Tablespoons to Cups Converter
Convert tablespoons to cups instantly and back. Uses the standard 16 tablespoons per cup ratio, with worked examples, a baking chart and common tbsp to cup conversions.
Updated 2026-06-14 · Free · No sign-up · Runs privately in your browser
Show the formula & steps
How the Tablespoons to Cups Converter Works
This converter switches between tablespoons (tbsp) and cups in both directions, using the standard US kitchen ratio of 16 tablespoons per cup. Type a value, pick the direction, and the result updates live with the steps shown.
The Formula
Cups = tablespoons ÷ 16
In US cooking, one cup is divided into 16 tablespoons, and each tablespoon is 3 teaspoons. To convert cups back to tablespoons, multiply by 16 instead.
Worked Example
Convert 8 tablespoons to cups:
- 8 ÷ 16 = 0.5 cups (half a cup)
Convert 0.75 cups to tablespoons:
- 0.75 × 16 = 12 tablespoons
Baking Reference Chart
| Tablespoons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 4 | 1/4 |
| 8 | 1/2 |
| 12 | 3/4 |
| 16 | 1 |
| 32 | 2 |
A Note on Thirds
A 1/3 cup does not divide evenly into tablespoons — it comes out to about 5.33 tbsp. The usual workaround is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, since a tablespoon is exactly 3 teaspoons. Knowing the tablespoon-to-cup ratio lets you scale recipes up or down without a full set of measuring cups.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?+
There are 16 US tablespoons in one US cup. So 1 tablespoon is one-sixteenth of a cup, and half a cup is 8 tablespoons.
How do I convert tablespoons to cups?+
Divide the number of tablespoons by 16. For example, 8 tablespoons ÷ 16 = 0.5 cups. To go the other way, multiply cups by 16.
How many tablespoons is 1/4 cup?+
One quarter cup equals 4 tablespoons. Multiply 0.25 by 16 to confirm the figure of 4 tbsp.
How many tablespoons is 1/3 cup?+
One third of a cup equals about 5.33 tablespoons, usually measured as 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (since 1 tbsp = 3 tsp).
Is this the same in metric recipes?+
This converter uses the US convention of 16 tablespoons per cup. Australian recipes use a 20 mL tablespoon and a 250 mL cup, giving 12.5 tablespoons per cup, so match the system to your recipe.