Where do these numbers come from?
- NISTSP 811 exact unit definitions (1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 lb = 453.59237 g)current edition
- NISTHandbook 44, weights and measurescurrent edition
- King Arthur BakingIngredient Weight Chart (kitchen tools)retrieved Oct 23, 2026
Checked Oct 23, 2026. 1 US cup is exactly 236.5882365 mL (NIST SP 811), so 250 mL = 1.057 cups.
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Fractions of a cup
- Tablespoons in 1/8 cup
- Tablespoons in 1/4 cup
- Tablespoons in 1/3 cup
- Tablespoons in 1/2 cup
- Tablespoons in 2/3 cup
- Tablespoons in 3/4 cup
- Tablespoons in 1 cup
The numbers
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup and 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. A US tablespoon is 14.79 mL. So 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup, 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = ⅓ cup and 8 tablespoons = ½ cup.
Other countries
An Australian tablespoon is 20 mL (4 teaspoons), and a metric cup is 250 mL, so Australian recipes differ slightly. UK recipes mostly use a 15 mL tablespoon, very close to the US one.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
16.
How many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup?
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon.
Is a tablespoon of butter 14 g?
About 14 g; one US stick of butter is 8 tablespoons, or 113 g.