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Home » Tips

6 Tbsp To Cups (How Many Cups Are 6 Tablespoons?)

Published: Aug 10, 2023 by Ginny · This post may contain affiliate links.

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6 tbsp to cups is a common conversion you’ll probably need more than once if you’re not a stranger in the kitchen. Whether the recipe is calling for 6 tablespoons, or you’re trying to scale it, once you know how to convert tablespoons to cups, these adjustments will come naturally!

Two photos of liquid measuring cup and set of measuring spoon and baking ingredients.
Let’s convert tablespoons to cups!
Contents hide
1 What Is A Cup?
2 What Is A Tablespoon?
3 Types Of Cups
4 Tablespoons Vs. Cups
5 How To Convert 6 Tbsp To Cups
6 How To Measure 3/8 Cups
7 Tablespoons To Cups Conversion Chart
8 What Is 6 Tablespoons In Other Volume Units?
9 How To Measure Dry Ingredients
10 How To Measure Liquid Ingredients
11 More Tablespoon Conversions
12 Other Unit And Kitchen Conversion Resources
13 F.A.Q.

Are you the family cook? Then you probably noticed some recipes are more forgiving when it comes to measuring ingredients. Add too many carrots to a stew and it will simply taste a little sweeter but still delicious.

Add too much flour to a cake batter, and it will probably turn out dry and bulky. Baked goods, in general, are more pretentious when measuring ingredients.

Learning to convert 6 tbsp to cups and other units and quantities often called for by recipes will help you get the perfect results every time, for any type of dish!

What Is A Cup?

Measuring cups filled with baking ingredients next to eggs and kitchen utensils.
Measuring with cups is very convenient!

A cup is a measuring unit of volume primarily used to weigh cooking ingredients. It’s part of the U.S. Customary System and you’ll often find it abbreviated as “c” or “C” in recipes.

1 Cup = 16 Tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fluid ounces = 237 milliliters

There are both dry and liquid cups created to accurately measure each type of ingredient. They have the same volume although the liquid cup will help you better measure fluids.

Liquid measuring cups are transparent and have markings for various measurement units that will help you get an accurate reading. Most also have a beak to help with the pouring of liquids.

I wholeheartedly recommend you keep both types of cups in your kitchen. They’ll help you measure ingredients faster and easier. Cooking shouldn’t be stressful, right?

What Is A Tablespoon?

Pink measuring spoons next to eggs, baking ingredients, and kitchen utensils.
A quality set of measuring spoons makes cooking much easier!

Tablespoons are a unit of volume in the U.S. Customary System, just like cups and teaspoons. Tbsp, tb, and t are all abbreviated forms you’ll find in recipes and cookbooks.

For ingredients needed in smaller amounts, tablespoons and teaspoons allow us to perform a much more accurate measurement compared to using cups.

Examples of such ingredients include leavening agents, sugar, condiments, herbs, sauces, and oil.

1 Tablespoon = 3 Teaspoons = 1/2 Fluid ounce = 15 Mililiters

Types Of Cups

The US customary cup is not the only kind available. There are other types of cups with different volumes in both US and the rest of the world.

US Customary Cup

This is the cup most Americans use to measure cooking and baking ingredients. It’s also the one we’re using throughout this guide and all our other cup conversion guides.

1 US customary cup = 8 fluid ounces = 236.59 mililiters

US Legal Cup

Official organizations like the FDA and the USDA rely on this cup for the purpose of nutrition labeling.

1 US legal cup = 240 mililiters

Metric Cup

Countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand rely on the metric system, so they use the metric cup.

1 metric cup = 250 mililiters

Tablespoons Vs. Cups

Tablespoons and cups are units of volume so how are they different and why do we need both?

Lower volumes are best measured with tablespoons since they’re smaller than cups. Most recipes have some ingredients needed in small amounts such as salt, baking powder, oil, and spices.

When a recipe calls for ingredients in cups, it’s probably because this is the tool you need to easily measure them.

While it also depends on the number of servings, you’ll often find foods like flour, sugar, and milk called for in cups.

The rule of thumb is to use the measuring unit required by the recipe for the easiest and most accurate measurement.

How To Convert 6 Tbsp To Cups

You can make any tablespoons to cups conversion if you know the formulas below:

1 Cup = 16 Tablespoons

1 Tablespoon = 1/16 Cup

Based on these numbers, it’s easy to calculate how many cups are 6 tablespoons:

6 Tablespoons = 6 x 1/16 Cup = 3/8 Cup = 0.375 Cup

6 Tablespoons = 0.375 Cup

There you have it. You’ll just need to measure 3/8 cup which is a little over 1/3 cup to get the same volume as 6 tablespoons.

How To Measure 3/8 Cups

3/8 cup is not a common marking on measuring cups. If yours doesn’t have one, you can split 3/8 cup into smaller, easier-to-measure fractions.

Math comes to our rescue again:

3/8 Cup = 1/8 Cup + 2/8 Cup = 1/8 Cup + 1/4 Cup

The 1/4 cup and 1/8 cup markings are more common on measuring cups, and depending on the ones your cup has you have two options:

Measure 1/4 cup once, and 1/8 cup the second time.

Measure 1/4 cup once and half of another 1/4 cup. This method is useful if your cup doesn’t have a 1/8 cup marking.

Some online resources replace 6 tablespoons with 1/3 cup. 6 tablespoons are 0.375 cup, not 0.333 cup (the equivalent of 1/3 cup). This makes 1/3 cup over 10% less than 3/8 cup.

This difference can drastically affect how your recipe turns out, especially for baked goods.

Tablespoons To Cups Conversion Chart

US TablespoonsUS Cups
1 Tablespoon1/16 Cup (0.0625)
2 Tablespoons1/8 Cup (0.125)
3 Tablespoons3/16 Cup (0.1875)
4 Tablespoons1/4 Cup (0.25)
5 Tablespoons5/16 Cup (0.3125)
6 Tablespoons3/8 Cup (0.375)
7 Tablespoons7/16 Cup (0.4375)
8 Tablespoons1/2 Cup (0.5)
9 Tablespoons9/16 Cup (0.5625)
10 Tablespoons5/8 Cup (0.625)
12 Tablespoons3/4 Cup (0.75)
16 Talespoons1 Cup
Tablespoons To Cups Conversion Chart

What Is 6 Tablespoons In Other Volume Units?

Do you have other measuring utensils on hand? Here are more unit conversions from 6 tablespoons to help you get that recipe just right!

6 Tablespoons = 18 Teaspoons = 3 Fluid ounces = 90 mililiters

How To Measure Dry Ingredients

The dry measuring cup along with tablespoons and teaspoons are excellent for measuring dry ingredients by volume. All of them should be used the same way.

Scoop the ingredient or pour it into the measuring cup or spoon. Level it off in one swiping motion using a spatula, straight-edged knife, or your finger.

This will ensure you don’t under or overpack the ingredient which would cause an incorrect measurement.

Tip: Make sure you always start with clean and dry cups and spoons. If there’s any moisture present, the dry ingredients can stick to the cups which would make you measure a smaller quantity than required.

How To Measure Liquid Ingredients

Glass measuring cup for liquids with red markings on white background.
Measuring liquid ingredients is much easier if you use the right cup

The liquid measuring cup was made to help us easily measure fluids. Here’s what you need to do when your recipe calls for water, milk, oil, cooking cream, or another liquid ingredient.

Place the cup on a level surface such as a table or countertop. Fill it to the appropriate marking while keeping it at eye level to get an accurate reading.

More Tablespoon Conversions

Looking for more tablespoon conversions? Skip the math and check the table below. It will come in handy when you’re lacking certain measuring utensils or you want to double or cut a recipe in half.

TablespoonsCupsTeaspoonsFluid OuncesMilliliters
1 tbsp1/16 cup (0.0625)3 tsp1/2 fl oz15 ml
2 tbsp1/8 cup (0.125)6 tsp1 fl oz30 ml
3 tbsp3/16 cup (0.1875)9 tsp1 1/2 fl oz45 ml
4 tbsp1/4 cup (0.25)12 tsp2 fl oz60 ml
5 tbsp5/16 cup (0.3125)15 tsp2 1/2 fl oz75 ml
6 tbsp3/8 cup (0.375)18 tsp3 fl oz90 ml
7 tbsp7/16 cup (0.4375)21 tsp3 1/2 fl oz105 ml
8 tbsp1/2 cup (0.5)24 tsp4 fl oz120 ml
9 tbsp9/16 cup (0.5625)27 tsp4 1/2 fl oz135 ml
10 tbsp5/8 cup (0.625)30 tsp5 fl oz150 ml
12 tbsp3/4 cup (0.75)36 tsp6 fl oz180 ml
16 tbsp1 cup48 tsp8 fl oz240 ml
Cups, Tablespoons, Teaspoons, Fluid Ounces, and Milliliters Conversions

Other Unit And Kitchen Conversion Resources

Converting between measurement units shouldn’t be complicated. You simply need to have the right references.

Here are some more common unit conversions and resources to help you when measuring ingredients in the kitchen:

  • How Many Cups In A Pound?
  • How Many Tablespoons In An Ounce?
  • 14.5 Oz To Cups
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Cup?
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Quarter Cup?
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Half Cup?
  • Free Printable Kitchen Conversion Chart

F.A.Q.

Is 6 Tablespoons Equal To 1/4 Cup?


No. One tablespoon equals 1/16 cup so 6 tablespoons are equivalent to 3/8 cup.

Is 6 Tablespoon Equal To 1/3 Cup?


6 Tablespoons equals 3/8 cup which is 0.375 cup. Compared to 1/3 cup (0.333 cup) the volume of 6 tablespoons is over 10% larger.

How Do I Measure 6 Tablespoons Of Butter?


If you don’t have measuring spoons you can measure butter based on the markings on the butter wrapper. In general, each line is equivalent to 1 tablespoon of butter.

Keep in mind that one stick of butter is equivalent to 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup.

How Many Cups Is 6 Dry Tablespoons?


6 dry tablespoons are equivalent to 3/8 cup. Both cups and tablespoons are units of volume, so 6 tbsp will always equal 3/8 cup, whether you’re measuring dry or wet ingredients.

How Many Cups Is 6 Tbsp Of Flour?


6 tablespoons of flour equal 3/8 cup. You can measure 1/4 cup first and then another half of 1/4 cup or 1/8 cup depending on the marks your cup has.

How Many Cups Is 6 Tablespoons Of Oil?


6 US tablespoons will always equal 0.375 cup (3/8 cup) regardless of what you’re trying to measure. Place the cup on a flat surface and keep it at eye level as you’re pouring the oil to get an accurate measurement.

Is 4 Tablespoons 1/8 Of A Cup?


Since 1 cup is equivalent to 16 tablespoons, 4 tablespoons equals 1/4 cup. If you need to measure 1/8 cup, that is equivalent to 2 tablespoons.

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Ginny
Ginny

Hi!

Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.

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About Ginny

Hi!

Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.

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Family Photo Hi! I'm Ginny and for over 30 years, I've been creating simple and easy recipes without sacrificing on taste for our family on the go. I can't wait to show you how to do the same for your family. Read More...

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