Cooking Measurement Converter
Enter a volume and choose the units to convert between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces and milliliters.
Cooking volume units convert through fixed equivalences: 1 US cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces ≈ 236.6 mL. To convert, change your amount to a common base (like milliliters) and then to the target unit. So 1 cup equals 16 tablespoons, and 2 tablespoons equal 6 teaspoons.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter the amount you want to convert, choose the unit you are starting from, and choose the unit you want to end up with. The converter handles US cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces and milliliters, and updates instantly as you change any field.
This is a volume converter, which is how most recipe measurements (liquids and loose dry ingredients like sugar) are given. It is perfect for scaling a measurement to the spoons or cups you have on hand, or for translating a recipe between US units and metric millilitres.
How the Calculation Works
Every unit is defined by its size in milliliters: 1 teaspoon = 4.92892 mL, 1 tablespoon = 14.7868 mL (exactly 3 teaspoons), 1 fluid ounce = 29.5735 mL (2 tablespoons), and 1 US cup = 236.588 mL (16 tablespoons or 8 fluid ounces). To convert, the tool multiplies your amount by the starting unit's millilitre value to get a volume in mL, then divides by the target unit's millilitre value. Using millilitres as a common base means any pair of units converts correctly.
Worked Example
Convert 1 cup to tablespoons. First to millilitres: 1 × 236.588 = 236.588 mL. Then to tablespoons: 236.588 ÷ 14.7868 = 16 tablespoons. So 1 cup = 16 tablespoons, as expected. Converting 1 cup to millilitres gives 236.588 mL (often rounded to 240 mL in nutrition labeling), and 3 teaspoons convert to exactly 1 tablespoon.
What the Result Means
The result is the equivalent volume in your chosen unit. These are US customary measures, which are the standard in American recipes. A few handy relationships fall straight out of the conversions: 3 teaspoons make a tablespoon, 2 tablespoons make a fluid ounce, and 16 tablespoons make a cup. Keeping those in mind lets you improvise when you are missing a measuring cup or spoon.
Assumptions and Limitations
These are US customary volume units. Imperial (UK) and Australian measures differ — an imperial cup is about 284 mL and an Australian tablespoon is 20 mL (four teaspoons), so a recipe from another country may not match exactly. This converts volume, not weight; ingredients with different densities (flour versus honey) weigh different amounts for the same volume, so for baking by weight use a gram-based conversion instead. Values use standard equivalences and are precise for volume.
When to Use a Cooking Measurement Converter
Home cooks and bakers use this to convert between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces, and millilitres. Run it when a recipe uses units you do not have on hand, or when scaling a measurement up or down. Enter an amount and the units to convert instantly.
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Open calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. There are also 48 teaspoons, 8 fluid ounces, and about 236.6 millilitres in a cup.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Exactly 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon. So 1 tablespoon is 3 tsp, and 2 tablespoons (1 fluid ounce) is 6 teaspoons.
How many mL is a US cup?
A US cup is 236.588 millilitres. It is often rounded to 240 mL on nutrition labels and in metric recipe conversions for convenience.
Are US and UK cups the same?
No. A US cup is about 236.6 mL while an imperial (UK) cup is about 284 mL. Australian tablespoons are also larger (20 mL, or four teaspoons), so convert carefully with foreign recipes.
Can I convert volume to weight with this?
No. This converts between volume units only. Because ingredients have different densities, the same volume weighs different amounts, so weight conversions need an ingredient-specific density.
How many fluid ounces are in a tablespoon?
Half a fluid ounce. Two tablespoons make one fluid ounce, which is about 29.6 millilitres.
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