A metric tablespoon is 15 milliliters.
Metric tablespoons to Cups Converter — metric tbsp to cup
Convert Metric tablespoon (metric tbsp) to Cup (cup) using the exact conversion factor (1 metric tablespoon = 0.0634012926 cup). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Metric tablespoons to Cups converter
Converter
Volume Converter
Convert metric, US customary, imperial, cooking, dry, and industrial volume units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Result = input x 1.5e-5 / 0.0002365882365.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Metric tablespoons to Cups
Metric tablespoon and Cup appear side by side at fuel pumps and on beverage labels, since the US measures liquids in gallons while most of the world uses liters. Specifically: A metric tablespoon is 15 milliliters, and a US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Formula
cups = metric tablespoons × 0.063401292566
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 metric tablespoon equals 0.000015 base units, and 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct metric tablespoon-to-cup factor of 0.063401292566.
Simple example
1 metric tbsp × 0.06340129257 = 0.0634012926 cup
1 metric tablespoon = 0.0634012926 cups.
Real-world example
10 metric tbsp × 0.06340129257 = 0.6340129257 cup
10 metric tablespoons = 0.6340129257 cups.
Conversion table
| Metric tablespoon (metric tbsp) | Cup (cup) |
|---|---|
| 1 metric tbsp | 0.0634012926 cup |
| 5 metric tbsp | 0.3170064628 cup |
| 10 metric tbsp | 0.6340129257 cup |
| 25 metric tbsp | 1.585032314 cup |
| 50 metric tbsp | 3.170064628 cup |
| 100 metric tbsp | 6.340129257 cup |
Reverse conversion: Cup to Metric tablespoon
0.0634012926 cup × 15.7725491 = 1.000000001 metric tbsp
0.0634012926 cups = 1.000000001 metric tablespoons.
metric tablespoons = cups × 15.7725491
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Cup to Metric tablespoon.
Understanding the Metric tablespoon (metric tbsp)
A metric tablespoon is 15 milliliters.
Understanding the Cup
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
Where it's used: United States (recipes and cooking measurement)
Cooking cup vs. legal US cup. US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.
Uses of the Cup today
- US recipe and cooking measurement
- Nutrition labeling serving sizes
- Baking, where volume-based flour/sugar measurement is still common in the US
History of the Cup
The cup as a cooking measure grew out of household and community cookbook conventions in 19th-century America, standardizing what had been ad hoc measurements ('a teacup of flour') into a fixed volume.
The US FDA uses a rounded 240 mL 'metric cup' for nutrition labeling purposes, distinct from the slightly smaller legal/customary cup (236.588 mL, exactly 1/16 of a US gallon) used elsewhere.
Historical origin. Cup was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Cup — sources
- US FDA — Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed — Uses the 240 mL rounded cup for nutrition labeling.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups are in 1 metric tablespoon?
1 metric tablespoon equals 0.0634012926 cups, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert metric tablespoon to cup?
Multiply the metric tablespoon value by 0.06340129257. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert cup back to metric tablespoon?
Use the reverse factor: 1 cup equals 15.7725491 metric tablespoons. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a metric tablespoon?
Metric tablespoon (metric tbsp) is a unit of volume.
What is a cup?
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
Is the metric tablespoon to cup conversion exact?
Yes. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.
What is the difference between cooking cup vs. legal us cup?
US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.