US tablespoon to US legal cup
tbsp
cup
Conversion History
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Quick Reference Table (US tablespoon to US legal cup)
| US tablespoon (tbsp) | US legal cup (cup) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.030805759960794375 |
| 1 | 0.06161151992158875 |
| 2 | 0.1232230398431775 |
| 4 | 0.246446079686355 |
| 8 | 0.49289215937271 |
| 16 | 0.98578431874542 |
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 US legal cup (cup)
The US legal cup is a unit of volume defined as exactly 240 milliliters, used on US nutrition labels by FDA regulation. It differs slightly from the US customary cup (236.588 mL = 8 US fluid ounces). In everyday cooking, the 4 mL difference is negligible, and the two are used interchangeably. Australia uses a 250 mL metric cup, which is noticeably larger. The cup is the most common volume unit in US cooking recipes.
A standard measuring cup in a US kitchen set holds 240 mL. Cereal serving sizes on nutrition labels are typically 1 cup (240 mL).
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.
US legal cup – Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters is a US cup?
The US legal cup (nutrition labels) is exactly 240 mL. The US customary cup (8 US fl oz) is approximately 236.6 mL. In cooking, both are treated as 240 mL; the difference is negligible for most recipes.
How does the US cup differ from the Australian cup?
The US legal cup is 240 mL; the Australian metric cup is 250 mL — about 4% larger. Australian recipes calling for 4 cups use 1,000 mL vs 960 mL with US cups, which can matter in baking.
How many cups are in a liter?
Approximately 4.167 US legal cups fit in one liter (1,000 mL ÷ 240 mL). Practically, 4 cups ≈ 960 mL ≈ 1 liter — often used interchangeably in cooking.
How many cups of coffee does a standard machine make?
Most US drip coffee makers define a "cup" as 5 or 6 fl oz (148–177 mL) — smaller than the standard 8 fl oz measuring cup. A "12-cup" coffee maker typically makes 60–72 fl oz, or only about 7–9 standard 8-oz cups.
Why do baking recipes fail more often than cooking recipes when measurements are slightly off?
Baking is chemistry — flour, fat, liquid, and leavening interact in precise ratios. Too much flour (even 10–15% extra from packing a cup too tightly) produces dense, dry results. Too much liquid makes cake batter collapse. Cooking is more forgiving because sautéing, braising, and roasting rely on technique and taste adjustment, not exact chemical reactions. This is why professional bakers weigh ingredients in grams rather than using volume cups — a cup of flour can vary from 120 to 160 g depending on how it is scooped.