The tablespoon (US) is a unit of volume used in the US customary system. It's commonly abbreviated as tbsp, T, or tbs, and it plays a central role in measuring both liquid and dry ingredients in American recipes. By definition, one US tablespoon equals 14.7868 milliliters, making it exactly three times the size of a US teaspoon.
This unit is a standard part of measuring spoon sets found in nearly every American kitchen. It's used for ingredients that require more than a teaspoon but less than a full cup—like oil, syrup, peanut butter, or baking powder. Whether you're preparing a sauce, salad dressing, or baked goods, the tablespoon offers an ideal balance between precision and practicality.
Uses: The tablespoon is one of the most commonly used measurements in American kitchens. You’ll find it in countless recipes—from marinades and sauces to pancake batter and salad dressings. In baking, it plays a critical role, where just a small difference in the amount of butter, oil, or leavening agent can change the texture or taste of the final dish. The tablespoon is also used in meal prep, portion control, and nutritional labeling, helping consumers track ingredients like sugar, oils, or dressings in a standardized way.
Beyond the kitchen, the U.S. tablespoon occasionally appears in medical or pharmaceutical contexts to measure over-the-counter liquid medications, though healthcare professionals typically recommend using milliliters for precision. Still, the tablespoon remains a familiar and convenient reference point for many households.
The cup (US) is a standard unit of volume used in American cooking and baking. It's part of the U.S. customary system and is commonly abbreviated as cup or sometimes c in recipes. One US cup equals exactly 236.588 milliliters, and it's defined as 1/16 of a US gallon or 8 US fluid ounces.
In American kitchens, a cup is one of the foundational units in recipe measurement. It's used for both dry and liquid ingredients, making it a flexible and practical choice for home cooks. Measuring cups—available in sets ranging from ¼ cup to 1 cup—are essential tools in households across the country.
Uses: The US cup is widely used in recipes for measuring ingredients like flour, sugar, milk, oil, and grains. It provides a simple and consistent way to portion both dry and wet ingredients, which is especially important in baking where ratios must be precise.
You'll also find the cup used in nutrition guides and food labels, particularly when describing serving sizes. In everyday cooking, it's a go-to unit that makes scaling recipes up or down much easier. Whether you're following a recipe from a cookbook, a food blog, or a product package, the US cup is likely to be one of the most frequently referenced measurements.
1 tbsp = 0.0625 cup
Let’s say you want to convert 100 tbsp to cup.
Using the formula:
100 × 0.0625 = 6.25 cup
So, 100 tbsp is approximately 6.25 cup.
| Tablespoon (US) (tbsp) | Cup (US) (cup) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.063 cup |
| 2 tbsp | 0.125 cup |
| 3 tbsp | 0.188 cup |
| 4 tbsp | 0.25 cup |
| 5 tbsp | 0.313 cup |
| 6 tbsp | 0.375 cup |
| 7 tbsp | 0.438 cup |
| 8 tbsp | 0.5 cup |
| 9 tbsp | 0.563 cup |
| 10 tbsp | 0.625 cup |
| 11 tbsp | 0.688 cup |
| 12 tbsp | 0.75 cup |
| 13 tbsp | 0.813 cup |
| 14 tbsp | 0.875 cup |
| 15 tbsp | 0.938 cup |