Cooking Conversion: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons | Essential for recipe scaling and ingredient measurement

Cup to Tablespoon Converter

Accurate conversion between cups and tablespoons for cooking, baking, and recipe scaling. Essential for adjusting ingredient measurements.

1 cup = 16 tablespoons | Default: 2 decimal places

Conversion Factor

1 cup = 16 tablespoons (tbsp) | 1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups

cup(s)
tbsp

Precision: 2 Decimal Places | Formula: tbsp = cups × 16

Common Cooking Measurements

Cups and Tablespoons

Understanding these essential volume units for cooking and baking measurements.

The Conversion Formula

Cup to Tablespoon Conversion

1 cup = 16 tablespoons (tbsp)
1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups
Tablespoons = Cups × 16
Cups = Tablespoons × 0.0625

Example Calculation 1:

Convert 0.5 cups to tablespoons:

tbsp = cups × 16

tbsp = 0.5 × 16

tbsp = 8 (with 0 decimal places)

Example Calculation 2:

Convert 24 tablespoons to cups:

cups = tablespoons × 0.0625

cups = 24 × 0.0625

cups = 1.5 (with 1 decimal place)

Note: These conversions are standard for US customary measurements in cooking

When to Use This Conversion:

  • Scaling recipes up or down
  • Adapting recipes from different sources
  • Measuring ingredients when you lack specific tools
  • Understanding recipe measurements in different units
  • Creating consistent results in baking
  • Teaching cooking basics and measurement skills

About the Units

Cup (c)

A unit of volume commonly used in cooking and baking in the United States and other countries following US customary measurements.

Equivalents:

  • 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
  • 1 cup = 48 teaspoons
  • 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces (US)
  • 1 cup ≈ 236.59 milliliters
  • 2 cups = 1 pint
  • 4 cups = 1 quart

Note: US cups differ slightly from metric cups (250ml)

Tablespoon (tbsp)

A unit of volume equal to three teaspoons or 1/16 of a US cup. It's commonly used for measuring both liquid and dry ingredients.

Equivalents:

  • 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
  • 1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups
  • 1 tablespoon = 0.5 fluid ounces (US)
  • 1 tablespoon ≈ 14.79 milliliters
  • 16 tablespoons = 1 cup
  • 32 tablespoons = 2 cups (1 pint)

Note: UK tablespoons are slightly larger (17.7ml)

Common Cooking Measurement Equivalents:

Cups Tablespoons Teaspoons Fluid Ounces Milliliters
1 cup 16 tbsp 48 tsp 8 fl oz 236.59 ml
3/4 cup 12 tbsp 36 tsp 6 fl oz 177.44 ml
1/2 cup 8 tbsp 24 tsp 4 fl oz 118.29 ml
1/3 cup 5.33 tbsp 16 tsp 2.67 fl oz 78.86 ml
1/4 cup 4 tbsp 12 tsp 2 fl oz 59.15 ml
1 tbsp 1 tbsp 3 tsp 0.5 fl oz 14.79 ml

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cups, tablespoons, and cooking measurements.

There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup. This is a standard conversion in US customary measurements for cooking and baking. The relationship can be expressed in multiple ways:

1 cup = 16 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups

Cups to Tablespoons: tablespoons = cups × 16

Tablespoons to Cups: cups = tablespoons × 0.0625

This conversion is essential for recipe scaling and adjusting ingredient quantities when cooking or baking.

Yes, cup and tablespoon measurements can vary slightly between countries:

US Customary
  • 1 cup = 236.59 ml
  • 1 tbsp = 14.79 ml
  • 1 cup = 16 tbsp
  • Widely used in US recipes
Metric (Canada, Australia)
  • 1 cup = 250 ml
  • 1 tbsp = 20 ml
  • 1 cup = 12.5 tbsp
  • Used in many modern recipes
UK Imperial
  • 1 cup = 284.13 ml
  • 1 tbsp = 17.76 ml
  • 1 cup ≈ 16 tbsp
  • Less common in modern recipes

This converter uses US customary measurements, which are most common in American recipes and many international baking resources.

In US customary measurements, the volume is the same for both dry and liquid ingredients, but the tools used to measure them differ:

  • Volume equivalence: 1 cup of liquid equals 1 cup of dry ingredients in volume (both are 16 tablespoons)
  • Measurement tools: Liquid measuring cups have spouts for pouring and are filled to the line, while dry measuring cups are filled to overflowing and leveled off
  • Weight differences: Despite having the same volume, 1 cup of different ingredients will have different weights (e.g., 1 cup flour ≈ 120g, 1 cup sugar ≈ 200g)
  • Accuracy considerations: For baking, weight measurements are more accurate than volume measurements due to density variations

This converter focuses on volume conversions, which works for both dry and liquid ingredients in US recipes.

Precision in measurement conversions is particularly important in baking, where chemical reactions depend on accurate ingredient ratios:

Baking (High Precision Needed)
  • Leavening agents (baking powder, yeast) require precision
  • Flour measurement affects texture and structure
  • Sugar impacts sweetness, texture, and browning
  • Liquid ratios affect dough/batter consistency
  • Small measurement errors can ruin results
Cooking (More Flexible)
  • Seasonings can often be adjusted to taste
  • Vegetables, meats, and grains are more forgiving
  • Liquid ingredients (broth, water) often tolerate variation
  • Herbs and spices can be adjusted for preference
  • Rough measurements often suffice

This converter defaults to 2 decimal places, which provides sufficient precision for most cooking and baking needs. For critical baking recipes, consider using weight measurements (grams) for the highest accuracy.

When you lack standard measuring tools, you can use these common household items as approximations:

  • Standard tablespoon: About the size of a dinner spoon (not a soup spoon)
  • Standard teaspoon: About the size of a coffee spoon
  • 1 cup approximation:
    • A standard mug holds about 1-1.5 cups
    • A large yogurt container is often 1 cup
    • A baseball is approximately 1 cup in volume
  • 1 tablespoon approximation:
    • About the size of a poker chip
    • Approximately the tip of your thumb (from knuckle)
  • Using conversion ratios: If you only have one size measuring cup, use this converter to calculate how many times you need to fill it

For best results, especially in baking, invest in a set of measuring cups and spoons. Digital scales provide the most accurate measurements for critical recipes.

Conversion Table: Cups to Tablespoons

Common cooking measurements for recipes and ingredient preparation.

Cups Tablespoons Teaspoons Fluid Ounces Common Uses
1/16 cup 1 tbsp 3 tsp 0.5 fl oz Oil, vinegar, small amounts
1/8 cup 2 tbsp 6 tsp 1 fl oz Extracts, sauces, condiments
1/4 cup 4 tbsp 12 tsp 2 fl oz Sugar, butter, small portions
1/3 cup 5.33 tbsp 16 tsp 2.67 fl oz Flour, sugar, milk
1/2 cup 8 tbsp 24 tsp 4 fl oz Liquid ingredients, butter
2/3 cup 10.67 tbsp 32 tsp 5.33 fl oz Flour, sugar, grains
3/4 cup 12 tbsp 36 tsp 6 fl oz Larger portions of ingredients
1 cup 16 tbsp 48 tsp 8 fl oz Standard measurement for liquids
2 cups 32 tbsp 96 tsp 16 fl oz Large volume ingredients

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