Tablespoon to mL converter

There are approximately 14.7868 milliliters in 1 US customary tablespoon, exactly 15 mL in 1 metric tablespoon, and exactly 20 mL in 1 Australian tablespoon. The abbreviation “tbsp” identifies the unit, but does not tell you which of these sizes a recipe uses.

Which standard should I choose?

Use US customary for the conventional US volume conversion: one tablespoon is half a US fluid ounce, or 14.78676478125 mL. NIST’s conversion table lists the rounded factor 14.78676 mL.

Use Metric / US nutrition labeling for a measuring spoon marked 15 mL. The FDA defines a tablespoon as 15 mL for nutrition labeling; that labeling convention differs from the customary volume conversion.

Use Australian for a 20 mL tablespoon. The Australian Government’s Get Up & Grow recipe guide uses this size. Check the recipe or your measuring spoon when the standard is unclear.

Tablespoons to milliliters: the formula

Multiply the number of tablespoons by the mL capacity of one tablespoon. The ingredient does not change a volume-to-volume conversion.

mL = tablespoons × mL per tablespoon

For example, 1½ metric tablespoons = 1.5 × 15 = 22.5 mL. The same amount in US customary tablespoons is approximately 22.1801 mL; in Australian tablespoons it is 30 mL.

Milliliters to tablespoons: the reverse

Divide the milliliters by the capacity instead. Select mL → Tbsp above and enter your volume.

Tablespoons = mL ÷ mL per tablespoon

For example, 30 mL = 2 metric tablespoons, 1.5 Australian tablespoons, or approximately 2.0288 US customary tablespoons.

This tablespoon-to-mL chart compares the three standards. US customary values are rounded to four decimal places; the calculator keeps the full factor when calculating.

Use a level measuring spoon for recipes. An ordinary eating spoon has no fixed capacity, so converting its name cannot tell you the volume it holds.