Cups to tablespoons and teaspoons
This chart works for any ingredient, because it only converts volume to volume. A half cup is 8 tablespoons whether it's filled with flour, milk or chocolate chips. It's only when you turn a volume into grams that the ingredient matters.
| Cups | Tbsp | Tsp | Fl oz | mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 2 | 6 | 1 | 30 |
| ¼ cup | 4 | 12 | 2 | 59 |
| ⅓ cup | 5 ⅓ | 16 | 2 ⅔ | 79 |
| ½ cup | 8 | 24 | 4 | 118 |
| ⅔ cup | 10 ⅔ | 32 | 5 ⅓ | 158 |
| ¾ cup | 12 | 36 | 6 | 177 |
| 1 cup | 16 | 48 | 8 | 237 |
| 2 cups | 32 | 96 | 16 | 473 |
Teaspoons to tablespoons and cups
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Cups |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | ⅓ tbsp | 0.021 cup |
| 1 ½ tsp | ½ tbsp | 0.031 cup |
| 2 tsp | ⅔ tbsp | 0.042 cup |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | 0.063 cup |
| 4 tsp | 1 ⅓ tbsp | 0.083 cup |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | ⅛ cup |
| 8 tsp | 2 ⅔ tbsp | 0.167 cup |
| 9 tsp | 3 tbsp | 0.188 cup |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp | ¼ cup |
| 16 tsp | 5 ⅓ tbsp | ⅓ cup |
| 24 tsp | 8 tbsp | ½ cup |
The three numbers to remember
- 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
- 16 tablespoons = 1 cup, so 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup and 8 tablespoons = ½ cup
- 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce, and 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup
Everything else follows from these. A third of a cup is the awkward one: it's 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, because 16 doesn't divide evenly by 3.
When you're missing a measuring cup
Spoons can stand in for a missing cup. No ¼ cup? Use 4 tablespoons. No ⅓ cup? Use 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. No ¾ cup? Measure a half cup and a quarter cup, or 12 tablespoons. Counting out a dozen spoonfuls is slow, but it's accurate as long as each spoonful is level.
Dry and liquid measuring cups hold the same amount
A dry measuring cup and a glass liquid measuring cup both hold 1 cup when filled to the 1-cup level. They're designed for different jobs: dry cups are filled to the rim and leveled with a knife, while liquid cups have extra space above the line so you can carry them without spilling. Measuring flour in a liquid cup makes it hard to level, and measuring milk in a dry cup makes it easy to spill a little.
US, metric and Australian spoons
A US teaspoon holds about 4.9 mL and a US tablespoon about 14.8 mL. Metric spoons are rounded to 5 and 15 mL, which is close enough to use interchangeably. The exception is Australia, where a tablespoon holds 20 mL, or 4 teaspoons. If an Australian recipe calls for a tablespoon of something strong, like salt or baking soda, use a US tablespoon plus a teaspoon.
What about a pinch or a dash?
Neither has an official size. They mean "a very small amount, to taste." Some measuring spoon sets include spoons labeled dash, pinch and smidgen; on those sets a dash is usually ⅛ teaspoon and a pinch is 1/16 teaspoon. For baking soda, baking powder or salt, it's worth measuring properly instead.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in ½ cup?
There are 24 teaspoons in half a cup, which is the same as 8 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons are in ¼ cup?
There are 12 teaspoons in a quarter cup, or 4 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons are in a cup?
There are 48 teaspoons in 1 US cup, and 16 tablespoons.
How many cups is 2 teaspoons?
2 teaspoons is 0.042 cups, or ⅔ of a tablespoon. It's too small to measure with a cup, so use measuring spoons.
How many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup?
⅓ cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon.
How many tablespoons are in ¾ cup?
¾ cup is 12 tablespoons, or 36 teaspoons.