What Is Tablespoon US (tbsp)?
The Tablespoon US, written as tbsp, is a volume unit used in cooking and baking. It measures small amounts of liquid or dry ingredients, like oil, sugar or spices. One US tablespoon is exactly 14.7868 milliliters, which cooks often round to about 15 milliliters.
Definition
The Tablespoon US tbsp is a unit of volume used mainly in the United States for recipes. It is officially defined as:
- 1 US tablespoon = 3 US teaspoons
- 1 US tablespoon = 1/16 US cup
- 1 US tablespoon = 1/2 US fluid ounce
- 1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 milliliters exactly
When you see tbsp in a US recipe, it almost always means this exact size, not a random household spoon.
History / Origin
The word tablespoon comes from the common eating spoon used at the table. Long ago, people used real spoons from their kitchen to measure ingredients, so amounts were not very exact.
Over time, traders, pharmacists and cooks needed more accurate measures. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the tablespoon was slowly standardized in different countries. The United States fixed the tablespoon size in its system of fluid ounces and cups.
Today, the US tablespoon has an exact value in milliliters so that recipes and food labels are consistent and can be reproduced the same way anywhere.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The most common ways to write the Tablespoon US are:
- tbsp or tbsp.
- Tbsp or Tbsp.
- Sometimes just T or Tb in older cookbooks
To avoid confusion with the teaspoon tsp, many modern recipes use a clear form like tbsp or Tbsp so that people do not mix them up.
Current Use Around the World
The US tablespoon is the standard tablespoon size in the United States. It is used for:
- Home cooking and baking recipes
- Packaged food directions
- Nutrition information and serving suggestions
- Some liquid medicines and vitamins
Outside the United States, many countries use a slightly different measuring spoon called the metric tablespoon, which is 15 milliliters exactly. Some older UK and Australian recipes used a larger tablespoon around 17.7 to 20 milliliters but most modern cookbooks in those countries now use the 15 milliliter metric tablespoon.
Because of these differences, it is important to know which tablespoon a recipe is using. US recipes usually mean the US tablespoon. Recipes that follow metric rules usually mean the 15 milliliter tablespoon.
Example Conversions
Here are some useful conversions for the Tablespoon US tbsp.
- 1 US tablespoon = 3 US teaspoons
- 1 US tablespoon = 0.5 US fluid ounce
- 1 US tablespoon = 1/16 US cup
- 1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 milliliters
- 2 US tablespoons = 1 US fluid ounce ≈ 29.57 milliliters
- 4 US tablespoons = 1/4 US cup
- 8 US tablespoons = 1/2 US cup
- 16 US tablespoons = 1 US cup
Approximate conversions to the metric tablespoon 15 milliliters:
- 1 US tbsp ≈ 0.99 metric tbsp, almost the same
- 3 US tbsp ≈ 44.36 milliliters ≈ just under 3 metric tbsp
Related Units
The Tablespoon US tbsp is closely related to other kitchen volume units.
- Teaspoon US (tsp) about one third of a US tablespoon
- US fluid ounce (fl oz) 2 tablespoons in 1 fluid ounce
- US cup 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup
- Milliliter (mL) the metric volume unit, 1 US tablespoon is about 14.79 mL
- Liter (L) a larger metric unit, 1 L = about 67.63 US tablespoons
- Metric tablespoon used in many countries, fixed at 15 mL
FAQs
What is 1 Tablespoon US in milliliters?
1 Tablespoon US is exactly 14.7868 milliliters. In everyday cooking, people usually round this to about 15 milliliters.
How many teaspoons are in 1 Tablespoon US?
There are 3 US teaspoons in 1 US tablespoon. So if a recipe says 1 tbsp and you only have a teaspoon measure, you can use 3 level teaspoons.
Is a US tablespoon the same as a metric tablespoon?
No. A metric tablespoon is 15 milliliters exactly. A US tablespoon is slightly smaller at 14.7868 milliliters, but the difference is very small for normal cooking.
Can I use a regular eating spoon instead of a tablespoon measure?
It is not a good idea, because eating spoons come in many shapes and sizes. For best results, use a proper measuring spoon marked tbsp or tablespoon, especially for baking.
Is the tablespoon used for both liquid and dry ingredients?
Yes. The US tablespoon measures volume, not weight, so it can be used for liquids like milk and oil or for dry items like sugar and spices. Just fill the spoon level, not heaping, unless the recipe says otherwise.
How many US tablespoons are in 1 cup?
There are 16 US tablespoons in 1 US cup. This is useful when you want to scale recipes up or down.
What is the difference between US and UK tablespoons?
Modern UK recipes often use the same 15 milliliter tablespoon as the metric tablespoon. That is slightly larger than the US tablespoon. Older UK sources and some special uses may still mention a larger size, so always check the context of the recipe.