Tablespoon (tbsp) to Milliliter (ml)
Converting tablespoons to milliliters is common in American cooking. The standard US tablespoon equals 14.787 ml — slightly smaller than the 15 ml metric tablespoon used in the UK and Europe. This difference is worth noting when following international recipes, though it is small enough to ignore in most everyday cooking situations.
Frequently asked questions
In the US, 1 tablespoon equals 14.787 ml. This differs from the UK and metric tablespoon of 15 ml. For practical purposes, many cooks round to 15 ml, but precise baking may warrant the exact figure.
Three US tablespoons equal 3 × 14.787 ml = 44.361 ml. Using the rounded metric figure of 15 ml gives 45 ml — a difference of less than 0.7 ml, which is negligible in most recipes.
The US tablespoon (14.787 ml) derives from pre-metric customary units, specifically one-half of a US fluid ounce. The metric tablespoon of 15 ml was adopted by the UK and much of Europe when they moved to the metric system. Both values are used in published recipes, so it is worth checking which standard your cookbook follows.
A standard tablespoon from your cutlery drawer can vary significantly in volume. For precise cooking or baking, always use a calibrated measuring spoon. A proper US tablespoon measure holds exactly 14.787 ml (commonly labeled as ½ fl oz).