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Home » Recipes » Baking Conversion Charts

How Many Tablespoons In 1/4 Cup

Modified: Jan 24, 2023 · Published: Jan 24, 2023 by Irina Totterman · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Measuring spoons hanging from metal hook: Pin with text.

How many tablespoons in ¼ cup? The quick answer is 4 tablespoons. Get a FREE printable tablespoon conversion cheat sheet for effortless cooking and baking every time.

Measuring spoons hanging from metal hook
Photo by LanceDwight from Getty Images; Canva

You don't need to memorize all the basic kitchen measurement conversions. Thankfully there are so many handy resources available on the Internet nowadays.

How many tablespoons make a ¼ cup? Did you know that to make a cup, all it takes is 16 tablespoons? So that means 4 tablespoons make ¼ cup.

Jump to:
  • American cup size
  • Different cup sizes
  • Tablespoon sizes
  • How many tablespoons in a quarter cup
  • How to convert ¼ cup to tablespoons
  • ¼ cup to tablespoons conversion
  • How many tablespoons of butter in ¼ cup
  • Measuring tips for cups and spoons
  • How to measure ¼ cup
  • Tablespoon conversion chart
  • Printable conversion charts
  • Other measurement conversions
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Comments

Baking is all about precision, especially when it comes to measuring the flour. So why not choose a kitchen scale for accurate measurements?

Also, make sure to determine the origin of a recipe since different countries use different measurement systems. You don't want to double or halve an ingredient when baking by mistake accidentally.

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American cup size

The United States has its own measurement convention called 'US cups,' where ¼ customary or ¼ standard measuring cup is equal:

  • ¼ US Cup = 59.157 mL
  • ¼ US Cup = 4 US tablespoons (tbsp)
  • ¼ US Cup = 3.943 metric tablespoons (United Kingdom, international)

An American tablespoon equals 0.0625 American cups.

Legal US cup is used in cooking units, serving sizes, and nutrition labeling in the USA.

  • ¼ US Legal Cup = 60 mL
  • ¼ US Legal Cup = 4.058 US tablespoons (tbsp)
  • ¼ US Legal Cup = 4 metric tablespoons (UK, international)

Different cup sizes

A US cup differs slightly from other English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. These countries operate metric measurements:

  • ¼ Metric Cup = 62.5 milliliters (mL)

The old recipes in the United Kingdom use the British imperial system, where an Imperial (UK) cup is a non-metric liquid measurement unit of volume. Modern British recipes use UK metric cup.

  • ¼ Imperial Cup = 71.03 mL
  • ¼ UK Metric Cup = 62.5 mL
1 cupMilliliters¼ cupMilliliters
US Customary Cup236.59 mlUS Customary Cup59.15 ml
US Legal Cup240 mlUS Legal Cup 60 ml
UK Metric Cup250 mlUK Metric Cup62.5 ml
UK Imperial Cup284.13 mlUK Imperial Cup 71.03 ml
Australian Cup250 mlAustralian Cup 62.5 ml
Canadian Cup250 mlCanadian Cup 62.5 ml
South African Cup250 mlSouth African Cup 62.5 ml

Tablespoon sizes

A tablespoon, a measure of volume, also varies by different regions around the world. However, most countries, expert the USA and Australia, employ a metric tablespoon equal to 15 ml.

Here are different sizes of tablespoons:

  • 1 US tablespoon = 14.8 ml or 0.5 US fl oz
  • 1 UK tablespoon = 15 ml
  • 1 Canadian tablespoon = 15 ml or 0.51 US fl oz
  • 1 Australian tablespoon = 20 ml or 0.68 US fl oz

How many tablespoons in a quarter cup

Or how many tablespoons in ¼ cup? There are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup (US system).

How to convert ¼ cup to tablespoons

1 cup = 16 tablespoons (US system), so here is a conversion formula:

Tbsp = cups x 16, where the conversion factor is 16;

¼ x 16 = 4 tbsp

So there are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup.

¼ cup to tablespoons conversion

Here is a detailed chart of dry measuring cups (abbreviated as 'c'), the tablespoons (or tbsp), fluid ounces (or fl oz), and milliliters (ml) equivalency.

Note: ¼ cups to tablespoons and fluid ounces conversion is in bold. ¼ cup in ml is also a part of this conversion.

Dry measurements (cups)Tablespoons (tbsp)Liquid measurements (fl oz)Liquid measurements (ml)
1/16 cup1 tbsp½ fl. oz.14.79 ml
⅛ cup2 tbsp1 fl. oz.29.57 ml
⅙ cup2 tablespoon + 2 tsp1 ⅓ fl. oz.39.43 ml
¼ cup4 tbsp2 fl. oz.59.15 ml
⅓ cup5 tablespoon + 1 tsp2 ⅔ fl. oz.78.86 ml
½ cup8 tbsp4 fl. oz.118.29 ml
⅔ cup10 tablespoon + 2 tsp5 ⅓ fl. oz157.73 ml
¾ cup12 tbsp6 fl. oz.177.44 ml
1 cup16 tbsp8 fl. oz.236.59 ml
Cups to tablespoons conversions

The above conversion chart is created for all types of flour, white sugar, cocoa powder, and other ingredients if you measure dry goods by volume.

How many tablespoons of butter in ¼ cup

Use a simple conversion chart below to measure the butter, margarine, and shortening. As you can see, half a cup equals 1 stick, and 1 cup equals 2 sticks of butter. ¼ cup of butter equals

  • ½ stick, or
  • 4 tablespoons of butter,
  • 2 ounces, or
  • 56.7 grams.
tablespoonCupsOuncesGramsStick of butter
16 tbsp1 cup8 oz.226.8 g2 sticks
12 tbsp¾ cup6 oz.170.1 g1 ½ sticks
10 tablespoon + 2 tsp⅔ cup5.33 oz.151.2 g1 ⅓ sticks
8 tbsp½ cup4 oz.113.4 g1 stick
5 tablespoon + 1 tsp⅓ cup2.66 oz.75.6 g⅔ stick
4 tbsp¼ cup2 oz.56.7 g½ stick
2 tbsp⅛ cup1 oz.28.4 g¼ stick
*Cup and tablespoons conversions from Traditional Oven

Around the world, ¼ cup is not all equal. Depending on the recipe, ¼ cup to tablespoons conversions are different.

¼ cupMillilitersUS tablespoonsUK tablespoons Imperial
US (standard)59 ml4 tbsp3.3 tbsp
UK (Imperial)71 ml4.8 tbsp4 tbsp
UK (metric)62.5 ml4.2 tbsp3.5 tbsp
Australia62.5 ml4.2 tbsp3.5 tbsp
Canada62.5 ml4.2 tbsp3.5 tbsp
South Africa62.5 ml4.2 tbsp3.5 tbsp

Measuring tips for cups and spoons

  • Choosing weighing ingredients with a food scale over measurement with cups and spoons is a good idea.
  • If you prefer a different measuring method - a cup and spoon method, invest in a good set of measuring cups and spoons.
  • Use dry measuring cups to measure dry ingredients and specially-designed liquid measuring cups for wet ingredients.
  • There is not much difference between dry and liquid measuring spoons apart from their form: round is designed for liquids and oval for solids.
  • Read the recipe to catch any tiny detail, whether you need to measure sifted flour or measure it first, then sift.
  • Ensure to stir dry ingredients in a container before spooning them into a cup.
  • Use the scoop and level method for precise measurement of dry ingredients. Use the back of a butter knife to level off cups and spoons. The recipes call for level tablespoons and teaspoons (not heaped).
  • Measure liquid ingredients at eye level: bend over to find the mark on a liquid measuring cup.

How to measure ¼ cup

How to make ¼ cup? There are multiple ways to achieve a ¼ cup measure, whether you use measuring cups, tablespoons, or teaspoons:

  • Use a ¼ measuring cup
  • Use a ⅛ cup or ⅛ cup scoop and fill it twice
  • Use 4 tablespoons
  • Use 12 teaspoons

But how to measure ¼ cup without measuring tools (cups and spoons)? Here are a few ways to approximate measurements by trying the eyeballing methods:

  • Eyeball the half of a ½ cup (half a cup is about the size of a tennis ball).
  • Eyeball a quarter cup roughly equaled the size of a golf ball.
  • Eyeball the ingredient in an ice cube size four times, where an ice cube roughly equals one tablespoon.

Tablespoon conversion chart

A quick reference guide - a tablespoon conversion chart - is available as a PDF.

Tablespoon conversion chart mockup

Download and print out this Tablespoon Conversion Chart >>

You can use a thermal laminator to laminate it and then put it inside your kitchen cabinet door. Or why not include this handy conversion chart in your favorite recipe binder?

Printable conversion charts

Come back to the website whenever you need baking conversions, ingredient substitutions, or answers to your baking questions.

Discover numerous helpful and stylish free kitchen printables gathered in one place - a free resource library:

  • Kitchen conversion chart
  • Baking pan conversion chart
  • Cooking weight conversion chart
  • Liquid conversion chart
  • Oven temperature conversion chart

Other measurement conversions

Also, make sure to check out other common kitchen measurements and quick conversions, especially for tablespoons and cup conversions:

  • How Many Tablespoons In ½ Cup
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Cup
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Pint
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Fluid Ounce
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Quart
  • How Many Tablespoons In A Gallon

And if you ever need to convert your baking pan sizes, use this simple Cake Pan Converter.

Conclusion

I hope this article answers the question about how many tablespoons make a quarter cup. You might see other frequently asked questions about ¼ cup to tablespoons conversion, for example:

  • How many tablespoons is in a ¼ cup
  • How many tablespoons ¼ cup
  • How many tablespoons make a ¼ cup
  • How many tablespoons in a quarter cup
  • How many tablespoon in a quarter cup
  • How many tablespoons in a fourth of a cup

The answer is the same: ¼ cup equals 4 tablespoons.

Frequently asked questions

How many tablespoons are in ¼ cup?

There are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup.

How many tablespoons in a quarter cup

There are 4 tablespoons in a quarter cup.

How much is 4 tablespoons in a cup?

4 tablespoons make ¼ cup.

Quarter cup is how many tablespoons

A quarter cup equals 4 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons in one fourth cup

There are 4 tablespoons in one-fourth cup.

How many tablespoons is ¼ cup of sugar?

¼ cup of sugar equals 4 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons in a ¼ cup of flour?

¼ cup of flour equals 4 tablespoons.

How many tablespoons in ¼ cup of cocoa powder?

¼ cup of cocoa powder equals 4 tablespoons.

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About Irina Totterman

I'm Irina, an experienced home baker with over 30 years of expertise and the blogger behind Baking Like a Chef (since 2018), where I share baking recipes, tips, and tricks. My recipes have been featured in the renowned French Chef Simon and Le Journal des Femmes.

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Hi, I am Irina!

A home baker with over 30 years of experience, sharing baking recipes with step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and tricks. Get baking, and let the fun begin!

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