Tablespoons to Cups Converter
Convert tablespoons (tbsp) to cups in seconds. Choose the measurement system (US, metric, UK), enter your value, and get an instant, accurate result. Perfect for cooking, baking, meal prep, and adapting online recipes.
You can enter decimals (e.g. 1.5) or whole numbers.
Cups
(fraction: —)
Pro tip
Most US recipes assume: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons, so 1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup = 0.0625 cup.
Formula used
US system:
cups = tablespoons ÷ 16
Metric system:
1 metric cup = 250 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL → 1 cup = 250 ÷ 15 ≈ 16.6667 tbsp
cups = tablespoons ÷ 16.6667
UK/Imperial:
1 UK cup = 284 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL → 1 cup ≈ 18.9333 tbsp
cups = tablespoons ÷ 18.9333
Quick reference: tablespoons to cups
| Tablespoons (tbsp) | Cups (US) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.0625 cup | 1/16 cup |
| 2 tbsp | 0.125 cup | 1/8 cup |
| 4 tbsp | 0.25 cup | 1/4 cup |
| 5 tbsp | 0.3125 cup | ≈ 5 tbsp = 1/3 cup (close) |
| 6 tbsp | 0.375 cup | 3/8 cup |
| 8 tbsp | 0.5 cup | 1/2 cup |
| 12 tbsp | 0.75 cup | 3/4 cup |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup | - |
| 24 tbsp | 1.5 cups | 1 1/2 cups |
| 32 tbsp | 2 cups | 1 pint (US) |
How to convert tablespoons to cups (step-by-step)
- Identify which cup system your recipe is using (US, metric, or UK).
- Take the number of tablespoons you have.
- Divide by the cup’s tablespoons-equivalent (16 for US, 16.67 for metric, 18.93 for UK).
- Round to a practical cooking fraction (1/4, 1/3, 1/2 cup, etc.).
Example: you have 10 tbsp and your recipe uses US cups → 10 ÷ 16 = 0.625 cups. This is very close to 5/8 cup.
FAQs
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
In US measurements, 1 cup = 16 tablespoons. This is the default used in most US cookbooks.
Is a tablespoon always 15 mL?
In the US, a tablespoon is 14.7868 mL, but it’s commonly rounded to 15 mL. In most metric/European contexts, 1 tbsp is exactly 15 mL. The difference is small for home cooking.
Can I go from cups to tablespoons?
Yes. Just type your value in the Cups field and the calculator will give you the equivalent in tablespoons.
Why do some sites show 1 cup = 12 tablespoons?
That’s usually because they’re using a different standard (sometimes coffee cup or older UK kitchen measures). For standard recipes, 16 tbsp to 1 US cup is the most reliable ratio.