8 tablespoons is equal to 0.5 cups.
To convert tablespoons (tbsp) to cups, you divide the number of tablespoons by 16 because there are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. So, 8 tbsp divided by 16 gives you half a cup.
Conversion Tool
Result in cups:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert tablespoons to cups is: cups = tablespoons ÷ 16. This is because 1 cup contains exactly 16 tablespoons. By dividing the amount in tablespoons by 16, you get the equivalent volume in cups.
For example, if you have 8 tablespoons, you calculate:
- 8 ÷ 16 = 0.5 cups
This means 8 tablespoons is half a cup. The division works since tablespoons are smaller units and cups are larger, so dividing converts from smaller to larger units.
Conversion Example
- Example: Convert 24 tbsp to cups
- Start with 24 tablespoons.
- Use the formula: cups = tablespoons ÷ 16.
- Calculate 24 ÷ 16 = 1.5 cups.
- So, 24 tablespoons equals 1.5 cups.
- Example: Convert 10 tbsp to cups
- Begin with 10 tablespoons.
- Divide by 16: 10 ÷ 16 = 0.625 cups.
- Result is 0.625 cups, or 5/8 cups.
- Example: Convert 5 tbsp to cups
- Take 5 tablespoons.
- Use formula: 5 ÷ 16 = 0.3125 cups.
- This is just under a third of a cup.
- Example: Convert 32 tbsp to cups
- Start with 32 tablespoons.
- Divide: 32 ÷ 16 = 2 cups.
- So, 32 tablespoons is equal to 2 cups.
Conversion Chart
The chart below shows tablespoon values from -17.0 to 33.0 converted to cups. Negative values might be useful for calculations involving subtraction or reduction of volume. To use the chart, find your tablespoon value in the left column and read across to see the corresponding cups value.
| Tablespoons (tbsp) | Cups |
|---|---|
| -17.0 | -1.0625 |
| -15.0 | -0.9375 |
| -13.0 | -0.8125 |
| -11.0 | -0.6875 |
| -9.0 | -0.5625 |
| -7.0 | -0.4375 |
| -5.0 | -0.3125 |
| -3.0 | -0.1875 |
| -1.0 | -0.0625 |
| 0.0 | 0.0000 |
| 1.0 | 0.0625 |
| 3.0 | 0.1875 |
| 5.0 | 0.3125 |
| 7.0 | 0.4375 |
| 9.0 | 0.5625 |
| 11.0 | 0.6875 |
| 13.0 | 0.8125 |
| 15.0 | 0.9375 |
| 17.0 | 1.0625 |
| 19.0 | 1.1875 |
| 21.0 | 1.3125 |
| 23.0 | 1.4375 |
| 25.0 | 1.5625 |
| 27.0 | 1.6875 |
| 29.0 | 1.8125 |
| 31.0 | 1.9375 |
| 33.0 | 2.0625 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many cups are 8 tbsp in baking recipes?
- Is 8 tablespoons equal to half a cup exactly?
- What is the cup measurement for 8 tbsp of liquid ingredients?
- Can I replace 8 tbsp with cups in cooking instructions?
- How to convert 8 tbsp butter to cups for cooking?
- Does 8 tbsp of flour convert the same way to cups?
- What’s the equivalent in cups if a recipe calls for 8 tbsp sugar?
Conversion Definitions
tbsp (Tablespoon): A tablespoon is a cooking measure equal to three teaspoons or about 14.79 milliliters. It’s used for measuring both liquid and dry ingredients in recipes, providing a standard volume unit mainly in the United States and Canada, although the exact volume may slightly vary regionally.
Cups: A cup is a volume measurement used in cooking to measure liquids and solids, equal to 16 tablespoons or approximately 237 milliliters. It serves as a basic unit in American culinary measurements, making recipe conversions between small and large quantities easier and consistent.
Conversion FAQs
Can I convert tablespoons to cups for any ingredient?
While the volume conversion from tablespoons to cups stays the same, the weight of the ingredient may differ due to density. So, for dry ingredients like flour or sugar, the cup equivalent by weight might vary slightly from volume conversion.
Why does converting tablespoons to cups sometimes cause confusion in recipes?
Confusion occurs because some recipes measure by weight and others by volume. Tablespoons and cups are volume units, so if a recipe mixes weight and volume measures, conversions may not be exact unless ingredient density is considered.
Is 8 tablespoons always half a cup in cooking?
Yes, since 1 cup equals 16 tablespoons, 8 tablespoons always equals 0.5 cups. This is a fixed volume conversion and does not change regardless of the ingredient.
Are tablespoon sizes the same worldwide?
No, tablespoon sizes can vary slightly between countries. For example, a US tablespoon is about 14.79 ml, whereas an Australian tablespoon is 20 ml. This affects conversions if you use international recipes.
How precise is the conversion between tablespoons and cups?
The conversion is precise when measuring volume only. However, precision in cooking can be affected by how the ingredient is packed or measured, especially with dry ingredients, causing slight variations.
Last Updated : 01 July, 2025
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.