US Tablespoon (US tbsp)
Definition
The US tablespoon (symbol US tbsp) is a unit of volume in the US customary system equal to exactly 14.7867647825 milliliters, or 0.5 US fluid ounces. One US tablespoon contains exactly 3 US teaspoons; 16 US tablespoons make a US cup.
History
Like the cup, the modern US tablespoon was codified by late-19th-century American cookbooks that standardized level-measured cooking. The actual physical spoon size varied across silverware patterns, so cookbook authors and tableware makers gradually converged on a fixed value.
The US tablespoon is defined as 1/16 of a US cup, or 1/2 US fluid ounce. The Australian metric tablespoon of 20 mL and the UK and Canadian tablespoon of 15 mL are larger; the U.S. dietary supplement and nutrition labeling rules use 15 mL as the labeling tablespoon, which is about 1.4% larger than the customary value.
Standard reference
Defined as 1/2 US fluid ounce = 14.7867647825 mL exactly. NIST Handbook 44 publishes this value; FDA nutrition labeling uses a separate 15 mL tablespoon (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)).
Common conversions
| 1 US tbsp | = 14.7868 mL |
|---|---|
| = 0.5 US fl oz | |
| = 3 US tsp | |
| = 0.0625 US cup |