How to Convert Tablespoons to US cups (tbsp to cup)
Volume conversions help with baking from American recipes, comparing petrol prices quoted per gallon abroad with pump prices per litre here, and reading PUB water bills in cubic metres. This guide shows how to convert tablespoons into us cups by hand, with examples and a quick-reference table.
The conversion
To convert tablespoons to us cups, multiply the value by 0.0625002113. To go the other way, divide by the same number (or multiply by 15.9999458977). For a quick estimate, multiply by about 0.063.
US cups = tablespoons × 0.0625002113
Worked examples
- 3 tbsp = 0.187501 cup
- 12.5 tbsp = 0.781253 cup
- 75 tbsp = 4.6875 cup
Tablespoons to US cups table
| Tablespoons | US cups |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.0625 cup |
| 2 tbsp | 0.125 cup |
| 5 tbsp | 0.312501 cup |
| 10 tbsp | 0.625002 cup |
| 20 tbsp | 1.25 cup |
| 25 tbsp | 1.5625 cup |
| 50 tbsp | 3.125 cup |
| 100 tbsp | 6.25 cup |
| 250 tbsp | 15.6251 cup |
| 500 tbsp | 31.2501 cup |
| 1,000 tbsp | 62.5002 cup |
Common questions
Is tbsp to cup exact?
The factors used here are the internationally defined values where they exist; results are rounded for display only.
How do I convert back?
Use the US cups to Tablespoons converter.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting squared and cubed units
Area and volume factors are the length factor squared or cubed, so 1 m² is about 10.76 sq ft, not 3.28.
Dropping the units
A bare number without a unit is easy to misread later. Always write the unit with the result.
Rounding the factor too early
Using 3 instead of 3.28 for feet per metre introduces an error of almost 9% before you have started.
Background
Unit conversion is simply multiplication by a fixed ratio. The ratio between two units of the same quantity never changes, so once you know it you can convert any value in either direction.
Many conversion factors are exact by definition. The inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres since 1959, and the pound as exactly 0.45359237 kilograms, so conversions involving them can be as precise as you need.
Writing the units next to every number while you work is the simplest way to avoid mistakes. If the units do not cancel to leave the one you want, the calculation is set up wrongly.
For any value, use the Tablespoons to US cups Converter or browse all volume converters.
Run your own numbers: Tablespoons to US cups Converter