How Many Tablespoons Are in a Cup?
One US cup contains exactly 16 tablespoons. That breaks down cleanly: 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, and 3/4 cup is 12 tablespoons. The tricky one is 1/3 cup, which doesn't divide evenly — it comes to 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. Since 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons, a full cup also equals 48 teaspoons.
A US cup is 236.59 ml. UK and metric cups are slightly different — a UK cup is 250 ml — so always check which system your recipe uses, especially with baked goods where small differences matter.
Cups to Grams: Why the Ingredient Matters
Cups measure volume. Grams measure weight. A cup of feathers and a cup of lead occupy the same space, but their weights are wildly different. The same principle applies in your kitchen: 1 cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 125 g, but 1 cup of honey weighs 340 g — almost three times as much.
That's why professional bakers weigh ingredients. A recipe that calls for "2 cups of flour" can easily mean anywhere from 220 g to 280 g depending on whether the flour is scooped, sifted, or spooned. For consistent results, weigh your flour and sugar — or at least use the spoon-and-level method.
How to Measure Flour the Right Way
The most reliable volume method is spoon and level: stir the flour in its container to loosen it, spoon it gently into your measuring cup until it overflows, then sweep the excess off with a straight edge. Don't pack it down, don't tap the cup, and don't scoop directly from the bag — scooping compresses the flour and can add 20–30 grams of extra weight per cup.
Every cups-to-grams value on this site assumes flour measured by the spoon-and-level method. If you scoop directly, expect your bakes to come out denser and drier.
Cooking Conversion Calculator FAQ
How many tablespoons are in a cup?+
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. 1/2 cup equals 8 tablespoons, 1/4 cup equals 4 tablespoons, and 1/3 cup is about 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. One tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons, so 1 cup is 48 teaspoons total.
How many grams is a cup of flour?+
One US cup of all-purpose flour weighs about 125 grams when measured using the spoon-and-level method. Bread flour is slightly heavier at 127 grams per cup, cake flour is lighter at 100 grams per cup, and whole wheat flour is around 120 grams per cup.
How do I convert cups to grams?+
Cups to grams conversion depends on the ingredient because grams measure weight while cups measure volume. For example, 1 cup of granulated sugar is 200 grams, 1 cup of butter is 227 grams, and 1 cup of honey is 340 grams. Always use a conversion chart that specifies the ingredient.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?+
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. This means 1 tablespoon equals 15 milliliters and 1 teaspoon equals about 5 milliliters. So 1 cup at 16 tablespoons equals 48 teaspoons total.
What is 350 degrees Fahrenheit in Celsius?+
350°F equals approximately 176.67°C, which is commonly rounded to 175°C in recipes. It also corresponds to Gas Mark 4, which is described as a moderate oven and is the standard baking temperature for most cookies, cakes, and roasts.
How do I scale a recipe in half?+
To halve a recipe, divide each ingredient amount by 2. For example, 2 cups of flour becomes 1 cup, 1 cup of sugar becomes 1/2 cup, and 2 teaspoons of baking powder becomes 1 teaspoon. For eggs, you can lightly beat one egg and use half of it (about 2 tablespoons).
How many grams is a stick of butter?+
One stick of US butter weighs 113 grams. That's equivalent to 1/2 cup, 8 tablespoons, or 4 ounces. Two sticks equal 1 cup (227 grams) and four sticks equal one pound (454 grams).
What is 1/3 cup in tablespoons?+
1/3 cup equals 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, or approximately 5.33 tablespoons. In milliliters, that's about 78.86 ml. This is the easiest cup measurement to misremember because it doesn't divide evenly into tablespoons.