How many tablespoons are in ¼ cup? There are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup. We go into the differences between the Imperial, Metric, and US Customary measurement systems. This guide also includes a handy conversion chart for quick reference, ensuring you're well-equipped for any recipe.
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So How Many Tablespoons Are In ¼ Cup?
What do you do when a recipe calls for ¼ cup, and all you can find are measuring spoons? You work with what you have!
Don't give in to the impulse to eyeball the ingredients. With a simple formula, you can calculate how many tablespoons it takes to make ¼ cup or however many cups you may need.
The calculation is broken down as follows:
16 tablespoons = 1 cup so, the equation is tablespoons = cups x 16.
0.25 x 16 = 4.
Thus, there are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup.
Imperial Measurements vs Metric
Here in the United States, we rely on the imperial system. You may be shocked to find out that a cup is not measured precisely the same way everywhere.
This may not affect your recipe whatsoever. For instance, if you are measuring the number of peas in a pot pie, You can have slightly more or slightly less with no discernable difference in the recipe's outcome.
However, these small differences can be important if you are baking! The best way to understand how to measure your ingredients is to understand where the recipe developer is located.
The US Customary System (USCS)
A US customary cup is simply referred to as 'a cup' because this is the standard form of measurement for things like cooking or baking in the United States.
- ¼ US Cup = 59.157 mL
- ¼ US Cup = 4 US tablespoons (Tbsp)
- ¼ US Cup = 3.943 metric tablespoons (UK, international)
The US Legal Cup
The U.S. legal cup is how ingredients are measured for nutrition labeling by the FDA and differs slightly from the USCS.
- ¼ US Legal Cup = 60 mL
- ¼ US Legal Cup = 4.058 US tablespoons (Tbsp)
- ¼ US Legal Cup = 4 metric tablespoons (UK, international)
Metric Cup & Imperial Cup
A US cup and an Imperial cup are not exactly the same, either. 1 Imperial cup is 9.61 US fluid ounces, but it is 10 imperial fluid ounces.
That being said, the conversion for ¼ imperial cup is slightly different. The difference is not enough to matter when measuring small amounts, but in large quantities, it can be important.
- ¼ metric cup (international) = 62.5 mL
- ¼ imperial cup = 71.033 mL
- ¼ metric cup (Australia) = 4 Australian tablespoons
Chart 1: Tablespoons To Cups Conversions
If math is not your forte, you can make things even easier by simply referring to the conversion chart below!
| Tablespoons (Tbsp) | Dry Measurements (Cups) | Liquid Measurements (fl. oz.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Tbsp | ⅛ cup | 1 fl. oz. |
| 4 Tbsp | ¼ cup | 2 fl. oz |
| 5 Tbsp | ⅓ cup | 2.5 fl. oz |
| 8 Tbsp | ½ cup | 4 fl. oz. |
| 10 Tbsp | ⅔ cup | 5 fl. oz. |
| 12 Tbsp | ¾ cup | 6 fl. oz. |
| 16 Tbsp | 1 cup | 8 fl. oz. |
Measuring Tips & Tricks
- Always level cups or tablespoons with a knife for the most accurate measurements. This is especially important in baking. Heaping tablespoons is not a precise amount and should not be used unless specified in a recipe.
- All measuring cups are not created equal. Use a liquid measuring cup for liquids to get the most accurate results. The pour spout helps you avoid losing any of the ingredients during transfer.
- Sifting dry ingredients will break up any clumps and provide the most accurate results. Sifted flour, for example, is lighter than flour that has not been sifted and will mix into other ingredients (like dough or batter) much easier.
More Measurement Conversions
Knowing the formula for calculating tablespoons into cups is one that will come in handy time and time again! If you would like to see more articles like this one, let us know in the comment section below!
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