Kitchen reference
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. It's a volume relationship, so it holds no matter what you're measuring — flour, sugar, oil or water.
1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp = 8 fl oz. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons; a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons.
| Cup amount | Tablespoons | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 48 |
| ¾ cup | 12 tbsp | 36 |
| ⅔ cup | 10.67 tbsp | 32 |
| ½ cup | 8 tbsp | 24 |
| ⅓ cup | 5.33 tbsp | 16 |
| ¼ cup | 4 tbsp | 12 |
| ⅛ cup | 2 tbsp | 6 |
Tablespoons ↔ cups
1 cup
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
1 cups16 tbsp120 g4.23 oz
Why 16?
The US customary system defines a cup as 8 fluid ounces, a fluid ounce as 2 tablespoons, and a tablespoon as 3 teaspoons. Multiply it through: 8 fl oz × 2 = 16 tablespoons per cup, and 16 × 3 = 48 teaspoons per cup.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are exactly 16 tablespoons in one US cup.
How many tablespoons in half a cup?
Half a cup is 8 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in a quarter cup?
A quarter cup is 4 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons in a cup?
Since each tablespoon is 3 teaspoons and a cup is 16 tablespoons, there are 48 teaspoons in a cup.