Cups to Tablespoons Converter
1 cup (cup) equals 16 tablespoons (tbsp).
Quick answer
One US cup is exactly 16 tablespoons. So ¼ cup = 4 tbsp, ⅓ cup = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp, and ½ cup = 8 tbsp.
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
- 1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups
- Formula: tbsp = cup × 16
- Quick estimate: multiply by 16; ⅓ cup is 5 tbsp + 1 tsp.
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
How to convert cups to tablespoons
tbsp = cup × 16
To convert cups to tablespoons, multiply the number of cups by 16.
Example: 42 cup to tbsp
- Start with the value in cups: 42 cup.
- Multiply by 16: 42 × 16 = 672.
- Result: 42 cups = 672 tablespoons.
Going the other way, 1 tablespoon = 0.0625 cups, so to convert tablespoons back to cups you divide by the same number. See tablespoons to cups.
Where the conversion factor comes from
In US measure, 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = ½ fluid ounce = 14.787 mL, and 16 tablespoons make a cup. Metric spoons are rounded to 15 mL and 5 mL, and Australia uses a 20 mL tablespoon (4 teaspoons).
Mental math: cup to tbsp in your head
Multiply by 16. For thirds, remember ⅓ cup = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp and ⅔ cup = 10 tbsp + 2 tsp, because 16 does not divide evenly by 3.
When you need to convert cups to tablespoons
- Measuring small fractions of a cup when a cup measure is missing.
- Butter: a US stick is 8 tbsp (½ cup), marked on the wrapper.
Common mistakes
- Rounding ⅓ cup to 5 tbsp in baking: it is 5⅓ tbsp.
Everyday cups in tablespoons
| Example | Cups | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 0.125 cup | 2 tbsp |
| ¼ cup | 0.25 cup | 4 tbsp |
| ⅓ cup | 0.33333333 cup | 5.3333 tbsp |
| ½ cup | 0.5 cup | 8 tbsp |
| ⅔ cup | 0.66666667 cup | 10.667 tbsp |
| ¾ cup | 0.75 cup | 12 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
Cups to tablespoons conversion table
| Cups (cup) | Tablespoons (tbsp) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 cup | 1.6 tbsp |
| 0.2 cup | 3.2 tbsp |
| 0.3 cup | 4.8 tbsp |
| 0.4 cup | 6.4 tbsp |
| 0.5 cup | 8 tbsp |
| 0.6 cup | 9.6 tbsp |
| 0.7 cup | 11.2 tbsp |
| 0.8 cup | 12.8 tbsp |
| 0.9 cup | 14.4 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
| 1.5 cup | 24 tbsp |
| 2 cup | 32 tbsp |
| 2.5 cup | 40 tbsp |
| 3 cup | 48 tbsp |
| 3.5 cup | 56 tbsp |
| 4 cup | 64 tbsp |
| 4.5 cup | 72 tbsp |
| 5 cup | 80 tbsp |
| 6 cup | 96 tbsp |
| 7 cup | 112 tbsp |
| 7.5 cup | 120 tbsp |
| 8 cup | 128 tbsp |
| 9 cup | 144 tbsp |
| 10 cup | 160 tbsp |
| 11 cup | 176 tbsp |
| 12 cup | 192 tbsp |
| 13 cup | 208 tbsp |
| 14 cup | 224 tbsp |
| 15 cup | 240 tbsp |
| 16 cup | 256 tbsp |
| 17 cup | 272 tbsp |
| 18 cup | 288 tbsp |
| 19 cup | 304 tbsp |
| 20 cup | 320 tbsp |
| 21 cup | 336 tbsp |
| 22 cup | 352 tbsp |
| 23 cup | 368 tbsp |
| 24 cup | 384 tbsp |
| 25 cup | 400 tbsp |
| 26 cup | 416 tbsp |
More cup to tbsp values
- 27 cup
- 28 cup
- 29 cup
- 30 cup
- 31 cup
- 32 cup
- 33 cup
- 34 cup
- 35 cup
- 36 cup
- 37 cup
- 38 cup
- 39 cup
- 40 cup
- 41 cup
- 42 cup
- 43 cup
- 44 cup
- 45 cup
- 46 cup
- 47 cup
- 48 cup
- 49 cup
- 50 cup
- 51 cup
- 52 cup
- 53 cup
- 54 cup
- 55 cup
- 56 cup
- 57 cup
- 58 cup
- 59 cup
- 60 cup
- 61 cup
- 62 cup
- 63 cup
- 64 cup
- 65 cup
- 66 cup
- 67 cup
- 68 cup
- 69 cup
- 70 cup
- 71 cup
- 72 cup
- 73 cup
- 74 cup
- 75 cup
- 76 cup
- 77 cup
- 78 cup
- 79 cup
- 80 cup
- 81 cup
- 82 cup
- 83 cup
- 84 cup
- 85 cup
- 86 cup
- 87 cup
- 88 cup
- 89 cup
- 90 cup
- 91 cup
- 92 cup
- 93 cup
- 94 cup
- 95 cup
- 96 cup
- 97 cup
- 98 cup
- 99 cup
- 100 cup
- 110 cup
- 120 cup
- 130 cup
- 140 cup
- 150 cup
- 160 cup
- 170 cup
- 180 cup
- 190 cup
- 200 cup
- 210 cup
- 220 cup
- 230 cup
- 240 cup
- 250 cup
- 260 cup
- 270 cup
- 280 cup
- 290 cup
- 300 cup
- 310 cup
- 320 cup
- 330 cup
- 340 cup
- 350 cup
- 360 cup
- 370 cup
- 380 cup
- 390 cup
- 400 cup
- 410 cup
- 420 cup
- 430 cup
- 440 cup
- 450 cup
- 460 cup
- 470 cup
- 480 cup
- 490 cup
- 500 cup
- 600 cup
- 700 cup
- 800 cup
- 900 cup
- 1,000 cup
- 1,200 cup
- 1,500 cup
- 2,000 cup
- 2,500 cup
- 3,000 cup
- 4,000 cup
- 5,000 cup
- 10,000 cup
What is a cup?
The US customary cup is a cooking measure equal to 8 US fluid ounces, half a pint, or 16 tablespoons, about 236.6 mL.
What is a tablespoon?
The US tablespoon is half a US fluid ounce, or three teaspoons, about 14.8 mL.
Convert cups to other units
Convert other units to tablespoons
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
One cup is 16 tablespoons.
How many cups are in a tablespoon?
One tablespoon is 0.0625 cups.
What is the formula to convert cups to tablespoons?
tbsp = cup × 16.
How many tablespoons are in ¼ cup?
Four tablespoons.
How many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup?
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (5⅓ tbsp).