How many tablespoons are in a cup?
In both standard US Customary and UK/Imperial measurement systems, 1 cup contains exactly 16 tablespoons.
Tablespoons = Cups × 16 Example: 0.75 cups (3/4 cup) × 16 = 12 tbsp Why some nutrition labels list 16.23 tablespoons
You may occasionally see 16.23 tablespoons per cup on FDA food packaging. This occurs because US FDA nutrition labeling standardizes a legal cup to exactly 240 mL, whereas standard US culinary customary cups measure 236.59 mL. For cooking and baking, stick to the standard 16 tablespoons per cup rule.
Cups to tablespoons & stick butter reference chart
Use this conversion table to quickly measure baking fractions or stick butter without calculating by hand:
| Cup Fraction | Decimal Cups | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Stick Butter & Fluid Equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 0.125 cups | 2 tbsp | 1 fl oz / 1/4 stick of butter |
| 1/4 cup | 0.250 cups | 4 tbsp | 2 fl oz / 1/2 stick of butter |
| 1/3 cup | 0.333 cups | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp | 2.67 fl oz (5.33 tbsp) |
| 3/8 cup | 0.375 cups | 6 tbsp | 3 fl oz / 3/4 stick of butter |
| 1/2 cup | 0.500 cups | 8 tbsp | 4 fl oz / 1 full stick of butter |
| 2/3 cup | 0.667 cups | 10 tbsp + 2 tsp | 5.33 fl oz (10.67 tbsp) |
| 3/4 cup | 0.750 cups | 12 tbsp | 6 fl oz / 1.5 sticks of butter |
| 1 cup | 1.000 cup | 16 tbsp | 8 fl oz / 2 full sticks of butter |
Regional unit differences: US vs. Imperial vs. Australia
While the 16-to-1 ratio applies to US and Imperial recipes, actual volumes vary globally:
- US Customary: 1 cup = 236.59 mL → 16 tbsp (14.79 mL per tbsp).
- UK / Imperial: 1 cup = 284.13 mL → 16 tbsp (17.76 mL per tbsp).
- Australian Metric: 1 Metric Cup = 250 mL → 12.5 Australian tablespoons (since AU tablespoons are 20 mL each).
Converting recipe volumes to metric mass? Use our Cooking Converter for ingredient density calculations, or convert fluid volumes directly with our Oz to mL Converter.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are exactly 16 tablespoons in 1 US customary cup.
How do I convert cups to tablespoons?
Multiply the number of cups by 16. For example, 0.5 cups × 16 = 8 tablespoons. For reverse calculations, use our Tablespoons to Cups Converter.
How many tablespoons is 1/2 cup of butter?
1/2 cup of butter equals 8 tablespoons, which corresponds to 1 standard US stick of butter.
Why do some sources say a cup is 16.23 tablespoons?
That figure results from combining the FDA 240 mL nutrition labeling cup with a 14.79 mL US customary tablespoon. Standard culinary cooking cups use the exact 16 tablespoons ratio.