MeasuredCup

How Many Tablespoons in 1/2 Cup?

1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, which is 24 teaspoons, 4 US fluid ounces or about 118.3 mL. By weight it depends on the ingredient: 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour is about 62.5 g, granulated sugar 100 g and butter about 113 g, one US stick (USDA FoodData Central).

62.5g

8 tbsp · 24 tsp · 4 fl oz · 118.3 mL

Per tablespoon: 7.8 g

Need a different amount? Use tablespoons in 1/4 cup or cups to grams.

How to use

  1. Pick the ingredient.
  2. Choose USDA, or King Arthur if your recipe comes from their kitchen.
  3. Read the grams in 1/2 cup, or count out 8 level tablespoons.

The formula and two worked examples

1/2 cup = 16 ÷ 2 = 8 tablespoons and grams in 1/2 cup = grams per cup ÷ 2

Butter. 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, which is exactly one US stick. USDA's 227 g per cup gives 113.5 g; the stick wrapper says 113 g (4 oz).

Whole milk. 244 g per cup ÷ 2 = 122 g, which matches the cups to grams converter for 1/2 cup.

How to measure 1/2 cup without a 1/2 cup measure

No 1/2 cup? Use any of these:

  • Two level 1/4 cup scoops. The easiest swap.
  • 8 level tablespoons.
  • 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons.
  • For liquids, the 4 fl oz line on a measuring cup.
  • For butter, one US stick. The wrapper marks all 8 tablespoons.

What this tool doesn't cover

It covers US measures only. A UK or Australian 1/2 metric cup is 125 mL, a little more than the US 118.3 mL. Weights assume level, spooned measures and typical US products, so packing and brands change them a little.

Reference tables

1/2 cup equivalents (US)
Tablespoons8
Teaspoons24
Fluid ounces4
Milliliters118.3
Cups (decimal)0.5
Half of 1/2 cup1/4 cup (4 tbsp)
Double 1/2 cup1 cup (16 tbsp)
Butter8 tbsp, 1 stick
1/2 cup in grams by ingredient
All-purpose flour62.560.07.8
Bread flour68.560.08.6
Brown sugar (packed)11010713.8
Butter11411314.2
Cake flour68.560.08.6
Cornstarch64.056.08.0
Granulated sugar10099.012.5
Heavy cream11911414.9
Honey17016821.2
Long-grain white rice (uncooked)92.599.011.6
Maple syrup15815619.7
Peanut butter12913516.1
Plain whole-milk yogurt123-15.3
Powdered sugar (unsifted)60.056.57.5
Rolled oats40.544.55.1
Semisweet chocolate chips84.085.010.5
Sour cream11511414.4
Table salt14614418.3
Unsweetened cocoa powder43.042.05.4
Vegetable oil10999.013.6
Water119-14.8
Whole milk12211415.3
Whole wheat flour60.0-7.5

Butter shows 114 g because USDA lists 227 g per cup. A US stick is labeled 113 g (4 oz); the 1 g gap is rounding.

Bowl of cubed butter beside brown eggs and a measuring cup of flour on a striped kitchen towel
Photo: Lauren Gray / Unsplash

Tips

  • 1/2 cup of butter is one stick. No measuring cup needed.
  • Halving a recipe that calls for 1 cup? Use 1/2 cup, or 8 tablespoons.
  • Halving 1/2 cup gives 1/4 cup, which is 4 tablespoons.

FAQ

How many tablespoons are in 1/2 cup?
8 tablespoons. A US cup holds 16, and half of 16 is 8. It's the same for dry and liquid ingredients.
How many teaspoons are in 1/2 cup?
24 teaspoons. There are 3 teaspoons in each of the 8 tablespoons.
Is 1/2 cup of butter one stick?
Yes. A US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, 8 tablespoons or about 113 g (4 oz).
How many grams is 1/2 cup of flour?
About 62.5 g of all-purpose flour using USDA's 125 g per cup, or 60 g using King Arthur's 120 g per cup.
How many grams is 1/2 cup of sugar?
100 g of granulated sugar using USDA's 200 g per cup. Packed brown sugar is about 110 g.
Is 1/2 cup 4 ounces?
For liquids, yes: 1/2 cup is 4 US fluid ounces. By weight it depends on the ingredient. 1/2 cup of flour is about 2.2 oz, while 1/2 cup of butter is about 4 oz.

Sources

Sikander Malik

Sikander Malik

Founder, builds MeasuredCup's converters

Last updated October 23, 2026

Editorial policy

Values are averages for typical US products. Brands vary, so weigh with a kitchen scale when a recipe needs to be exact.