Step‑by‑step method

1. Know the ratio: 1 US cup = 16 US tablespoons.
2. Apply the formula:
   • cups → tbsp: tablespoons = cups × 16
   • tbsp → cups: cups = tablespoons ÷ 16
3. Round to 2 decimals for fractional cups (e.g., 1/3 cup ≈ 5.33 tbsp).

US vs Metric vs Australian tablespoons

• US tbsp ≈ 14.7868 ml (used by this tool).
• Metric tbsp = 15 ml (common outside the US).
• Australian tbsp = 20 ml (notable outlier).

Worked examples

• 1/3 cup → 1/3 × 16 = 5.33 tbsp
• 2.5 cups → 2.5 × 16 = 40 tbsp
• 24 tbsp → 24 ÷ 16 = 1.5 cups

Kitchen tips

• Use a liquid measuring cup for liquids and read at eye level.
• Dry ingredients pack differently; use grams for precision.
• For sticky ingredients (honey, syrup), oil the spoon for clean release.

Common mistakes

• Confusing tablespoons (tbsp) with teaspoons (tsp). 1 tbsp = 3 tsp.
• Mixing US, metric, and Australian tablespoon sizes in the same recipe.
• Over‑rounding fractional tablespoons—keep two decimals when needed.