Kitchen Measurement Converter
How many tablespoons in a cup? How many teaspoons in a tablespoon? Instant kitchen math.
Kitchen Measurement Quick Reference
The conversions every cook needs to memorize: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces = 237 ml. And 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 0.5 fluid ounces = 15 ml. This calculator handles all the in-between amounts instantly.
US vs Metric Measurements
The US is one of only three countries that don't use the metric system in cooking. This causes confusion with international recipes: a UK/Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (vs US 15 ml), and a UK cup is 284 ml (vs US 237 ml). This calculator uses US measurements as the standard, with metric equivalents shown.
When Precision Matters
For baking, precision matters because chemical reactions depend on exact ratios. For cooking (soups, sauces, stir-fries), approximate measurements are fine. When a recipe says "a pinch," that's about 1/16 teaspoon. "A dash" is about 1/8 teaspoon.
The difference between US and UK tablespoons (15 ml vs 20 ml) is responsible for countless recipe failures when people use international recipes. Always check whether a recipe is US or UK/Australian before following it.