How Many Tablespoons in 1/3 Cup?
1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, which is 16 teaspoons, about 2.67 US fluid ounces or 78.9 mL. By weight it depends on the ingredient: 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour is about 41.7 g, granulated sugar 66.7 g and butter 75.7 g (USDA FoodData Central).
41.7g
5 tbsp + 1 tsp · 16 tsp · 2.67 fl oz · 78.9 mL
Per tablespoon: 7.8 g
Need a different amount? Use tablespoons to cups or half a measurement.
How to use
- Pick the ingredient.
- Choose USDA, or King Arthur if your recipe comes from their kitchen.
- Read the grams in 1/3 cup, or measure 5 level tablespoons plus 1 level teaspoon.
The formula and two worked examples
1/3 cup = 16 ÷ 3 = 5 1/3 tablespoons = 5 tbsp + 1 tsp and grams in 1/3 cup = grams per cup ÷ 3
Why the extra teaspoon: a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, so the leftover 1/3 tablespoon is exactly 1 teaspoon. That's why 1/3 cup never comes out to a whole number of tablespoons.
Granulated sugar. 200 g per cup ÷ 3 = 66.7 g. Five level tablespoons of sugar are 62.5 g, and the extra teaspoon adds the last 4.2 g.
How to measure 1/3 cup without a 1/3 cup measure
Missing the 1/3 cup? These all land on the same amount:
- 5 level tablespoons plus 1 level teaspoon.
- 16 level teaspoons, if you're patient.
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon.
- Half of a 2/3 cup measure, poured off by eye. Fine for liquids, less exact for flour.
- For liquids, a little under the 3 fl oz line on a measuring cup (1/3 cup is 2.67 fl oz).
What this tool doesn't cover
It covers US measures only. A UK or Australian 1/3 metric cup is about 83.3 mL, a bit more than the US 78.9 mL. Weights assume level, spooned measures and typical US products, so packing and brands change them a little.
Reference tables
| Tablespoons | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp (5 1/3) |
|---|---|
| Teaspoons | 16 |
| Fluid ounces | 2.67 |
| Milliliters | 78.9 |
| Cups (decimal) | 0.333 |
| Half of 1/3 cup | 2 tbsp + 2 tsp |
| Double 1/3 cup | 2/3 cup (10 tbsp + 2 tsp) |
| Butter | 5 tbsp + 1 tsp, about 2/3 of a stick |
| All-purpose flour | 41.7 | 40.0 | 7.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread flour | 45.7 | 40.0 | 8.6 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 73.3 | 71.0 | 13.8 |
| Butter | 75.7 | 75.3 | 14.2 |
| Cake flour | 45.7 | 40.0 | 8.6 |
| Cornstarch | 42.7 | 37.3 | 8.0 |
| Granulated sugar | 66.7 | 66.0 | 12.5 |
| Heavy cream | 79.3 | 75.7 | 14.9 |
| Honey | 113 | 112 | 21.2 |
| Long-grain white rice (uncooked) | 61.7 | 66.0 | 11.6 |
| Maple syrup | 105 | 104 | 19.7 |
| Peanut butter | 86.0 | 90.0 | 16.1 |
| Plain whole-milk yogurt | 81.7 | - | 15.3 |
| Powdered sugar (unsifted) | 40.0 | 37.7 | 7.5 |
| Rolled oats | 27.0 | 29.7 | 5.1 |
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 56.0 | 56.7 | 10.5 |
| Sour cream | 76.7 | 75.7 | 14.4 |
| Table salt | 97.3 | 96.0 | 18.3 |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 28.7 | 28.0 | 5.4 |
| Vegetable oil | 72.7 | 66.0 | 13.6 |
| Water | 79.0 | - | 14.8 |
| Whole milk | 81.3 | 75.7 | 15.3 |
| Whole wheat flour | 40.0 | - | 7.5 |
Tips
- 2/3 cup is double: 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons.
- For butter, 1/3 cup is 5 tablespoon marks plus a thin slice, about 75 g.
- When a recipe uses 1/3 cup of flour three times, use one full cup instead. It's faster and more accurate.
FAQ
How many tablespoons are in 1/3 cup?
Is 5 tablespoons a third of a cup?
Is 6 tablespoons equal to 1/3 cup?
How many grams is 1/3 cup of flour?
How much butter is 1/3 cup?
How many tablespoons are in 2/3 cup?
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44 Appendix C · accessed 2026-10-14
- USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy · accessed 2026-10-14
- King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart · accessed 2026-10-14
Values are averages for typical US products. Brands vary, so weigh with a kitchen scale when a recipe needs to be exact.