A tablespoon is a type of large spoon usually used for serving. A tablespoonful, an amount approximately equal to the capacity of one tablespoon, is commonly used as a measure of volume in cooking. It is abbreviated in English as T., tb., tblspn, tbs. or tbsp. Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK define 1 level tablespoon as 15 ml.

Variants

When used for solids, such as granulated sugar, it should be measured to the flattened level of the spoon—level spoonful versus a heaping spoonful or heaped tablespoon, which is as much as can be held in the spoon, or a rounded spoonful, which is twice a level spoonful, the solids above the level roughly mirroring those in the bowl.

Common tablespoons intended for use as cutlery usually hold slightly less than a tablespoonful.

Relationship to teaspoon

In most regions, one tablespoonful equals three teaspoonsful. In Australia, a tablespoon is defined as four teaspoons (20 ml).

Traditional definitions

The traditional U.S. interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:

• 1 U.S. tablespoon = ½ U.S. fl. oz. or 4 fluid drams (approx. 14.787 ml)
• 1 U.S. tablespoon = 1/16 cup

This is considered problematic in the context of nutrition labeling, where metric units are used even in the United States. However, this consideration does not lessen the factual relationship of a tablespoon to half of a fluid ounce, and tablespoons can be used to measure ingredients when other measuring devices are unavailable. For instance, 16 tablespoons is equivalent to one cup.

The Australian definition of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is:

1 Australian tablespoon = 20 ml or ~ 2/3 fl. oz.