How Many ML in a Tbsp? Tbsp to ML Converter and Chart

Last updated October 10, 2026

One US tablespoon holds 14.79 ml, and recipes round it to 15 ml. NIST gives the exact value as 14.787 ml, and the FDA uses 15 ml on Nutrition Facts labels. The UK, Canada and New Zealand also use a 15 ml tablespoon, but Australia uses a larger 20 ml spoon. So if you are asking how many ml in a tbsp, the answer is 15 for most cooks and 20 for Australian recipes.

Tbsp to ML Converter

Type an amount, choose tablespoons or ml, and pick your spoon size. The converter shows the answer in ml or tablespoons, plus teaspoons for small amounts. Every result matches the charts on this page.

Amount

tbsp

Spoon size

Quick (tbsp):

Result

15 ml

15 ml (US, UK, Canada, NZ)

3 tsp0.51 fl oz0.06 US cups

How Many ML in a Tbsp by Country

Most countries use a 15 ml tablespoon, so recipes from the US, UK and Canada match. The exact US customary tablespoon is a little smaller, at 14.79 ml. Australia is the main exception, with a 20 ml tablespoon.

Tablespoon	ML	Where you see it	Source
US customary	14.79 ml	US measuring spoons	NIST
US label	15 ml	Nutrition Facts labels	FDA
Metric	15 ml	UK, Canada, New Zealand and most countries	Tablespoon
Australian	20 ml	Australian recipes and spoons	Tablespoon

Does the Small US Difference Matter?

Not for cooking. The US tablespoon is 14.79 ml and the metric tablespoon is 15 ml, a gap of 0.21 ml. Even across 10 tablespoons, the difference is about 2 ml, less than half a teaspoon. The Australian spoon is different, since it holds a third more, so use 4 US teaspoons for each Australian tablespoon.

Tbsp to ML Chart

This chart shows each tablespoon amount in ml for a 15 ml spoon, the exact US spoon and the Australian spoon. Use the first ml column for almost every recipe. Use the last column only for recipes written in Australia.

Tablespoons	Recipe ml (15 ml spoon)	Exact US ml	Australian ml (20 ml spoon)
1/4 tbsp	3.75 ml	3.70 ml	5 ml
1/2 tbsp	7.5 ml	7.39 ml	10 ml
3/4 tbsp	11.25 ml	11.09 ml	15 ml
1 tbsp	15 ml	14.79 ml	20 ml
1 1/2 tbsp	22.5 ml	22.18 ml	30 ml
2 tbsp	30 ml	29.57 ml	40 ml
3 tbsp	45 ml	44.36 ml	60 ml
4 tbsp	60 ml	59.15 ml	80 ml
5 tbsp	75 ml	73.93 ml	100 ml
6 tbsp	90 ml	88.72 ml	120 ml
8 tbsp	120 ml	118.29 ml	160 ml
10 tbsp	150 ml	147.87 ml	200 ml
12 tbsp	180 ml	177.44 ml	240 ml
16 tbsp	240 ml	236.59 ml	320 ml

1 Tbsp to ML

1 tbsp to ml is 15 ml in a recipe, or 14.79 ml for an exact US spoon. Half a tablespoon is 7.5 ml, and 2 tablespoons are 30 ml. Since 1 US fluid ounce is 29.57 ml, 2 tablespoons equal 1 fluid ounce.

ML to Tbsp Chart

To convert ml to tbsp, divide the ml by 15. One teaspoon is 5 ml, so any leftover can be measured with a teaspoon. The last column shows the spoons you would actually use.

ML	Tablespoons	Tablespoons and teaspoons
5 ml	0.33	1 tsp
7.5 ml	0.50	1 1/2 tsp
10 ml	0.67	2 tsp
15 ml	1.00	1 tbsp
20 ml	1.33	1 tbsp plus 1 tsp
25 ml	1.67	1 tbsp plus 2 tsp
30 ml	2.00	2 tbsp
40 ml	2.67	2 tbsp plus 2 tsp
45 ml	3.00	3 tbsp
50 ml	3.33	3 tbsp plus 1 tsp
60 ml	4.00	4 tbsp
75 ml	5.00	5 tbsp
80 ml	5.33	5 tbsp plus 1 tsp
90 ml	6.00	6 tbsp
100 ml	6.67	6 tbsp plus 2 tsp
120 ml	8.00	8 tbsp
125 ml	8.33	8 tbsp plus 1 tsp
150 ml	10.00	10 tbsp
200 ml	13.33	13 tbsp plus 1 tsp
250 ml	16.67	16 tbsp plus 2 tsp

15 ML, 20 ML and 30 ML in Tablespoons

15 ml is exactly 1 tablespoon. 20 ml is 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon, or 1 Australian tablespoon. 30 ml is 2 tablespoons, and 45 ml is 3 tablespoons.

Tablespoons, Teaspoons, Fluid Ounces and Cups

A tablespoon fits neatly into the other US kitchen units. Three teaspoons make 1 tablespoon, 2 tablespoons make 1 fluid ounce, and 16 tablespoons make 1 cup. The exact ml values come from NIST.

Unit	Tablespoons	Exact ml
1 teaspoon	1/3 tbsp	4.93 ml
1 tablespoon	1 tbsp	14.79 ml
1 fluid ounce	2 tbsp	29.57 ml
1/4 cup	4 tbsp	59.15 ml
1/2 cup	8 tbsp	118.29 ml
1 cup	16 tbsp	236.59 ml

Do Not Use Kitchen Spoons for Medicine

Kitchen spoons vary a lot in size, so they are not safe for measuring medicine. A dosing paper published by the FDA links kitchen spoons to dosing errors and calls oral syringes the more precise choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving children’s liquid medicine in ml only. If a label says 1 tablespoon, use an ml syringe or dosing cup and measure 15 ml.

How to Convert Tablespoons and ML

You only need one number: 15 ml in each tablespoon. Multiply tablespoons by 15 to get ml, or divide ml by 15 to get tablespoons. For exact US math, use 14.79 instead.

Tablespoons to ML

Multiply the tablespoons by 15. For 3 1/2 tablespoons, 3.5 × 15 = 52.5 ml. For an Australian recipe, multiply by 20 instead, so 3 1/2 tablespoons is 70 ml.

ML to Tablespoons

Divide the ml by 15. For 100 ml, 100 ÷ 15 = 6.67 tablespoons. The 0.67 tablespoon left over is 2 teaspoons, so measure 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons.

Tips for Measuring with Spoons

Spoons are quick, but small mistakes add up in a recipe. These habits keep each spoon close to 15 ml. Each one fixes a common mistake.

Use measuring spoons. A dinner spoon or soup spoon from a cutlery drawer is not a tablespoon and can hold much more or less.
Fill liquids to the brim. Hold the spoon level over a bowl and fill it until the liquid reaches the edge.
Level dry ingredients. Sweep the top flat with the back of a knife.
Oil the spoon for sticky liquids. A thin coat of oil helps honey and syrup slide out, so you get the full amount.
Check Australian recipes. If the recipe is from Australia, use 4 US teaspoons for each tablespoon.

Frequently asked questions

How many ml is 1 tablespoon?

One tablespoon is 15 ml in recipes. The exact US customary tablespoon is 14.79 ml. In Australia, a tablespoon is 20 ml.

How many ml is 2 tablespoons?

Two tablespoons are 30 ml, or 29.57 ml exactly. That equals 1 US fluid ounce. In Australia, 2 tablespoons are 40 ml.

How many tablespoons is 30 ml?

30 ml is 2 tablespoons. It is also 6 teaspoons or 1 fluid ounce. A shot glass often holds about this much.

How many tablespoons is 15 ml?

15 ml is exactly 1 tablespoon. It is also 3 teaspoons. In Australia, 15 ml is 3/4 of a tablespoon.

How many tablespoons is 20 ml?

20 ml is 1 1/3 tablespoons, or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon. In Australia, 20 ml is exactly 1 tablespoon. That is why Australian recipes can look different.

How many tablespoons is 100 ml?

100 ml is 6.67 tablespoons. In spoons, that is 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. For amounts this large, a measuring cup with ml lines is faster.

How many ml is half a tablespoon?

Half a tablespoon is 7.5 ml. That is the same as 1 1/2 teaspoons. Most measuring spoon sets include a 1/2 tablespoon spoon.

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Sources

About This Converter

This page was written for home cooks who follow recipes from different countries. Our exact tablespoon value comes from NIST, and the label value comes from the FDA. The converter, the charts and the answers all use the same numbers, so they always match. We review the page every quarter and show the date at the top.