How Many Tablespoons in 1/4 Cup?
1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons. That's also 12 teaspoons, 2 US fluid ounces or 59.1 mL. By weight it depends on the ingredient: 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour is about 31.3 g, granulated sugar 50 g and butter 56.8 g (USDA FoodData Central).
31.3g
4 tbsp · 12 tsp · 2 fl oz · 59.1 mL
Per tablespoon: 7.8 g
Need a different amount? Use tablespoons to cups or tablespoons to grams.
How to use
- Pick the ingredient.
- Choose USDA, or King Arthur if your recipe comes from their kitchen.
- Read the grams in 1/4 cup, or measure 4 level tablespoons.
The formula and two worked examples
1/4 cup = 16 ÷ 4 = 4 tablespoons and grams in 1/4 cup = grams per cup ÷ 4
Granulated sugar. 200 g per cup ÷ 4 = 50 g. So 4 level tablespoons of sugar weigh 50 g.
Butter. 227 g per cup ÷ 4 = 56.8 g. That's half of a US stick, and 4 tablespoon marks on the wrapper.
How to measure 1/4 cup without a 1/4 cup measure
No 1/4 cup in the drawer? Any of these work:
- 4 level tablespoons, the most accurate swap.
- 12 level teaspoons, if your tablespoon is missing.
- Two 1/8 cup measures, if your set has one.
- The 2 fl oz line on a liquid measuring cup, for liquids only.
- Half of a 1/2 cup, poured off by eye. Fine for liquids, less exact for flour.
What this tool doesn't cover
It covers US measures only. A UK or Australian 1/4 metric cup is 62.5 mL, a little more than the US 59.1 mL. Weights assume level, spooned measures and typical US products, so packing and brands change them a little.
Reference tables
| Tablespoons | 4 |
|---|---|
| Teaspoons | 12 |
| Fluid ounces | 2 |
| Milliliters | 59.1 |
| Cups (decimal) | 0.25 |
| Half of 1/4 cup | 2 tbsp (1/8 cup) |
| Double 1/4 cup | 1/2 cup |
| Butter | 1/2 stick |
| All-purpose flour | 31.3 | 30.0 | 7.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bread flour | 34.3 | 30.0 | 8.6 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 55.0 | 53.3 | 13.8 |
| Butter | 56.8 | 56.5 | 14.2 |
| Cake flour | 34.3 | 30.0 | 8.6 |
| Cornstarch | 32.0 | 28.0 | 8.0 |
| Granulated sugar | 50.0 | 49.5 | 12.5 |
| Heavy cream | 59.5 | 56.8 | 14.9 |
| Honey | 84.8 | 84.0 | 21.2 |
| Long-grain white rice (uncooked) | 46.3 | 49.5 | 11.6 |
| Maple syrup | 78.8 | 78.0 | 19.7 |
| Peanut butter | 64.5 | 67.5 | 16.1 |
| Plain whole-milk yogurt | 61.3 | - | 15.3 |
| Powdered sugar (unsifted) | 30.0 | 28.3 | 7.5 |
| Rolled oats | 20.3 | 22.3 | 5.1 |
| Semisweet chocolate chips | 42.0 | 42.5 | 10.5 |
| Sour cream | 57.5 | 56.8 | 14.4 |
| Table salt | 73.0 | 72.0 | 18.3 |
| Unsweetened cocoa powder | 21.5 | 21.0 | 5.4 |
| Vegetable oil | 54.5 | 49.5 | 13.6 |
| Water | 59.3 | - | 14.8 |
| Whole milk | 61.0 | 56.8 | 15.3 |
| Whole wheat flour | 30.0 | - | 7.5 |
Tips
- 1/3 cup is 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp + 1 tsp. That's handy when the 1/3 cup is missing.
- For butter, 1/4 cup is half a stick. Cut at the 4 tablespoon mark on the wrapper.
- Spoon flour into the cup and level it with a knife. Scooping straight from the bag packs in up to 20% more.
FAQ
How many tablespoons are in 1/4 cup?
How many teaspoons are in 1/4 cup?
How many grams is 1/4 cup of flour?
How many grams is 1/4 cup of sugar?
How much butter is 1/4 cup?
Is 1/4 cup the same as 2 ounces?
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.