Convert Tablespoon to Liter (tbsp → L)
The tablespoon is the standard mid-size cooking measure, equal to 15 milliliters in international recipe conventions.
Tablespoon to Liter Conversion Table
10 common values| Tablespoon | Liter |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.0148 L |
| 2 tbsp | 0.0296 L |
| 5 tbsp | 0.074 L |
| 10 tbsp | 0.148 L |
| 20 tbsp | 0.296 L |
| 50 tbsp | 0.74 L |
| 100 tbsp | 1.48 L |
| 200 tbsp | 2.96 L |
| 500 tbsp | 7.4 L |
| 1,000 tbsp | 14.8 L |
How to Convert Tablespoon to Liter Manually
Step by StepConverting tablespoons to liters is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in tablespoonsStart with the number of tablespoons (tbsp) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 0.0148The conversion factor from tbsp to L is 0.0148. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in litersThe result is your value in liters (L).
Formula
Multiply the value in tablespoons by 0.0148. For the reverse direction, multiply by 67.567568.
L = tbsp × 0.0148tbsp = L × 67.567568Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- US tbsp = 15 ml (practical); 14.787 ml (legal); 3 teaspoons in any system.
- Australian tablespoon = 20 ml — 33% larger. Adjust when using Australian recipes.
- For accurate cooking, weigh dry ingredients rather than measuring by tablespoon.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Using an Australian tablespoon (20 ml) for a US recipe (15 ml) — 33% overshoot.
- Treating teaspoon and tablespoon as interchangeable — tablespoon is 3× larger.
- Using a dinner spoon from the cutlery drawer as a tablespoon — they vary widely.
About Tablespoon and Liter
What is the Tablespoon?
The tablespoon equals exactly 15 milliliters (international culinary standard) or about 14.787 mL (US strict definition based on ½ fluid ounce). The tablespoon is a near-universal cooking measure for ingredients larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a cup — typical uses include oils, sauces, and condiments. The Australian tablespoon is uniquely 20 mL (4 teaspoons rather than 3), an oddity in international recipe interpretation. Standard recipes assume 1 tbsp = 15 mL globally except in Australia and the United States (where it is sometimes 14.787 mL but commonly rounded to 15 mL). The tablespoon relates to the teaspoon (3 tsp = 1 tbsp), the cup (16 tbsp = 1 cup), the fluid ounce (2 tbsp = 1 US fl oz), and the milliliter (1 tbsp = 15 mL conventional). Measuring spoons are calibrated to the local convention.
- Cooking recipes worldwide (dominantly US 15 ml)
- Nutrition-label serving sizes
- Over-the-counter liquid-medication doses
Olive-oil recipes call for tablespoons of oil. Cough syrups often recommend 1 tbsp = 15 ml per dose.
What is the Liter?
The liter equals exactly 1 cubic decimeter (1 dm³ = 0.001 m³) and is the everyday metric unit for liquids worldwide. Adopted as part of the metric system in the 1790s, the liter is used universally for beverages, fuel, household chemicals, and cooking liquids — except in the United States where gallons and fluid ounces dominate. The liter has special connection to mass: pure water at 4°C has almost exactly 1 kg per liter, a relationship designed into the metric system. Soda, milk, and water bottles in metric countries come in 0.5 L, 1 L, 1.5 L, and 2 L sizes. The liter relates to the milliliter (1,000 mL = 1 L), the cubic meter (1,000 L = 1 m³), the US gallon (1 L ≈ 0.264 gal), and the UK gallon (1 L ≈ 0.220 imp gal). Although not strictly an SI base unit, the liter is one of the most-used metric units globally.
- Bottled beverages and milk in Europe
- Petrol and diesel pricing in metric countries
- Engine displacement (car engines rated in litres)
A standard European petrol-car fuel tank is 50–60 L. A 2.0 L engine has a 2 litre displacement. A typical home boiler holds 150 L of hot water.