Ounces to Tablespoon Converter

Relationship Between Fluid Ounces and Tablespoons

The conversion between fluid ounces and tablespoons is straightforward in the US measurement system. 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) equals exactly 2 tablespoons (tbsp).

1 fl oz = 2 tbsp

Therefore,

1 tbsp = 0.5 fl oz

This conversion is based on the US customary units. In the UK, the imperial fluid ounce and tablespoon have slightly different volumes, but the US standard is more commonly used worldwide, especially in cooking and baking.

Note: This tool uses US fluid ounces and US tablespoons. 1 US fluid ounce = 29.5735 milliliters, and 1 US tablespoon = 14.7868 milliliters.

Fluid Ounce (fl oz)

What is a Fluid Ounce?

A fluid ounce (fl oz) is a unit of volume used to measure liquids in the US customary and British imperial systems of measurement. The US fluid ounce is defined as 1/128 of a US gallon, which equals approximately 29.5735 milliliters. It should not be confused with the ounce (oz), which is a unit of weight.

US vs UK Fluid Ounces

There are two different fluid ounce standards:

US Fluid Ounce: 29.5735 mL (used in the United States)
UK (Imperial) Fluid Ounce: 28.4131 mL (used in the United Kingdom)

The difference is about 4%, with the US fluid ounce being slightly larger. This tool uses US fluid ounces, which are more commonly referenced in recipes and cooking instructions.

Current Use

• Cooking & Baking: Measuring liquid ingredients like water, milk, oil, and extracts
• Beverages: Serving sizes for drinks, cocktails, and coffee
• Nutrition Labels: Food and beverage serving sizes in the US
• Medicine: Dosages for liquid medications and syrups
• Cosmetics: Product volumes for lotions, perfumes, and liquid soaps
• Bartending: Standard shot sizes (1.5 fl oz is common)

Common Equivalents

Understanding fluid ounce conversions helps in various contexts:

• 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
• 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces
• 1 quart = 32 fluid ounces
• 1 gallon = 128 fluid ounces
• 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons

Tablespoon (tbsp)

What is a Tablespoon?

A tablespoon (tbsp or T) is a unit of volume measurement commonly used in cooking. In the US customary system, one tablespoon equals exactly 1/2 fluid ounce, or approximately 14.7868 milliliters. It's one of the most frequently used measurements in recipes, particularly for measuring ingredients like oil, butter, spices, and liquids.

Tablespoon Standards

Like fluid ounces, tablespoons can vary by region:

US Tablespoon: 14.7868 mL (equal to 1/2 US fl oz)
UK Tablespoon: 17.7582 mL (approximately, as the UK now uses metric)
Metric Tablespoon: 15 mL (used in Australia and some other countries)

This tool uses US tablespoons. Most modern recipes specify the measurement system, but US measurements are most common in American cookbooks and websites.

Kitchen Applications

• Cooking: Measuring oils, vinegar, sauces, and liquid seasonings
• Baking: Adding extracts, melted butter, honey, and syrups
• Medicine: Liquid medication doses (though medical dosing often uses milliliters)
• Food Prep: Portioning salad dressings, marinades, and condiments
• Nutrition Tracking: Measuring servings of peanut butter, mayonnaise, etc.

Relationship to Other Units

The tablespoon sits in the middle of common kitchen measurements:

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

These relationships make it easy to scale recipes up or down.

Practical Tips

When measuring with tablespoons:

• Use measuring spoons, not regular dining tablespoons (which vary in size)
• Level off dry ingredients with a straight edge for accuracy
• Fill liquid measuring spoons to the brim
• For thick liquids like honey or peanut butter, slightly overfill and level off
• In recipes, "tbsp" or "T" means tablespoon; "tsp" or "t" means teaspoon

Fluid Ounces to Tablespoons Conversion Table

Common fluid ounces to tablespoons conversions for reference: