About this tool
This converter uses the standard US measurement: 1 cup equals exactly 16 tablespoons. Type a value into either field and the other updates instantly — nothing is sent to a server.
Quick reference table
| Tablespoons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 2 tbsp | 1/8 cup |
| 4 tbsp | 1/4 cup |
| 5⅓ tbsp | 1/3 cup |
| 8 tbsp | 1/2 cup |
| 12 tbsp | 3/4 cup |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup |
Common use cases
- Scaling a recipe up or down between tablespoon and cup measurements
- Converting a recipe when you only have one size of measuring tool on hand
- Double-checking a measurement conversion while cooking or baking
Things to watch out for
This converter uses the US tablespoon and cup, which are standard for American recipes and US-made measuring tools — UK, Australian, and metric "cup" and "tablespoon" measurements use slightly different volumes, so a recipe from a different region may not convert perfectly using US ratios. For dry ingredients, tablespoon-to-cup conversions are by volume, not weight, so results can vary slightly depending on how tightly an ingredient like flour or brown sugar is packed.
Why this conversion trips people up
Sixteen isn't an intuitive number to multiply or divide by in your head, which is exactly why a recipe calling for "10 tablespoons" of something doesn't obviously translate to a clean fraction of a cup without doing the math. This tool handles that conversion instantly in either direction, whether you're scaling a recipe up, down, or just working with whatever measuring tool happens to be clean.
Frequently asked questions
There are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is a fixed relationship in the US customary measuring system used in most American recipes.
No — a US tablespoon (14.79 mL) is slightly different from a UK/Commonwealth or Australian tablespoon (which use different standard volumes). This converter uses the US measurement, standard for American recipes and measuring spoons.
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 US tablespoon — useful if a recipe only lists teaspoon measurements and you want to convert up to tablespoons or cups.