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 imperial fluid ounce is a unit of volume from the imperial measurement system, traditionally used in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. One imperial fluid ounce is equal to 28.4131 milliliters, which makes it slightly larger than the US fluid ounce (approximately 29.57 mL in the US system). It's commonly abbreviated as fl oz and was widely used for measuring liquids in recipes, packaging, and day-to-day household tasks.
Uses: The imperial fluid ounce was once a standard unit in British kitchens, used to measure ingredients such as milk, oil, and other cooking liquids. While most modern recipes in the UK now use milliliters or grams, many older or traditional recipes still list quantities in fluid ounces. This makes the unit especially relevant for those cooking from classic British cookbooks or following long-standing family recipes.
The imperial fluid ounce still appears on many UK labels, especially for drinks, personal care products, and older medicinal packaging. Whether you're following a traditional recipe or measuring from labeled packaging, knowing how this unit works helps you convert accurately and maintain consistency.
1 tbsp = 0.520422 fl oz (imp)
Let’s say you want to convert 100 tbsp to fl oz (imp).
Using the formula:
100 × 0.520422 = 52.042 fl oz (imp)
So, 100 tbsp is approximately 52.042 fl oz (imp).
| Tablespoon (US) (tbsp) | Fluid Ounce (Imperial) (fl oz (imp)) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.52 fl oz (imp) |
| 2 tbsp | 1.041 fl oz (imp) |
| 3 tbsp | 1.561 fl oz (imp) |
| 4 tbsp | 2.082 fl oz (imp) |
| 5 tbsp | 2.602 fl oz (imp) |
| 6 tbsp | 3.123 fl oz (imp) |
| 7 tbsp | 3.643 fl oz (imp) |
| 8 tbsp | 4.163 fl oz (imp) |
| 9 tbsp | 4.684 fl oz (imp) |
| 10 tbsp | 5.204 fl oz (imp) |
| 11 tbsp | 5.725 fl oz (imp) |
| 12 tbsp | 6.245 fl oz (imp) |
| 13 tbsp | 6.765 fl oz (imp) |
| 14 tbsp | 7.286 fl oz (imp) |
| 15 tbsp | 7.806 fl oz (imp) |