Last Updated on June 21, 2025 by Jennifer Osborn
Wondering how many tablespoons are in ¼ cup? The answer is 4—and I’ve got a chart to help you convert tablespoons to cups (and vice versa) in seconds.
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How to Measure ¼ Cup Without a Measuring Cup
A quarter cup equals 4 tablespoons. It’s a simple swap—so if your ¼ cup is missing, just use 4 tablespoons instead.
When converting tablespoons to ¼ cup, bakers should keep the following in mind:
Accuracy:
Measuring ingredients accurately is crucial for successful baking.
It's important to use the right tools and techniques to measure the exact amount of ingredients needed in a recipe.
Too much flour or not enough can ruin your batch of cookie dough. Weighing flour is best using a kitchen scale but failing that, use the dip and sweep method to measure your flour. Pour flour into a bowl and fluff it up with a spoon. Now spoon flour into your measuring cup until slightly heaped. Then slide a butter knife or a bench scraper across the top of the measuring cup to remove the excess.
Consistency
When baking, using consistent measurements is key to achieving consistent results.
If the recipe calls for ¼ cup of an ingredient, it's best to stick to that measurement rather than trying to estimate or approximate it with tablespoons.
By keeping these points in mind, bakers can convert tablespoons to ¼ cup and ensure that their recipes turn out just right.
Conversion Chart Tablespoons to Cups
| Tablespoons (tbsp) | Cups (c) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 1/16 c |
| 2 tbsp | ⅛ c |
| 3 tbsp | 3/16 c |
| 4 tbsp | ¼ c |
| 5 tbsp | 5/16 c |
| 6 tbsp | ⅜ c |
| 7 tbsp | 7/16 c |
| 8 tbsp | ½ c |
| 9 tbsp | 9/16 c |
| 10 tbsp | ⅝ c |
| 11 tbsp | 11/16 c |
| 12 tbsp | ¾ c |
| 13 tbsp | 13/16 c |
| 14 tbsp | ⅞ c |
| 15 tbsp | 15/16 c |
| 16 tbsp | 1 c |
US Versus Imperial
Not all tablespoons are created equal! If you’re in the UK, your measurements may be slightly different than those used in U.S. recipes.
Here’s what to know:
- US tablespoon = 14.2 ml
- UK tablespoon = 15 ml
That small difference can add up in baking!
Other key differences:
- 1 US cup = 240 ml
- 1 UK cup = 250 ml
- 1 US gallon = 3.785 liters
- 1 UK (Imperial) gallon = 4.546 liters
If you’re baking with a recipe that uses U.S. measurements, use U.S. measuring cups and spoons if you can. For UK-based recipes, follow metric or UK-specific tools for best results.
I use US measurements on this recipe site because I live in the U.S.
However, if you're in the UK, you'll want UK measurements, as I'm sure you already know.
Tablespoons to US Cups
| US tbsp | Cups |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1/16 |
| 2 | ⅛ |
| 3 | 3/16 |
| 4 | ¼ |
| 5 | 5/16 |
| 6 | ⅜ |
| 7 | 7/16 |
| 8 | ½ |
| 9 | 9/16 |
| 10 | ⅝ |
| 11 | 11/16 |
| 12 | ¾ |
| 13 | 13/16 |
| 14 | ⅞ |
| 15 | 15/16 |
| 16 | 1 |
Tablespoons to UK Cups
| UK tablespoons | Cups |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1/20 |
| 2 | 1/10 |
| 3 | 3/20 |
| 4 | ⅛ |
| 5 | ⅙ |
| 6 | ⅕ |
| 7 | 7/40 |
| 8 | ¼ |
| 9 | 9/40 |
| 10 | ⅓ |
| 11 | 11/40 |
| 12 | ⅜ |
| 13 | 13/40 |
| 14 | 7/20 |
| 15 | 3/10 |
| 16 | 4/10 |
| 17 | 17/40 |
| 18 | 9/20 |
| 19 | 19/40 |
| 20 | ½ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons in ¼ cup?
There are 4 tablespoons in ¼ cup.
What is ¼ cup in tablespoons?
¼ cup equals 4 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup.
Can I use a ¼ cup instead of 4 tablespoons?
Yes! They measure the same amount. If a recipe calls for 4 tablespoons, you can use a ¼ cup to save time.
Is ¼ cup the same in US and UK measurements?
Nope! A US ¼ cup is slightly smaller than a UK ¼ cup because UK tablespoons are bigger (15 ml vs. 14.2 ml).
Ready to Use That ¼ Cup Knowledge?
Now that you’ve nailed your measurements, why not bake something sweet?
Here are a few cookie recipes that use ¼ cup.
- Gooey Butter Cake Cookies – Made with cake mix and cream cheese for that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Easy Sprinkle Cookies – Colorful, chewy, and no chilling required.
- Cannoli Cookies – Filled with ricotta, orange zest, and chocolate chips. A flavor-packed favorite!
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