US tablespoon to Milliliter
tbsp
ml
Conversion History
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Quick Reference Table (US tablespoon to Milliliter)
| US tablespoon (tbsp) | Milliliter (ml) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 7.39338239059065 |
| 1 | 14.7867647811813 |
| 2 | 29.5735295623626 |
| 4 | 59.1470591247252 |
| 8 | 118.2941182494504 |
| 16 | 236.5882364989008 |
About US tablespoon (tbsp)
The US tablespoon (tbsp) is a unit of culinary volume equal to approximately 14.787 milliliters, defined as 3 US teaspoons or half a US fluid ounce. It is a fundamental cooking measurement in the United States for both liquid and dry ingredients. Butter is measured in tablespoons (1 stick = 8 tbsp), as are cooking oils, sauces, and spices. The US tablespoon differs from the Australian tablespoon (20 mL) and the imperial tablespoon (17.76 mL).
One tablespoon of olive oil is about 14 g. A standard butter portion is 1 tbsp (≈ 14 g).
About Milliliter (ml)
A milliliter (mL) is one thousandth of a liter (0.001 L), exactly equal to one cubic centimeter (1 cm³). It is the most widely used small volume unit in medicine, cooking, and science. Drug dosages are prescribed in milliliters, soft drink cans are 330 mL, and laboratory pipettes measure in mL. The milliliter bridges the gap between the impractically small microliter and the everyday liter, making it the default unit for liquid measurement in clinical and domestic settings worldwide.
A standard medicine syringe holds 1–20 mL. A teaspoon is approximately 5 mL. A typical espresso shot is 30 mL.
Etymology: From Latin "mille" (thousand) + "liter". The prefix milli- denotes 10⁻³ in the SI system.
US tablespoon – Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters are in a US tablespoon?
One US tablespoon equals approximately 14.787 mL, typically rounded to 15 mL in culinary contexts. It equals 3 US teaspoons (3 × 4.929 mL = 14.787 mL).
How does the US tablespoon differ from the Australian tablespoon?
The Australian tablespoon is 20 mL — about 35% larger than the US tablespoon (14.79 mL). When using Australian recipes: 1 Australian tbsp ≈ 1.35 US tbsp. This is a significant difference in baking.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 US tablespoons in one US cup (240 mL): 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp = 8 fl oz.
How much butter is in a tablespoon?
One US tablespoon of butter weighs approximately 14.2 grams (½ oz). A standard 4-oz US butter stick = 8 tablespoons = ½ cup.
Is a tablespoon the same in US and UK recipes?
No. A US tablespoon is about 14.79 mL; a UK/imperial tablespoon is about 17.76 mL — approximately 20% larger. Most modern UK recipes now use 15 mL metric tablespoons.
Milliliter – Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters are in a teaspoon?
One US teaspoon equals approximately 4.93 mL, conventionally rounded to 5 mL in cooking and medicine. An Australian/metric teaspoon is exactly 5 mL. A tablespoon is 15 mL (3 teaspoons).
Why do medicine bottles say "do not use household spoons" for dosing?
Household teaspoons and tablespoons vary wildly — from 3 to 7 mL for a "teaspoon" depending on the design. A parent dosing 2.5 mL of infant paracetamol with a large decorative spoon might accidentally give double the intended dose. Studies have shown dosing errors of 20–50% when using kitchen cutlery. Calibrated oral syringes (marked in 0.1 mL increments) eliminate this problem entirely, which is why the AAP and WHO both recommend them over any spoon for liquid medications.
How many milliliters are in a standard drink can?
A standard soft drink or beer can is typically 330 mL in Europe and 355 mL (12 US fl oz) in the United States. A 500 mL can is common for beer in many markets.
What is a standard medical dose in mL?
Common oral liquid medications are dosed at 2.5, 5, or 10 mL. Injectable medications may be 0.1–2 mL. IV fluid bags are typically 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 mL.
How many milliliters are in a fluid ounce?
One US fluid ounce equals approximately 29.57 mL. One imperial (UK) fluid ounce equals approximately 28.41 mL. The two are close but not identical — important for recipes crossing US and UK sources.