Tablespoons to Ounces Conversion Calculator
Enter the volume in tablespoons below to calculate the weight in ounces.
Result in Ounces:
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How to Convert Tablespoons to Ounces
Since tablespoons are a unit of volume and ounces are a unit of mass, which are different physical quantities, we need to know one more physical quantity of the ingredient or substance to convert between them. In this case, we need to account for the density of the substance whenever we do a conversion.
Therefore, to convert between tablespoons and ounces of an ingredient or substance, we must either multiply or divide by its density, depending on which direction we are performing the conversion.
Tablespoons to Ounces Formula
To convert a measurement in tablespoons to ounces, multiply the volume by the density of the ingredient, substance, or material. Note that in order for this to work, the density must be in ounces per tablespoon (oz/tbsp).
If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first divide the density by 1.9172 to convert to oz/tbsp.
For a density given in g/mL, you can use this simple formula to convert:
ounces = tablespoons × density / 1.9172
Thus, the weight in ounces is equal to the volume in tablespoons times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient or material divided by 1.9172.
For example, here's how to convert 5 tablespoons to ounces for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.
ounces = 5 tbsp × 0.7 g/mL / 1.9172 = 1.8256 oz
This formula is for converting to ounces in weight, if you're trying to convert to a volume measurement in fluid ounces, try our tablespoons to fluid ounces calculator.
When to Convert Tablespoons to Ounces
Tablespoons and ounces are both commonly used to measure cooking ingredients.
For cooking applications, most chefs suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight rather than volume to improve accuracy in the measurements.[1] The density of dry ingredients can vary for a variety of reasons, such as compaction and clumping.
The best way to ensure an accurate conversion is to use a scale. When a scale is not available, a calculator like the one above is a good way to estimate the volume to weight conversion.
For cooking and baking ingredients, you can get more specific results using our butter, flour, and sugar conversion calculators.
Another useful application of weight and volume conversions is chemistry. When performing chemical reactions by combining separate chemicals to produce a new chemical, one must know the exact amount of each chemical to add in order to maximize the yield of the reaction.
It is common to mix powdered chemicals with liquid, or aqueous, chemicals, and this is where it becomes very useful to convert between weights and volumes.[2]
Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.
What Is a Tablespoon?
A tablespoon is a unit of volume equal to three teaspoons or ½ fluid ounce.[3] One tablespoon is equal to 14.7868 milliliters, but for nutrition labeling, one tablespoon is rounded to 15 milliliters.[4]
The tablespoon is a US customary unit of volume. Tablespoons can be abbreviated as tbsp, and are also sometimes abbreviated as T, Tbls, or Tb. For example, 1 tablespoon can be written as 1 tbsp, 1 T, 1 Tbls, or 1 Tb.
Learn more about tablespoons.
What Is an Ounce?
One ounce is a unit of mass/weight equal to 1/16 of a pound or 28.349523 grams. The common ounce should not be confused with the troy ounce, which is equal to 1/12 of a troy pound.[5]
The ounce is a US customary and imperial unit of mass. Ounces can be abbreviated as oz; for example, 1 ounce can be written as 1 oz.
An ounce is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, an ounce is a measure of mass, and weight is actually a measure of force, the two are equivalent as long as we are performing our calculations on Earth.
For example, an object with a mass of 1 ounce weighs 1 ounce on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.
Learn more about ounces.
Tablespoon to Ounce Conversion Table
| Volume in Tablespoons: | Weight in Ounces of: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Milk | Cooking Oil | All Purpose Flour | Granulated Sugar | |
| 1/8 tbsp | 0.065198 oz | 0.067154 oz | 0.057375 oz | 0.03449 oz | 0.045965 oz |
| 1/4 tbsp | 0.130397 oz | 0.134309 oz | 0.114749 oz | 0.06898 oz | 0.09193 oz |
| 1/3 tbsp | 0.173863 oz | 0.179078 oz | 0.152999 oz | 0.091973 oz | 0.122573 oz |
| 1/2 tbsp | 0.260794 oz | 0.268618 oz | 0.229499 oz | 0.13796 oz | 0.18386 oz |
| 2/3 tbsp | 0.347725 oz | 0.358157 oz | 0.305998 oz | 0.183947 oz | 0.245146 oz |
| 3/4 tbsp | 0.391191 oz | 0.402927 oz | 0.344248 oz | 0.20694 oz | 0.27579 oz |
| 1 tbsp | 0.521588 oz | 0.537235 oz | 0.458997 oz | 0.27592 oz | 0.367719 oz |
References
- National Institute of Standards & Technology, Culinary Measurement Tips, https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/culinary-measurement-tips
- CK-12 Foundation, Introductory Chemistry (CK-12) - 12.6: Mass-Volume Stoichiometry, https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/12%3A_Stoichiometry/12.06%3A_Mass-Volume_Stoichiometry
- Merriam-Webster, tablespoon, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablespoon
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Guidance for Industry: Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures, https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-guidelines-determining-metric-equivalents-household-measures
- James Bucki, Troy Ounce vs. Ounce, The Spruce, https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/troy-ounce-vs-ounce-4588158