grams.
For metric volumes, see tbsp to mL.
Who fixes the cup-to-tablespoon ratio?
The US customary system: a cup is 8 fl oz and a tablespoon ½ fl oz, both listed with their SI values in NIST Special Publication 811, the US guide to the SI. The FDA's 21 CFR 101.9 uses 240 mL per cup and 15 mL per tablespoon for labels.
Formula
Tablespoons = Cups × 16
10 cup = 160 tbsp
Conversion table
| cup | tbsp |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16 |
| 2 | 32 |
| 5 | 80 |
| 10 | 160 |
| 20 | 320 |
| 25 | 400 |
| 50 | 800 |
| 100 | 1600 |
Charts for this conversion
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons in ½ cup?
Eight tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in ¾ cup?
Twelve tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in 2 cups?
32 tablespoons.