Cooking becomes easy when you understand basic kitchen conversions. One of the most common questions home cooks and bakers ask is: “How many tablespoons in 1/3 cup?”
As a chef with 8 years across multiple cuisines and former sales chef at UFS, I have seen countless recipes fail because of poor measurements.
Cooking and baking use both volume and weight. The simple answer is:
1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon (≈ 5.33 tablespoons)
1/3 US cup equals 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. If you prefer a decimal: 1/3 cup ≈ 5.333 tablespoons or about 78.9 millilitres.
Conversion Table: Cups to Tablespoons
Here’s a handy reference table to make measuring easier.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters (US) |
| 1 | 16 | 48 | 236.588 |
| 1/2 | 8 | 24 | 118.294 |
| 1/3 | 5 + 1 tsp | 16 | 78.863 |
| 1/4 | 4 | 12 | 59.147 |
| 2/3 | 10 + 2 tsp | 32 | 157.726 |
Why volume and weight aren’t the same thing
Volume measures the space that an ingredient occupies; weight measures mass. For dry ingredients like flour and sugar, how you scoop or spoon affects volume, so two cooks can get different weights from the same 1/3 cup. For precision, especially in baking, weigh ingredients with a scale.
Why Understanding 1/3 Cup to Tablespoons Conversion Matters
You often need this conversion when:
- You don’t have a 1/3 cup measuring cup
- You are scaling a recipe up or down
- You are cooking in a hurry
- You are following US recipes using cups
This conversion is especially useful for:
- Baking cakes, cookies, brownies
- Making sauces and dressings
- Measuring oil, milk, butter, and sugar
Even small measurement errors can change texture and taste.
How to measure 1/3 cup without a 1/3 cup measure.
Basic Conversion Rule
tablespoons = cups × 16
Now apply it:
For 1/3 cup
1/3 × 16 = 5.33 tablespoons
So the result becomes:
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
Here are Practical methods:
- Use spoons: measure 5 level tablespoons and add 1 level teaspoon.
- Combine cups: 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) + 1 tbsp + 1 tsp = 1/3 cup.
- Use a scale: pour ingredients to about 78.9 ml or use grams from the list above.
- Eyeball in a 1‑cup measure: fill to roughly one third of the cup’s height.
You will think about why the spoon method works? because 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons. Therefore, 5 tbsp = 15 tsp + 1 tsp = 16 tsp = 1/3 cup.
US cup vs metric/UK cup
- US customary cup = 236.588 ml.
- Metric “cup” commonly used in recipes = 250 ml.
- 1/3 US cup ≈ 78.9 ml; 1/3 metric cup ≈ 83.3 ml.
When following international recipes, confirm the recipe’s origin or follow weight (grams) for best results.
Here is US vs UK/Metric Cup Differences
| System | 1 Cup | 1/3 Cup Equivalent |
| US customary cup | 236.6 mL | ≈ 78.9 mL |
| UK/Metric cup | 250 mL | ≈ 83.3 mL |
Substitutions and scaling recipes
- If you must halve or double: halving 2/3 cup gives 1/3 cup.
- For sticky ingredients (honey, syrup): use a lightly oiled spoon or measure by weight.
- For packed ingredients (brown sugar): pack into measuring cup, then level.
What Poeple also Asked about ⅓ cup measurement
Is 1/3 cup exactly 5 tablespoons?
No. It is slightly more. The exact measurement is: 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
Is 1/3 cup equal to 5 tablespoons?
No, 1/3 cup is not exactly 5 tablespoons. It equals 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon, which gives a more accurate kitchen measurement.
Can I just use 5 tablespoons instead of 1/3 cup?
Yes, but it will be slightly less. In baking, it may affect texture.
Why is 1/3 cup not a whole number in tablespoons?
Because:
1 cup = 16 tbsp
And 16 ÷ 3 = 5.33 (not a whole number)
How many teaspoons are in 1/3 cup?
There are 16 teaspoons in 1/3 cup when using US standard measurements. This comes from the fact that 1 cup equals 48 teaspoons.
How many ml is 1/3 cup?
In US measurement, 1/3 cup is approximately 78.86 ml. Some metric systems round it to about 80 ml depending on region and standard used.
How many grams is 1/3 cup of flour?
1/3 cup of all-purpose flour is around 43–45 grams. The exact weight can vary slightly based on how the flour is scooped or packed.
More Cooking Resources
- How Many Tablespoons in a Cup?
- How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?
- How Many Cups in a Quart, Pint, and Gallon?
- How Many Tablespoons in 2/3 Cup?
- How many tablespoons in 1/2 cup?
- Grams to Cups Conversion for Baking
