Cooking Measurement Conversions
Quick reference for kitchen measurement conversions. This guide covers the relationships between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces, milliliters, and grams — the units you encounter in every recipe.
Teaspoons & Tablespoons
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons. This is the most fundamental cooking measurement relationship.
teaspoons = tablespoons × 3
Teaspoon to Tablespoon Conversion Table
| Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (tbsp) |
|---|---|
| ½ tsp | 1/6 tbsp |
| 1 tsp | ⅓ tbsp |
| 1½ tsp | ½ tbsp |
| 2 tsp | ⅔ tbsp |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp |
| 9 tsp | 3 tbsp |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp |
How many teaspoons in ½ tablespoon? Exactly 1½ teaspoons. This comes up often when halving recipes that call for 1 tablespoon of an ingredient.
Tablespoons & Cups
1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons. To convert cups to tablespoons, multiply by 16.
tablespoons = cups × 16
How Many Tablespoons in a Cup
| Cups | Tablespoons | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 2 tbsp | 6 tsp |
| ¼ cup | 4 tbsp | 12 tsp |
| ⅓ cup | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp | 16 tsp |
| ½ cup | 8 tbsp | 24 tsp |
| ⅔ cup | 10 tbsp + 2 tsp | 32 tsp |
| ¾ cup | 12 tbsp | 36 tsp |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 48 tsp |
How many tablespoons in ⅓ cup? Exactly 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (5⅓ tbsp). Since ⅓ of 16 is 5.33, and one-third of a tablespoon equals 1 teaspoon, you measure 5 level tablespoons plus 1 level teaspoon.
Larger Tablespoon-to-Cup Conversions
| Tablespoons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 8 tbsp | ½ cup |
| 12 tbsp | ¾ cup |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup |
| 24 tbsp | 1½ cups |
| 30 tbsp | 1⅞ cups |
| 32 tbsp | 2 cups |
Teaspoons & Tablespoons to Milliliters
Converting between US customary spoon measurements and metric milliliters:
- 1 US teaspoon = 4.929 mL (rounded to 5 mL for cooking)
- 1 US tablespoon = 14.787 mL (rounded to 15 mL for cooking)
milliliters = teaspoons × 4.929
milliliters = tablespoons × 14.787
Milliliters to Teaspoons & Tablespoons
| Milliliters (mL) | Teaspoons | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 0.203 tsp | 0.068 tbsp |
| 2.5 mL | ½ tsp | 0.169 tbsp |
| 5 mL | 1.01 tsp | 0.338 tbsp |
| 10 mL | 2.03 tsp | 0.676 tbsp |
| 15 mL | 3.04 tsp | 1.01 tbsp |
| 30 mL | 6.09 tsp | 2.03 tbsp |
| 40 mL | 8.12 tsp | 2.71 tbsp |
| 50 mL | 10.14 tsp | 3.38 tbsp |
In many metric countries and medical dosing, 1 teaspoon = 5 mL and 1 tablespoon = 15 mL are the standard equivalences. The US legal definitions differ slightly (4.929 mL and 14.787 mL), but for everyday cooking the rounded values work well.
Tablespoons & Fluid Ounces
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons. To convert tablespoons to fluid ounces, divide by 2.
fluid ounces = tablespoons ÷ 2
Tablespoons to Fluid Ounces
| Tablespoons | Fluid Ounces | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | ½ fl oz | 3 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | 1 fl oz | 6 tsp |
| 3 tbsp | 1.5 fl oz | 9 tsp |
| 4 tbsp | 2 fl oz | 12 tsp |
| 5 tbsp | 2.5 fl oz | 15 tsp |
| 6 tbsp | 3 fl oz | 18 tsp |
| 8 tbsp | 4 fl oz | 24 tsp |
| 9 tbsp | 4.5 fl oz | 27 tsp |
For teaspoons: 1 teaspoon = 1/6 fluid ounce (about 0.167 fl oz). So 6 teaspoons = 1 fluid ounce.
Cups, Fluid Ounces & Milliliters
1 US cup = 8 fluid ounces = 236.588 mL. This is one of the most important kitchen equivalences.
fluid ounces = cups × 8
milliliters = cups × 236.588
Cup to Fluid Ounce & Milliliter Conversion
| Cups | Fluid Ounces | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 2 fl oz | 59.1 mL |
| ⅓ cup | 2.67 fl oz | 78.9 mL |
| ½ cup | 4 fl oz | 118.3 mL |
| ¾ cup | 6 fl oz | 177.4 mL |
| 1 cup | 8 fl oz | 236.6 mL |
| 1½ cups | 12 fl oz | 354.9 mL |
| 2 cups | 16 fl oz | 473.2 mL |
Be aware that cup sizes vary by country:
Cup Sizes by Country
| Cup Type | Milliliters | Fluid Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| US cup | 236.6 mL | 8 fl oz |
| Metric cup | 250 mL | 8.45 fl oz |
| Imperial cup (UK) | 284.1 mL | 10 fl oz (imperial) |
| Japanese cup | 200 mL | 6.76 fl oz |
Cups, Pints, Quarts & Gallons
US liquid volume follows a simple hierarchy:
- 1 pint = 2 cups = 16 fl oz
- 1 quart = 4 cups = 2 pints = 32 fl oz
- 1 gallon = 16 cups = 4 quarts = 128 fl oz
Large Volume Conversion Table
| Unit | Cups | Fluid Ounces | Liters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 pint | 2 | 16 | 0.473 |
| 1 quart | 4 | 32 | 0.946 |
| 2 quarts | 8 | 64 | 1.893 |
| 1 gallon | 16 | 128 | 3.785 |
Tablespoons & Teaspoons to Grams
Unlike volume-to-volume conversions, converting tablespoons or teaspoons to grams depends on the density of the ingredient. A tablespoon of honey weighs far more than a tablespoon of flour.
Note: Gram values below are approximate. Actual weight varies by ingredient density, brand, and how the spoon is packed or scooped.
1 Tablespoon in Grams (Common Ingredients)
| Ingredient | 1 Tablespoon (g) | 1 Teaspoon (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 14.8 g | 4.9 g |
| Granulated sugar | 12.5 g | 4.2 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 13.8 g | 4.6 g |
| Powdered sugar | 7.5 g | 2.5 g |
| All-purpose flour | 7.8 g | 2.6 g |
| Butter | 14.2 g | 4.7 g |
| Olive oil | 13.5 g | 4.5 g |
| Honey | 21.3 g | 7.1 g |
| Table salt | 18.0 g | 6.0 g |
| Kosher salt (Morton) | 16 g | 5.3 g |
| Baking soda | 13.8 g | 4.6 g |
| Baking powder | 13.8 g | 4.6 g |
| Cocoa powder | 7.4 g | 2.5 g |
| Vanilla extract | 13.0 g | 4.3 g |
For precise gram measurements of specific ingredients, use our cooking weight-to-volume converter or volume-to-weight converter.
Halving & Doubling Measurements
Scaling recipes up or down often produces tricky fractions. Here are the most common ones:
Halving & Doubling Reference
| Original | Half | Double |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 2 tbsp | ½ cup |
| ⅓ cup | 2 tbsp + 2 tsp | ⅔ cup |
| ½ cup | ¼ cup | 1 cup |
| ⅔ cup | ⅓ cup | 1⅓ cups |
| ¾ cup | 6 tbsp | 1½ cups |
| 1 cup | ½ cup | 2 cups |
What is half of ¾ cup? Half of ¾ cup is ⅜ cup, which equals 6 tablespoons or 3 fluid ounces (about 89 mL). Since most measuring cup sets don't include a ⅜ mark, measuring 6 tablespoons is the most practical approach.
What is half of ⅓ cup? Half of ⅓ cup is 1/6 cup, which equals 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. Measuring in tablespoons avoids the need for unusual cup fractions.
Complete Kitchen Conversion Chart
This master reference table covers all the standard US cooking measurement relationships:
US Cooking Measurements Master Table
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Fluid Ounces | Cups | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | ½ fl oz | 1/16 cup | 14.8 mL |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | 1 fl oz | ⅛ cup | 29.6 mL |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup | 59.1 mL |
| 16 tsp | 5⅓ tbsp | 2.67 fl oz | ⅓ cup | 78.9 mL |
| 24 tsp | 8 tbsp | 4 fl oz | ½ cup | 118.3 mL |
| 36 tsp | 12 tbsp | 6 fl oz | ¾ cup | 177.4 mL |
| 48 tsp | 16 tbsp | 8 fl oz | 1 cup | 236.6 mL |
| — | — | 16 fl oz | 2 cups (1 pint) | 473.2 mL |
| — | — | 32 fl oz | 4 cups (1 quart) | 946.4 mL |
| — | — | 128 fl oz | 16 cups (1 gallon) | 3,785.4 mL |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons in ¼ cup?
One-quarter cup equals exactly 4 tablespoons (or 12 teaspoons). This is also equal to 2 fluid ounces or approximately 59 mL.
How many tablespoons in ½ cup?
One-half cup equals exactly 8 tablespoons (or 24 teaspoons). This is also equal to 4 fluid ounces or approximately 118 mL.
How many tablespoons in ⅓ cup?
One-third cup equals 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon (5⅓ tbsp). Since a tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons, the fractional ⅓ tablespoon equals exactly 1 teaspoon.
How many ounces are in a cup?
One US cup equals 8 fluid ounces. This refers to fluid ounces (volume), not weight ounces. For water, 8 fluid ounces weighs approximately 8.35 ounces by weight. For other ingredients, the weight varies depending on density.
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
One tablespoon equals exactly 3 teaspoons. To convert tablespoons to teaspoons, multiply by 3. To convert teaspoons to tablespoons, divide by 3.
How many milliliters in a teaspoon?
One US teaspoon equals approximately 4.929 mL. For practical purposes, 5 mL is the standard metric teaspoon widely used in cooking and medical dosing.
How many grams in a tablespoon?
It depends on the ingredient. A tablespoon of water weighs about 14.8 g, sugar about 12.5 g, flour about 7.8 g, butter about 14.2 g, and salt about 18 g. See the gram conversion table for more ingredients.
What is half of ¾ cup?
Half of ¾ cup is ⅜ cup, which equals 6 tablespoons or 3 fluid ounces (about 89 mL). Since most measuring cup sets don't include a ⅜ mark, the easiest way to measure this is 6 level tablespoons.
What is the difference between a fluid ounce and a weight ounce?
A fluid ounce (fl oz) measures volume — how much space a liquid takes up. A weight ounce (oz) measures mass. For water, 8 fluid ounces weighs about 8.35 ounces. For denser ingredients like honey, volume and weight ounces differ significantly.
How many cups are in a quart?
One quart equals 4 cups (32 fluid ounces or about 946 mL). One gallon equals 4 quarts, which is 16 cups.
Related Resources
- Cooking Measurement Converter Hub — Curated entry point for US customary volume conversions: cups, tablespoons, ounces, quarts, and gallons
- Cooking Volume to Weight Converter — Convert cups, tablespoons, and more to grams for specific ingredients
- Cooking Weight to Volume Converter — Convert grams and ounces to cups and tablespoons
- Volume Converter — Convert between liters, gallons, cups, milliliters, and more
- Butter to Oil Conversion — Replace butter with oil in recipes