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How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in a US cup. That's the short answer — the breakdown for smaller amounts is below.
16 tbspin 1 US cup
8 tbspin ½ cup
4 tbspin ¼ cup
| Cup amount | Tablespoons |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
| ¾ cup | 12 tbsp |
| ⅔ cup | ≈ 10⅔ tbsp |
| ½ cup | 8 tbsp |
| ⅓ cup | ≈ 5⅓ tbsp |
| ¼ cup | 4 tbsp |
These are US measures. A metric cup (250 ml) holds about 16.7 metric tablespoons. Match the spoon to the recipe.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons in a cup?
A US cup holds 16 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in 3/4 cup?
¾ cup is 12 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in 1/3 cup?
⅓ cup is about 5⅓ tablespoons (5 tbsp + 1 tsp).