Cup to Tablespoon Converter
Converts cup to tablespoon (cup to tbsp) and back. The conversion factor is shown below every result.
How to Convert Cup to Tablespoon
What Is a Cup?
The US cup is a US customary volume unit equal to exactly 8 US fluid ounces (236.5882365 mL).
What Is a Tablespoon?
A US tablespoon (tbsp), exactly 1/2 US fluid ounce (14.78676478125 mL), is a common US customary volume unit.
Common Cup to Tablespoon Reference Points
Real-world reference values for quick sanity checks.
| Item | Cup (cup) | Tablespoon (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| A standard muffin recipe's liquid portion | 1.5 cup | 24 tbsp |
| A small sauce batch | 0.25 cup | 4 tbsp |
| Reference values are illustrative approximations for common items, not measured specifications. | ||
Cup to Tablespoon Conversion Table
| Cup (cup) | Tablespoon (tbsp) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 cup | 4 tbsp |
| 0.5 cup | 8 tbsp |
| 0.75 cup | 12 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
| 1.5 cup | 24 tbsp |
| 2 cup | 32 tbsp |
| 3 cup | 48 tbsp |
| 4 cup | 64 tbsp |
| Source: NIST SP 811, Appendix B (1 US cup = 16 tablespoons exactly) | |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert cups to tablespoons?
Multiply the cup value by 16. For example, 0.5 cup × 16 = 8 tbsp.
How many tablespoons are in a half cup or quarter cup?
A half cup is 8 tablespoons and a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons, following the same 16-tablespoons-per-cup relationship.
What if a recipe uses metric cups instead?
A metric cup (used in Australia and some other countries) is a rounder 250 mL, slightly larger than the 236.5882365 mL US cup used on this page. For metric-cup recipes, the tablespoon count will come out a little different.
Related Cooking & Baking Converters
A good measuring tool marked in both cup and tbsp removes the guesswork at the point of use.