Tablespoons to Cups Converter

Change tablespoons to cups as you type, and cups to tablespoons too. Type a fraction such as 1/3 or 1 1/2 cups and see it in tablespoons and teaspoons, with a chart and the cup sizes used in the US, on labels and in metric countries.

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Last updated: 9 November 2026

Convert Tablespoons to Cups

Tablespoons (tbsp)

Cups

4 tbsp = 1/4 cup

4 tablespoons in other forms

Working: ÷ 164 ÷ 16 = 0.25 cup
In teaspoons12 tsp
In milliliters59.1471 ml

Updates as you type. Type in either box. Fractions work in the Cups box: 1/3, 1 1/2.

Round to

1 US cup is exactly 16 US tablespoons, or 48 teaspoons. See below for metric and Australian cups. An amount cannot be negative. Not for medicine doses.

Quick Conversions

Tablespoons to Cups Formula

cups = tbsp ÷ 16

Divide the tablespoons by 16
Example: 4 tbsp ÷ 16 = 0.25 cup, which is 1/4 cup
To go back, multiply the cups by 16: 1/3 cup × 16 = 5.3333 tbsp, or 5 tbsp 1 tsp
1 tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, so 1 cup is 48 teaspoons
1 US cup is exactly 16 US tablespoons, or 8 fluid ounces

How Many Tablespoons in a Cup?

The numbers everyone looks up, and a few more that follow from them.

	Value
1 cup	16 tbsp
1 tbsp	0.0625 cup
1 cup	48 tsp
1 cup	8 fl oz
1 cup	236.5882 ml
1 tbsp	14.7868 ml

These are the US kitchen sizes. A metric cup is 250 ml, so the numbers change a little there.

Tablespoons in a Cup

Fractions of a cup in tablespoons and teaspoons. Click a row to convert it.

Tablespoons	Tbsp + tsp	Teaspoons
1 tbsp	1 tbsp	3 tsp
2 tbsp	2 tbsp	6 tsp
4 tbsp	4 tbsp	12 tsp
5.3333 tbsp	5 tbsp 1 tsp	16 tsp
6 tbsp	6 tbsp	18 tsp
8 tbsp	8 tbsp	24 tsp
10.6667 tbsp	10 tbsp 2 tsp	32 tsp
12 tbsp	12 tbsp	36 tsp
14 tbsp	14 tbsp	42 tsp
16 tbsp	16 tbsp	48 tsp
24 tbsp	24 tbsp	72 tsp
32 tbsp	32 tbsp	96 tsp

1/3 cup is 5 tbsp and 1 tsp, not 5 1/2 tbsp. 2/3 cup is 10 tbsp and 2 tsp.

Kitchen Measures in Tablespoons

US measures in tablespoons and teaspoons, including a stick of butter.

Measure	Tablespoons	Teaspoons
1 teaspoon	1/3 tbsp	1 tsp
1 tablespoon	1 tbsp	3 tsp
1 fluid ounce	2 tbsp	6 tsp
1 stick of butter (US)	8 tbsp	24 tsp
1 cup	16 tbsp	48 tsp
1 pint	32 tbsp	96 tsp
1 quart	64 tbsp	192 tsp
1 gallon	256 tbsp	768 tsp

A US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, which is 8 tablespoons.

Tbsp to Cups Chart

From 1 to 32 tablespoons, in decimal cups and as a fraction. Click a row to convert it.

Tablespoons	Cups	As a fraction
	0.0625 cup	1/16 cup
	0.125 cup	1/8 cup
	0.1875 cup	3/16 cup
	0.25 cup	1/4 cup
	0.3125 cup	5/16 cup
	0.375 cup	3/8 cup
	0.4375 cup	7/16 cup
	0.5 cup	1/2 cup
	0.5625 cup	9/16 cup
	0.625 cup	5/8 cup
	0.6875 cup	11/16 cup
	0.75 cup	3/4 cup
	0.8125 cup	13/16 cup
	0.875 cup	7/8 cup
	0.9375 cup	15/16 cup
	1 cup	1 cup
	1.25 cups	1 1/4 cups
	1.5 cups	1 1/2 cups
	2 cups	2 cups

Use Print to print this page with the chart.

Cup and Tablespoon Sizes

Not every cup and tablespoon is the same size. This changes how many tablespoons are in a cup.

Standard	Cup	Tablespoon	Tbsp in a cup
US customary	236.5882 ml	14.7868 ml	16
US nutrition label	240 ml	15 ml	16
Metric	250 ml	15 ml	16.6667
Australian tablespoon	250 ml	20 ml	12.5

For most recipes use 16 tablespoons to the cup. Use 16.6667 for a metric 250 ml cup with a 15 ml tablespoon, and 12.5 for an Australian 20 ml tablespoon.

Other Volume Conversions

Volume Converter, 21 units, US and UK, with a cups-in-a-gallon table.
Oz to ML, fluid ounces in milliliters, US and UK.
Ounces in a Quart, quarts in fluid ounces, US and UK.

About Tablespoons to Cups Conversion

Type tablespoons and the cups appear as you type, or type cups, even a fraction like 1/3, to get tablespoons and teaspoons. Use it for recipes, baking and butter. Not for medicine doses. Your numbers never leave your browser.

Use this free tablespoons to cups converter to change tablespoons to cups, and cups to tablespoons. Type an amount in the Tablespoons box and the cups appear as you type (4 tablespoons is 1/4 cup, and 16 tablespoons is 1 cup). Type in the Cups box to go the other way, and use a fraction such as 1/3 or 1 1/2 if you like: 1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. The answer shows a fraction of a cup when the result is one, and also gives teaspoons and milliliters. Pick how many decimals to round to and copy a link to your conversion. Tables list the common fractions of a cup in tablespoons, a chart from 1 to 32 tablespoons, US kitchen measures including a stick of butter, and the cup sizes used in the US, on labels, in metric countries and in Australia. It is free and instant, and your numbers stay in your browser. It is not for medicine doses.

How to convert tablespoons to cups

Divide the tablespoons by 16, because one US cup is exactly 16 US tablespoons.

cups = tablespoons ÷ 16

For 4 tablespoons: 4 ÷ 16 = 0.25 cup, which is 1/4 cup. For 8 tablespoons: 8 ÷ 16 = 0.5 cup. For 12 tablespoons: 12 ÷ 16 = 0.75 cup. To go back, multiply by 16: tablespoons = cups × 16.

How many tablespoons are in a cup

There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. That is also 48 teaspoons (a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons) or 8 fluid ounces (a tablespoon is half a fluid ounce). In milliliters, a US cup is 236.5882 ml and a US tablespoon is 14.7868 ml.

Tablespoons in 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4 cup

1/8 cup is 2 tablespoons, 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons and 3/4 cup is 12 tablespoons. The thirds do not come out even. 1/3 cup is 5.3333 tablespoons, which is 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon, and 2/3 cup is 10.6667 tablespoons, which is 10 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons. The table above lists every common fraction of a cup. Type a fraction such as 1/3 or 1 1/2 in the Cups box to convert it.

Cups to tablespoons

Multiply the cups by 16. For 1/4 cup: 0.25 × 16 = 4 tablespoons. For 1 1/2 cups: 1.5 × 16 = 24 tablespoons. The converter works both ways, so you can also type in the Cups box.

Teaspoons and fluid ounces

Three teaspoons make a tablespoon, so 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) is 12 teaspoons. Two tablespoons make a fluid ounce, so 1/4 cup is 2 fluid ounces. For fluid ounces in milliliters use the Oz to ML converter.

Butter

A US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, which is 8 tablespoons or 24 teaspoons. So 1/4 cup of butter is half a stick, and 4 tablespoons is half a stick too.

US, metric and Australian cups and tablespoons

The 16 tablespoons to a cup rule is for the US cup and tablespoon. A metric cup is 250 ml and a metric tablespoon is 15 ml, which makes a metric cup 16.6667 tablespoons. In Australia a tablespoon is 20 ml, so a 250 ml cup is 12.5 tablespoons. US nutrition labels use a 240 ml cup and a 15 ml tablespoon, which is 16 tablespoons again. For most recipes use 16.

Common conversions

2 tablespoons is 1/8 cup, 4 tablespoons is 1/4 cup, 6 tablespoons is 3/8 cup, 8 tablespoons is 1/2 cup, 10 tablespoons is 5/8 cup, 12 tablespoons is 3/4 cup and 16 tablespoons is 1 cup. The chart above lists 1 to 32 tablespoons. For other units, such as pints, quarts, gallons and liters, use the Volume Converter.

Spelling

You may see tablespoon, tbsp or tbs, and cup or c. This page works for all of them, and for "4tbsp" typed without a space. It is not for medicine doses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many tablespoons are in a cup?

16. One US cup is exactly 16 US tablespoons, which is also 48 teaspoons or 8 fluid ounces.

How do I convert tablespoons to cups?

Divide the tablespoons by 16. For example, 4 tablespoons ÷ 16 = 0.25 cup, which is 1/4 cup.

How many tablespoons are in 1/4 cup?

4 tablespoons. A quarter of 16 is 4, so 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, which is 12 teaspoons.

How many tablespoons are in 1/3 cup?

5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon (5.3333 tablespoons). The sum is 16 ÷ 3 = 5.3333, and the 0.3333 of a tablespoon is 1 teaspoon. It is not 5 1/2 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons are in 1/2 cup?

8 tablespoons. Half of 16 is 8, so 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, which is 24 teaspoons.

How many tablespoons are in 2/3 cup?

10 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons (10.6667 tablespoons). Two thirds of 16 is 10.6667, and the 0.6667 of a tablespoon is 2 teaspoons.

How many tablespoons are in 3/4 cup?

12 tablespoons. Three quarters of 16 is 12, so 3/4 cup is 12 tablespoons, which is 36 teaspoons.

How many tablespoons are in 1/8 cup?

2 tablespoons. An eighth of 16 is 2, so 1/8 cup is 2 tablespoons, which is 6 teaspoons or 1 fluid ounce.

How many cups is 4 tablespoons?

1/4 cup (0.25 cup). The sum is 4 ÷ 16 = 0.25.

How many cups is 6 tablespoons?

3/8 cup (0.375 cup). The sum is 6 ÷ 16 = 0.375. That is 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons.

How many cups is 8 tablespoons?

1/2 cup (0.5 cup). The sum is 8 ÷ 16 = 0.5.

How many teaspoons are in 1/4 cup?

12 teaspoons. 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, and each tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, so 4 × 3 = 12.

How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?

8 tablespoons. A US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, which is 8 tablespoons or 24 teaspoons.

Are US, metric and Australian tablespoons the same?

No. A US cup is 236.5882 ml and a US tablespoon is 14.7868 ml, so 16 tablespoons make a cup. A metric cup is 250 ml and a metric tablespoon is 15 ml, so a metric cup is 16.6667 tablespoons. An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml, so a 250 ml cup is 12.5 of them. For most recipes use 16.

What is the formula for tablespoons to cups?

cups = tablespoons ÷ 16. To go the other way, tablespoons = cups × 16.

Are my numbers saved or shared?

No. The conversion happens in your browser, and the numbers you type are not stored or sent to any server. A link you copy keeps the numbers after the # sign, which browsers never send to a server.