🥄 Kitchen Converter

Tbsp to mL
Converter

Convert tablespoons to millilitres (and back) instantly — US, UK, and Australian standards, fraction output, and 5 kitchen unit equivalents for cooking and baking.

⚡ Fast Kitchen Conversions

🎂 Accurate Recipe Measurements

🍳 Cooking & Baking Friendly

Common recipe amounts

1 US tbsp = 14.79 mL

1 UK tbsp = 15 mL

1 AU tbsp = 20 mL

1 tbsp = 3 tsp

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Amount & unit

Tablespoon standard

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01 tbsp2 tbsp3 tbsp4 tbsp

Converted result

—mL

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Volume reference (0 to 60 mL / 4 tablespoons)

015 mL30 mL45 mL60 mL

Millilitres

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Teaspoons

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Fluid oz

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Cups

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Litres

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Tablespoons

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🥄 Kitchen tip:
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📏 Conversions use standard kitchen measurement values. US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL (exact). UK tablespoon = 15 mL. Australian tablespoon = 20 mL (= 4 teaspoons). Always check which standard your recipe uses.

Tbsp to mL Converter: Convert Tablespoons to Milliliters Instantly

Whether you’re converting an international recipe that lists tablespoons but your measuring tools show millilitres, scaling a sauce recipe, or double-checking a baking measurement — this free tbsp to mL converter handles the conversion instantly with US, UK, and Australian tablespoon standards, fraction output for recipe-friendly readings, and simultaneous conversions to teaspoons, fluid ounces, cups, and litres.

🥄 Quick reference:
1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL (≈ 15 mL) · 1 UK tablespoon = 15 mL · 1 Australian tablespoon = 20 mL
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons · 16 tablespoons = 1 cup · 2 tablespoons = 1 fl oz

Tablespoon to mL Reference Table

Tablespoons	US mL	UK mL	AU mL	US Teaspoons
½ tbsp	7.39 mL	7.5 mL	10 mL	1½ tsp
1 tbsp	14.79 mL	15 mL	20 mL	3 tsp
2 tbsp	29.57 mL	30 mL	40 mL	6 tsp
3 tbsp	44.36 mL	45 mL	60 mL	9 tsp
4 tbsp (¼ cup)	59.15 mL	60 mL	80 mL	12 tsp
8 tbsp (½ cup)	118.29 mL	120 mL	160 mL	24 tsp
16 tbsp (1 cup)	236.59 mL	240 mL	320 mL	48 tsp

US vs UK vs Australian Tablespoons

One tablespoon is not universal — three different standards exist in commonly used recipes. The US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL (approximately 15 mL). The UK tablespoon = exactly 15 mL — so close to the US that for most recipes the difference is negligible. The Australian tablespoon = 20 mL (equal to 4 teaspoons instead of the US/UK 3 teaspoons) — this is a significant 35% difference that can impact baking results.

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Baking precision

In baking, tablespoon measurements often affect leavening agents (baking powder, baking soda), salt, and vanilla extract. Even a half-tablespoon difference in baking powder can affect rise significantly. Use the exact standard your recipe specifies — if unknown, assume US for American recipes, AU for Australian recipes.

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Cooking flexibility

For sauces, dressings, and cooking applications, the difference between US (14.79 mL) and UK (15 mL) tablespoons is so small (0.21 mL per tablespoon) that it’s practically undetectable. Rounded to the nearest mL, they’re identical.

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Measuring correctly

A level tablespoon means filling the spoon then sweeping a flat edge across the top to remove excess. For liquids, fill to the brim. “Heaped” tablespoons (common in older UK recipes) add approximately 50% more volume — roughly 22 mL for a heaped US tablespoon.

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Recipe scaling

When scaling recipes up or down, tablespoon measurements convert cleanly: doubling just doubles the mL. 3 tablespoons of sauce × 4 = 12 tablespoons = ¾ cup = 177 mL. This converter handles any scaling calculation instantly.

Related Kitchen Measurement Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How many mL are in 1 tablespoon?

1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL (approximately 14.79 mL or ~15 mL). 1 UK tablespoon = exactly 15 mL. 1 Australian tablespoon = 20 mL. For US recipes (the most common online), the standard is 14.79 mL. The quick approximation of 1 tablespoon ≈ 15 mL works perfectly for everyday cooking — the 0.21 mL difference from exact is negligible.

Is 1 tbsp equal to 15 mL?

Almost. 1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 mL — very close to 15 mL. The UK tablespoon is exactly 15 mL. For practical cooking purposes, treating 1 tablespoon = 15 mL is a reliable approximation with only a 1.4% error. For precision baking where you’re using 3+ tablespoons of a critical ingredient, use the exact 14.79 mL value. For everything else, 15 mL = 1 tablespoon is a useful rule of thumb.

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

In the US and UK: 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons. In Australia: 1 tablespoon = 4 teaspoons (because the Australian tablespoon is 20 mL while the Australian teaspoon is 5 mL). This is a critical difference when following Australian recipes — if a recipe says “1 tablespoon” and you’re using a US/UK tablespoon set, you may need 4 teaspoons to match the Australian volume. This converter handles all three standards via the tablespoon standard selector.

What is the difference between US and Australian tablespoons?

The Australian tablespoon is 20 mL — 35% larger than the US tablespoon (14.79 mL) and 33% larger than the UK tablespoon (15 mL). This means if you follow an Australian recipe using US measuring spoons, you’ll use 25% less volume per tablespoon than intended. For baking this can be significant. Always check where a recipe is from and match the tablespoon standard. The selector in this converter handles all three automatically.

Can I use this converter for dry ingredients?

Tablespoon measurements are technically volume measurements (how much space something takes up), not weight measurements. For dry ingredients, the volume in tablespoons converts to mL correctly, but the weight (grams/ounces) will vary significantly by density. 1 tablespoon of flour ≈ 8–9g; 1 tablespoon of sugar ≈ 12g; 1 tablespoon of butter ≈ 14g; 1 tablespoon of water ≈ 15g (water is 1g/mL). For baking with dry ingredients, consider switching to weight measurements (grams) for greater precision.

How many tablespoons in a cup?

In the US: 16 tablespoons = 1 cup (236.6 mL). Useful fractions: 1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup; 2 tablespoons = ⅛ cup; 4 tablespoons = ¼ cup; 8 tablespoons = ½ cup; 12 tablespoons = ¾ cup. These relationships hold for the US system. UK cups are 240 mL (16 × 15 mL tablespoons = 240 mL). Australian recipes use 250 mL cups but 20 mL tablespoons (12.5 tablespoons per cup).

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