What is Tablespoon to mL Converter?

This tool converts US tablespoons to milliliters, providing the precise metric equivalent for cooking and medication dosing. Understanding this conversion ensures accurate ingredient quantities and safe medicine administration.

The Conversion Factor

One US tablespoon equals exactly 14.7868 mL. For practical purposes, this is commonly rounded to 15 mL, which is how most metric measuring spoons are calibrated.

Tablespoon Relationships

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce
16 tablespoons = 1 cup
4 tablespoons = ¼ cup

Who Needs This Conversion?

Cooks: Converting recipes between measurement systems
Parents: Understanding medicine dosage instructions
Pharmacists: Communicating doses in familiar terms
Recipe writers: Providing metric alternatives

A Note on Spoons

Household tablespoons vary greatly in size. For accurate measuring, always use standardized measuring spoons rather than regular eating utensils.

Privacy

All calculations occur locally in your browser without data transmission.

How to Use

Converting tablespoons to milliliters is simple:

Enter the tablespoon amount from your recipe
View the mL equivalent instantly
Use metric measuring tools if desired

Converting Fractions

For half tablespoons, enter 0.5. Common fractional conversions:

½ tbsp = 7.4 mL (≈ 7.5 mL or 1.5 tsp)
1½ tbsp = 22.2 mL
2 tbsp = 29.6 mL (≈ 30 mL or 1 fl oz)

Cooking Applications

Oil: 2 tbsp = 30 mL for sautéing
Vanilla extract: 1 tbsp = 15 mL for cakes
Soy sauce: 3 tbsp = 45 mL for marinades

For Medications

Many liquid medications are dosed in tablespoons. If your medicine cup shows mL, use this converter to understand the equivalent. However, always use the measuring device provided with medication for accuracy.

Features

Precise Calculation

Uses the exact conversion factor of 14.7868 mL per US tablespoon. Results are accurate for both cooking and pharmaceutical applications.

Instant Results

Conversion happens as you type—no need to press a button.

Reference Table

Common tablespoon conversions:

1 tbsp = 14.79 mL (≈ 15 mL)
2 tbsp = 29.57 mL (≈ 30 mL = 1 fl oz)
3 tbsp = 44.36 mL
4 tbsp = 59.15 mL (= ¼ cup)
5 tbsp = 73.93 mL
6 tbsp = 88.72 mL

Copy Button

Easily copy converted values for digital recipe collections.

Unit Flexibility

Switch between other volume units using the dropdown menus for additional conversions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many mL is 1 tablespoon?

One US tablespoon equals 14.79 mL. This is commonly rounded to 15 mL for practical measuring.

Is a tablespoon 15 mL or 20 mL?

A US tablespoon is approximately 15 mL (14.79 mL precisely). An Australian tablespoon is 20 mL. This converter uses the US standard.

How many tablespoons are in 30 mL?

30 mL equals 2 tablespoons (or 1 fluid ounce). This is a common dose for adult liquid medications.

Can I use a regular spoon to measure medicine?

No, household spoons vary significantly in size. Kitchen spoons can hold anywhere from 5 mL to 25 mL. Always use the measuring device provided with your medication or a standardized measuring spoon.

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon. This is true for both US and metric systems (though the absolute volumes differ slightly).

What's the difference between US and metric tablespoons?

A US tablespoon is 14.79 mL. A metric tablespoon (used in many countries) is exactly 15 mL. Australian tablespoons are 20 mL. The difference between US and metric is small enough that recipes work either way.

Tablespoon to mL