Cups to Tablespoons Converter
Convert cups to tablespoons instantly. Free online cups to tbsp calculator for cooking and baking recipes.
Formula
tbsp = cups × 16
Common Conversions
How to Convert Cups to Tablespoons
1 cup = 16 tablespoons (US/UK/Canada). Multiply cups by 16 to get tablespoons. So 1/2 cup = 8 tbsp; 1/4 cup = 4 tbsp. Australian cups (250 ml) at Australian tablespoons (20 ml) = 12.5 per cup, so for Australian recipes the math differs.
Useful when scaling down a recipe that uses cups but you want spoon-level precision, or when measuring just a small amount of an ingredient that would be unwieldy with a full cup. 1/8 cup is awkward to measure as 1/8 cup but easy as 2 tbsp.
Common Cups to Tablespoons Conversions
| Cups | Tablespoons |
|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp |
| 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp |
| 1/3 cup | 5.33 tbsp |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp |
| 2/3 cup | 10.67 tbsp |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
| 2 cups | 32 tbsp |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 1/3 cup not divide evenly?
Because 16 (tbsp per cup) doesn't divide cleanly by 3. 1/3 cup = 5.33 tbsp, rounded down to 5 tbsp + 1 tsp (since 0.33 tbsp = 1 tsp). 2/3 cup = 10 tbsp + 2 tsp.
Should I scale up or scale down?
Scale down (cup to tbsp) when the cup amount is small (1/4 cup or less) - tbsp is easier to measure precisely. Scale up (tbsp to cup) when the recipe calls for many tbsp of the same ingredient - 8+ tbsp is faster as a half cup.
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