Convert Tablespoons (tbsp) to Cups
1 Tablespoon equals 0.0625 cups.
Tablespoon to Cup Converter
What Is a Tablespoon?
The US tablespoon (tbsp) is a customary unit of volume equal to 3 teaspoons, ½ fluid ounce, or approximately 14.787 mL (metric tablespoon = 15 mL). It is one of the most commonly used cooking measures, especially for fats, oils, sauces, and leavening agents.
What Is a Cup?
The US customary cup (c) is a unit of volume equal to 16 tablespoons, 8 fluid ounces, or approximately 236.588 mL. It is the primary ingredient measure in American recipes for both liquids and dry ingredients.
Tablespoons to Cups Formula
The conversion is exact by definition:
cups = tablespoons ÷ 16
Since 1 cup = 8 fl oz and 1 tbsp = ½ fl oz, it takes exactly 16 tablespoons to make 1 cup.
Worked Example
Convert 12 tablespoons of butter to cups:
- Divide: 12 ÷ 16 = ¾ cup (0.75 cups)
Common Tablespoons to Cups Conversions
| Tablespoons | Cups | Also Equals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 1/16 cup | ½ fl oz / 3 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | ⅛ cup | 1 fl oz |
| 3 tbsp | 3/16 cup | 1½ fl oz |
| 4 tbsp | ¼ cup | 2 fl oz |
| 5⅓ tbsp | ⅓ cup | 2⅔ fl oz |
| 6 tbsp | ⅜ cup | 3 fl oz |
| 8 tbsp | ½ cup | 4 fl oz / 1 stick butter |
| 10⅔ tbsp | ⅔ cup | 5⅓ fl oz |
| 12 tbsp | ¾ cup | 6 fl oz |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup | 8 fl oz / 48 tsp |
| 24 tbsp | 1½ cups | 12 fl oz |
| 32 tbsp | 2 cups | 1 pint / 16 fl oz |
Butter Sticks and Tablespoons
In the US, butter is sold in sticks with tablespoon markings. One standard stick = 8 tablespoons = ½ cup = 4 oz (113 g). This makes butter the most common reason for tablespoon-to-cup conversions:
- 1 tbsp butter = 1/16 cup = 14.2 g
- 4 tbsp = ¼ cup = ½ stick
- 8 tbsp = ½ cup = 1 stick
- 16 tbsp = 1 cup = 2 sticks
When You Need This Conversion
- Recipe scaling: Doubling a recipe that calls for 6 tbsp of oil = 12 tbsp = ¾ cup — easier to measure with a ¾-cup measure.
- Butter measurement: Recipe says "½ cup butter" but you only have tablespoon markings on the wrapper: ½ cup = 8 tablespoons = 1 stick.
- Converting between sets: Your measuring cups are dirty but you have a clean tablespoon. Knowing 4 tbsp = ¼ cup lets you measure in tablespoons instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
Exactly 16 tablespoons. This is exact by definition (1 cup = 8 fl oz, 1 tbsp = ½ fl oz, 8 ÷ 0.5 = 16).
How many tablespoons in half a cup?
8 tablespoons (16 ÷ 2). This is exactly 1 stick of US butter.
How many tablespoons in ¾ cup?
12 tablespoons (16 × 0.75). Also equals 6 fluid ounces or 36 teaspoons.
How many cups is 1 stick of butter?
1 US butter stick = ½ cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 oz = 113 g. Two sticks = 1 cup.
How many tablespoons in ⅓ cup?
5⅓ tablespoons (16 ÷ 3). Since ⅓ of a tablespoon is 1 teaspoon, this equals 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon.
Cooking Notes & Cross-References
Cup sizes vary by country. This converter uses US customary cups (236.588 mL) and US tablespoons (14.787 mL). Metric cups (250 mL) and Australian tablespoons (20 mL) give different results — the "16 tbsp = 1 cup" rule is a US convention. Always check which system your recipe uses.
See our complete Cooking Measurement Guide for a quick-reference chart with all cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon equivalencies.
Need to convert the other way? Use our Cups to Tablespoons converter.
Common Tablespoon to Cup Conversions
| Tablespoon | Cup | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tablespoon | 116 cups | |
| 2 Tablespoons | 18 cups | |
| 4 Tablespoons | 14 cups |
| Tablespoon | Cup | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Tablespoons | 12 cups | |
| 16 Tablespoons | 1 cup | |
| 32 Tablespoons | 2 cups |
Tablespoons to cups Conversion Table
Reference table with common tablespoons to cups conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Tablespoons to Cups Table
100 to 10000000
Cups to Tablespoons Table
1 to 100000
Looking for the reverse? Convert Cup to Tablespoon
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- Grams to Ounces — Recipes often need both volume (cups) and weight (g/oz)
