I was making salad dressing three weeks ago and my roommate asked me how much a tablespoon was in ml. I’m standing there with a spoon in my hand like… honestly no idea.
Just grabbed a spoon and poured it. Worked fine. But that question bugged me for days.
So I went down this rabbit hole of figuring out what a tablespoon actually is, and turns out it’s way messier than you’d think.
Started looking at conversion guides and found The Kitchn’s Measurement Conversion Guide which helped explain the whole thing.
The Basic Answer (But Keep Reading Because It Gets Weird)
One tablespoon equals 15 milliliters. That’s it. That’s the conversion you need.
But here’s the annoying part – different countries made their tablespoons different sizes. So if you’re using an Australian cookbook, you’re screwed.
Their tablespoon is 20ml. The UK made theirs 17.76ml. America said 14.79ml which is basically 15ml but technically not.
For most people though? 15ml per tablespoon. Done.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Liquid? The Real Breakdown
Water’s simple. One ml of water equals one gram. Always. Every single time.
So one tablespoon of water is 15ml. That’s your baseline. Everything else gets compared to this.
Milk? Basically the same as water. 15ml, 15-16 grams. Close enough.
Olive oil? Still 15ml by volume but only weighs 14 grams because it’s lighter than water. Doesn’t matter for cooking though. 15ml is 15ml.
Honey? This is where it gets annoying. 15ml by volume but weighs 21 grams because it’s thick and heavy. This is why bakers hate volume measurements. Same spoon, different weight, different results.
I tested this. Got a tablespoon, filled it with honey, weighed it. 21 grams. Filled it again. 21 grams. So at least honey’s consistent even if it’s heavy.
According to Serious Eats Cooking Measurements, understanding these weight differences is huge for baking accuracy. They break down how different liquids affect your final recipe.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Water
Easiest one. 15ml. 15 grams. It’s always the same. Water’s perfect like that.
I used to overthink this until I realized – metric was literally built around water. One milliliter is defined as one gram of water. So of course one tablespoon of water is 15ml.
If you’re measuring water for a recipe, use 15ml per tablespoon. You literally cannot mess this up.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Oil
Olive oil is lighter than water. Physically less dense.
So one tablespoon of olive oil is still 15ml (the space it takes up). But it only weighs 14 grams instead of 15.
This matters if your recipe is in grams and you’re trying to measure in tablespoons. You’ll be slightly off.
When I’m cooking though? I just pour 15ml of oil and move on. Works fine. Nobody’s complaining about my pasta sauce because I used 14 grams of oil instead of exactly 15.
Coconut oil? Same deal. 15ml, about 14 grams. Light like olive oil.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Honey
Honey is 15ml but weighs 21 grams. So it’s way heavier than water even though it takes up the same space.
This matters for baking because baking is precise. Too much honey and your cookies are chewy instead of crispy. Too little and they’re weird and dry.
My tip that actually works? Spray your measuring spoon with cooking spray first. Honey just slides right off. Changed my entire life when I figured this out.
Did it three times to make sure. Every time the honey just dropped right into the bowl without sticking to the spoon. Try it. Seriously.
Maple syrup works the same way. 15ml but 20 grams. Heavy. Spray your spoon.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Milk
Milk weighs like 15-16 grams per tablespoon. One tablespoon of milk is basically 15ml, same volume as water.
Not dramatically different. Use 15ml per tablespoon and you’re good.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Both of these are basically water. 15ml volume, 15 grams weight.
Vinegar? 15ml and 15 grams. Lemon juice? 15ml and 15 grams.
Soy sauce is close too – 15ml and 16 grams. Basically the same.
Use 15ml for all of these. You’re not going to notice any difference.
How Many ML in a Tablespoon of Vanilla Extract
15ml by volume, 15 grams. Same as water basically.
Don’t overthink this one.
Dogs Make This Click In Your Head
Okay this is going to sound weird but stick with me.
If I tell you “15 milliliters” your brain doesn’t really process that. But if I say “about the same amount of liquid as your dog’s water bowl after one drink,” suddenly it makes sense.
15ml is actually pretty small. It’s like the amount of milk in your morning coffee. Or two sips of water. Or that tiny bit of oil you need for one pan.
My friend Sarah makes her own salad dressing and always uses the same measuring spoon. She showed me – one tablespoon of olive oil, one tablespoon of vinegar. That’s 30ml total. She makes enough dressing for like four salads. That’s how small 15ml actually is.
Your Kitchen Probably Has One Already
Got a measuring spoon set in your drawer? That one’s your tablespoon. Probably.
I have three sets floating around my kitchen. One from when I moved in, one my mom gave me, one I bought at Target. They all say 15ml on them but honestly they probably measure slightly different amounts.
Tested mine by filling with water and pouring into a measuring cup. Got 14.5ml the first time, 14.8ml the second time, 15.1ml the third time. So basically close to 15ml but not perfect.
Does it matter? For cooking, no. For baking, maybe. Most people just use them and don’t think about it.
Teaspoon vs Tablespoon (You Probably Already Know This)
One teaspoon is 5ml. One tablespoon is 15ml. That’s three teaspoons.
I mention this because people mix them up constantly and then their recipe doesn’t work.
My neighbor called me once because her cookies came out weird. Asked her what she did. She said “I added a teaspoon of vanilla extract.” Recipe called for a tablespoon. That’s the problem right there. She used a third of what she needed. Cookies turned out bland.
Teaspoon is the small one. Tablespoon is the bigger one. If your spoons aren’t labeled, you probably already know which is which but just in case – the tiny one is a teaspoon.
Different Liquids, Same Volume (But Different Weight)
This matters more than people think, especially if you’re baking.
Water is 15ml and 15 grams. That’s the standard.
Oil is 15ml but only 14 grams. Lighter.
Milk is 15ml and 15-16 grams. Same as water basically.
Honey is 15ml but 21 grams. Way heavier. This is why honey measurements are annoying.
Vinegar is 15ml and 15 grams. Same as water.
Soy sauce is 15ml and 16 grams. Basically water.
Lemon juice is 15ml and 15 grams. Water again.
Maple syrup is 15ml and 20 grams. Heavy like honey.
Vanilla extract is 15ml and 15 grams. Standard.
The volume doesn’t change. The weight does. For cooking you don’t care about weight. For baking you do. This is why bakers use scales. King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart has the exact weights if you want to be precise.
Cooking vs Baking: Why The Difference Matters
When I’m cooking soup, I’m tasting it and adjusting the seasoning anyway. If I add 14ml of soy sauce instead of 15ml, I’ll taste it and add more if needed. Nobody cares.
When I’m baking a cake, that’s different. The recipe is chemistry. You can’t taste it and adjust like cooking. The measurements matter.
My friend Jessica bakes constantly and she weighs everything. Doesn’t even use measuring cups anymore. Just a scale. Her baked goods are always perfect because she’s precise.
I tried her method once. Took longer but honestly the results were better. If you’re baking seriously, get a scale. Stop using spoons.
The Quick Math: Tablespoon to ML Conversion
Tablespoons × 15 = Milliliters
So if a recipe calls for 3 tablespoons, that’s 45ml. 8 tablespoons is 120ml. 10 tablespoons is 150ml.
You can do this in your head pretty easily. Just multiply by 15.
Going backwards is easy too. Divide the ml by 15 and you get tablespoons.
120ml ÷ 15 = 8 tablespoons
It’s simple enough that it doesn’t matter if you remember the exact conversion. Just know it’s approximately 15.
AllRecipes Conversion Calculator can do this instantly if you’re lazy.
Actually Measuring Liquids Without Screwing It Up
Get a proper liquid measuring cup. Not a dry measuring cup – those are different shapes and measure differently.
Liquid cups have a spout and you read from the side at eye level. Dry cups measure from the top. I made this mistake once and wondered why my baking was off. That was the problem.
If you only have tablespoons, fill it, scrape the top level with a knife, and pour. That’s it. Don’t pack it or do weird stuff. It’s liquid. Just pour.
Most people don’t own a liquid measuring cup which is wild to me. They’re five dollars. Just get one. Solves everything.
Australian Tablespoons (Why This Matters)
I made lamingtons once using an American recipe. They came out weird. Looked it up later and found out – Australian tablespoon is 20ml. American is 15ml.
So if you’re following an Australian baking blog and using an American measuring spoon, you’re going to be short. That’s the whole problem.
This only matters if you’re using recipes from different countries. Using American cookbooks with American spoons? You’re fine. But cross-country recipe stuff gets weird.
Metric Cooking Basics explains the UK measurements too if you’re dealing with British recipes.
Random Liquids You Might Measure
Vanilla extract – 15ml, same as water, use it 15ml per tablespoon
Coconut oil – 15ml but only weighs 14g like olive oil, fine for cooking
Maple syrup – 15ml and 20 grams, heavy like honey, spray your spoon
Vinegar – 15ml and 15 grams, same as water
Lemon juice – 15ml and 15 grams, basically water
Soy sauce – 15ml and 16 grams, close to water
Milk – 15ml and 15-16 grams, basically water
All of these are consistently around 15ml per tablespoon. The weight changes but the volume stays the same.
Real Kitchen Situations
Making vinaigrette? “3 tablespoons of olive oil” is 45ml. Does it need to be exact? Nope. Pour three spoons and go.
Baking a cake? “1 cup of milk” is 240ml. Use an actual measuring cup. Your cake’s texture depends on it.
Making soup? “2 tablespoons of soy sauce” is 30ml. Could be 28ml, could be 32ml. Soup’s still good.
Coffee? Most people just pour milk until it looks right. If you were measuring (weird) it would be 15ml per tablespoon but you’re not.
Cocktails? Bartenders use ml measuring tools. Not tablespoons. Don’t do the tablespoon thing for drinks.
According to Bon Appétit Test Kitchen Guide, professional cooks actually care about precise measurements for consistency, even when cooking.
Your Measuring Spoon Situation
Cheap plastic ones from the dollar store? Warps over time, less accurate, but fine for casual cooking.
Mid-range stainless steel? More accurate, lasts forever, looks decent. Around five to eight bucks. Actually worth it.
Fancy brands? Marginally more accurate. Not worth the price. Just get stainless steel.
I upgraded mine last year and honestly they’ve been more consistent. But it’s not like my cooking suddenly got better. Just slightly easier to measure consistently.
Teaspoon to Tablespoon to Cup (The Full System)
3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon = 15ml
16 tablespoons = 1 cup = 240ml
8 tablespoons = 1/2 cup = 120ml
4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup = 60ml
Comes up constantly. Might as well remember it.
Why Everyone Measures Different
Americans use tablespoons. Europeans use ml. Australians use their weird 20ml tablespoon. Nobody standardized this and it’s annoying.
This is why following recipes from different countries gets confusing. The measurements aren’t actually comparable without converting.
The good news? If you’re in North America or using metric, 15ml per tablespoon and you’re good. Only get weird if you’re crossing countries.
USDA Food Data Central has official ingredient measurements if you need the exact weights for anything.
Stuff People Get Wrong All The Time
Using a dry measuring cup for liquids. Don’t do this. They measure differently.
Confusing teaspoons and tablespoons. The tiny one is a teaspoon. Use it for small stuff.
Not converting Australian recipes. Their tablespoon is bigger. If your recipe seems off and it’s from Australia, that’s probably why.
Measuring liquids with a spoon that’s obviously not a measuring spoon. Just use a proper spoon or a cup.
Thinking precision doesn’t matter for baking. It does. Baking is chemistry.
Kitchen Stuff That Actually Helps
Liquid measuring cup with ml markings – buy this
Measuring spoon set with labels – should have both ml and tablespoon
Kitchen scale – if you want to be serious about baking
Measuring syringes – weirdly useful for tiny amounts
That’s all you need. Don’t overthink it.
Kitchen Measurement Science actually explains the physics behind why measurements matter so much.
Real Conversion Info
1 fluid ounce = roughly 30ml
1 cup = roughly 240ml
1 tablespoon = 15ml
That’s all you need to know. Everything else follows from this.
According to FDA Nutrition Labeling Guide, these are the official measurement standards used in the US.
Summary
One tablespoon of liquid equals 15 milliliters. That’s your answer.
The weight changes depending on what liquid (water is 15g, honey is 21g, oil is 14g) but the volume stays 15ml.
For cooking, measure reasonably and taste it. For baking, actually measure properly or use a scale.
Get a liquid measuring cup. Get a measuring spoon set. Stop eyeballing everything.
Now when someone asks me how many ml in a tablespoon of liquid, I think about that time I tested my spoon three times and got three different answers, or when I made those weird lamingtons with the wrong tablespoon, or that honey coated all over my measuring spoon until I discovered the cooking spray trick.
15ml is everywhere once you start looking for it.