1/3 Cup How Many Tablespoons?
Easier to Measure:
Visual Guide:
Why It's Confusing:
- • 16 ÷ 3 = 5.333... (infinite decimal!)
- • No clean whole number answer
- • Can't measure 1/3 of a tablespoon easily
- • Different from simple 1/4 (4 tbsp) or 1/2 (8 tbsp)
The Solution:
Method 1 (Most Accurate):
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
Method 2 (Metric):
Use 80 ml exactly
Method 3 (Quick):
5 slightly heaping tablespoons
Complete "How Many Tablespoons" Guide for All Cup Fractions
Quick Reference: Cup to Tablespoon Conversions
| Cup Amount | How Many Tablespoons? | Easier Method | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp | Simple! | 6 tsp |
| 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp | Simple! | 12 tsp |
| 1/3 cup | 5⅓ tbsp | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp | 16 tsp |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp | Simple! | 24 tsp |
| 2/3 cup | 10⅔ tbsp | 10 tbsp + 2 tsp | 32 tsp |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp | Simple! | 36 tsp |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp | Simple! | 48 tsp |
The Math:
1 cup = 16 tbsp
1/3 cup = 16 ÷ 3
= 5.333...
= 5⅓ tablespoons
What's ⅓ Tablespoon?
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
So ⅓ tablespoon = 1 teaspoon!
1 tsp = ⅓ tbsp
Memory Trick:
"5 + 1 Rule"
- • 5 big spoons (tbsp)
- • 1 small spoon (tsp)
- • That's 1/3 cup!
WRONG: 5 tablespoons
Missing 1 teaspoon!
✅ RIGHT: 5⅓ tablespoons
WRONG: 6 tablespoons
That's too much!
✅ RIGHT: 5⅓ tablespoons
WRONG: 4 tablespoons
That's 1/4 cup!
✅ RIGHT: 5⅓ tablespoons
🎯 Remember: 1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 5⅓ tablespoons
When Recipes Call for 1/3 Cup (How to Measure)
💧 For Liquids (Oil, Milk, Water)
Best Method:
Use 80ml marking on liquid measuring cup
Alternative:
5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
Quick Method:
Fill 1/2 cup, remove 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
🌾 For Dry Ingredients (Flour, Sugar)
Best Method:
Use actual 1/3 cup measure (most accurate)
Alternative:
5 level tablespoons + 1 level teaspoon
By Weight:
Flour: 40g | Sugar: 67g | Brown Sugar: 73g
Since people often ask "1/3 cup how many grams", here's a complete guide:
Baking Essentials
- All-Purpose Flour 40g
- Granulated Sugar 67g
- Brown Sugar (packed) 73g
- Powdered Sugar 40g
Liquids
- Water/Milk 80g
- Vegetable Oil 72g
- Honey 113g
- Maple Syrup 107g
Other Common
- Butter 76g
- Cocoa Powder 33g
- Oats 27g
- Rice (uncooked) 65g
Frequently Asked "How Many" Questions
1/3 cup how many tablespoons?
1/3 cup equals 5⅓ tablespoons, which is the same as 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon. This equals 16 teaspoons total or 80 milliliters.
How many tbsp in 1/3 cup?
There are 5⅓ tbsp in 1/3 cup. For easier measuring, use 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon since 1/3 of a tablespoon equals 1 teaspoon.
One third cup how many tablespoons?
One third cup equals 5⅓ tablespoons. This is one of the trickiest conversions because it's not a whole number. Remember: 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup.
How many teaspoons in 1/3 cup?
1/3 cup equals 16 teaspoons. However, it's more practical to measure as 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon rather than counting out 16 individual teaspoons.
Is 1/3 cup equal to 5 tablespoons?
No, 1/3 cup is not exactly 5 tablespoons. It equals 5⅓ tablespoons. You need to add 1 teaspoon to 5 tablespoons to get exactly 1/3 cup.
Never Forget: 1/3 Cup = 5⅓ Tablespoons!
Join 1 million+ monthly users who rely on this page for the trickiest cup conversion. Remember the "5+1 Rule": 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon = 1/3 cup exactly.