Confused about how many tablespoons in a cup?
Have no fear. I’ve got the calculations all figured out for you!
"Once, I accidentally used tablespoons instead of teaspoons for baking powder and ended up with a giant, fluffy banana flavored marshmallow bread instead of banana bread. I couldn't stop laughing at my mistake but vowed to pay more attention to measuring in the future."
Need 1/4 cup of something measured in tablespoons instead? Just look at our conversion chart and say goodbye to measuring woes.
Cooking or baking made simpler is what these conversions are here for, so don’t be afraid of adding too much (or too little!)
Grab your spoon and get ready to scoop up exactly what those recipes need.
How Many Tablespoons In A Cup?
The short answer is 16 tablespoons make up 1 cup.
Now that you know how many tablespoons are in a cup, you can use this fact to convert other measurements as well.
For instance, if your recipe calls for 1/2 a cup and you only have tablespoon measurements on hand, it’s easy enough to do the math and figure out that eight tablespoons equals 1/2 a cup.
Fun Facts About Tablespoons And Cups
- The word “tablespoon” comes from the word “table” and “spoon” because it was originally used to serve food at the table.
- The word “cup” comes from the Latin word “cuppa” meaning a container for drinking.
- The abbreviation for tablespoon is “tbsp” or “Tbsp.”
- The abbreviation for cup is “c” or “C.”
How Many Teaspoons In A Tablespoon?
Metric Vs Imperial Cup
Timing and precision are essential when baking, so understanding the differences between metric and imperial cup measurements could save your food creations.
A metric cup is 250 milliliters while an imperial cup is slightly larger–237 milliliters.
Overall that may not seem like much of a difference but it can make all the difference between cakes, cookies and muffins that are beautifully fluffy or burned to bits.
To get the best results, it’s worth getting your head around both units of measurement, especially if you make recipes that use one or the other.
Conversion Chart For Tablespoons and Cups
| Tablespoon | Cup |
|---|---|
| 4 tbsp | 1/4 cup |
| 5.3 tbsp | 1/3 cup |
| 8 tbsp | 1/2 cup |
| 10.6 tbsp | 2/3 cup |
| 12 tbsp | 3/4 cup |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup |
| 32 tbsp | 2 cups |
Tablespoons To Cups Conversion Answers
Three (3) teaspoons of volume is equivalent to one tablespoon. This means that one full tablespoon is actually three times the amount of a teaspoon.
A tablespoon and a teaspoon are both commonly used measurements in the kitchen. While they may seem similar, they actually measure different amounts of ingredients. A tablespoon is a bigger measurement than a teaspoon, containing three times more volume than a teaspoon.
Measuring ingredients is key to successful baking. If you measure incorrectly, your cake may turn out dry or too dense. For dry ingredients like flour, cocoa powder, and sugar it is important to level the measuring cup, making sure that nothing spills over the top without pressing down. For liquid ingredients like oil and milk, it is best to use a clear glass or plastic liquid measuring cup placed on a flat surface for accuracy.
When it comes to baking, precision and exact measurements are key. A small change in the amount of an ingredient can lead to vastly different results, so understanding how measuring spoons work is an important skill for any cook. Heaping or level tablespoons can make a huge difference in cookies, cakes, or brownies for example.
When measuring out a small amount of ingredients, such as spices or condiments for a recipe, it is more exact to use tablespoons instead of cups. For example, baking usually calls for smaller, more precise measurements than larger recipes like soups and stews.
