Tablespoons to Liters Converter
Convert US tablespoons (tbsp) to liters (L)
Tablespoon (US)
Definition: The US tablespoon (symbol: tbsp or T) is a unit of volume used primarily in cooking and baking. One US tablespoon equals exactly 14.7868 milliliters, or approximately 0.0148 liters. There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon, and 16 tablespoons in 1 cup.
History/origin: The tablespoon as a measurement evolved from the actual spoon used at dining tables. It was standardized in the United States as exactly ½ fluid ounce (14.7868 mL) to create consistency in recipes. The tablespoon is one of the most commonly used measurements in American cooking, sitting between the teaspoon (smaller) and the cup (larger) in the hierarchy of volume measurements.
Current use: The US tablespoon is ubiquitous in American cooking and baking recipes. It's used for measuring both liquid and dry ingredients like oil, butter, sugar, spices, and flour. Converting tablespoons to liters is essential when following international recipes that use metric measurements or when scaling recipes for large quantities.
Liter
Definition: The liter (symbol: L or l) is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimeter (1 dm³). One liter equals approximately 67.628 US tablespoons. The liter is part of the International System of Units (SI) and is the standard unit for measuring liquid volumes worldwide.
History/origin: The liter was first defined in 1795 during the French Revolution as one cubic decimeter. The name comes from the French "litron," an old measure of capacity. Since 1964, the liter has been defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (1,000 cubic centimeters or 1,000 milliliters).
Current use: The liter is used worldwide for measuring liquid volumes, including beverages, fuel, cooking liquids, and most liquid measurements in countries using the metric system. Converting US tablespoons to liters is essential for international cooking, understanding European recipes, and using metric measurements in scientific or professional contexts.
Tablespoons to Liters Conversion Table
| Tablespoons [tbsp] | Liters [L] |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.0148 L |
| 5 tbsp | 0.0739 L |
| 10 tbsp | 0.1479 L |
| 15 tbsp | 0.2218 L |
| 20 tbsp | 0.2957 L |
| 30 tbsp | 0.4436 L |
| 50 tbsp | 0.7393 L |
| 67.628 tbsp | 1.000 L |
| 100 tbsp | 1.4787 L |
| 200 tbsp | 2.9574 L |
How to Convert Tablespoons to Liters
Formula:
1 tbsp (US) = 0.0147868 L
1 L = 67.628 tbsp (US)
L = tbsp × 0.0147868
Quick Approximation:
Divide tbsp by 68 for a rough estimate in liters
Or: About 68 tablespoons ≈ 1 liter
Common Conversions:
1 tbsp ≈ 0.015 L (15 mL)
10 tbsp ≈ 0.148 L (148 mL)
20 tbsp ≈ 0.296 L (296 mL)
50 tbsp ≈ 0.739 L (739 mL)
67.628 tbsp = 1 L (exactly)
100 tbsp ≈ 1.479 L
Useful Relationships:
1 tablespoon = 0.0148 L = 14.787 mL = 3 tsp
1 cup (16 tbsp) = 0.2366 L = 236.6 mL
1 liter = 67.628 tbsp = 4.227 cups = 1.057 quarts
¼ cup (4 tbsp) = 0.0591 L = 59.1 mL
Examples:
Convert 1 tablespoon to liters:
1 tbsp × 0.0148 = 0.0148 L
This is approximately 15 milliliters
Convert 10 tablespoons to liters:
10 tbsp × 0.0148 = 0.148 L
This is approximately 148 milliliters (about ⅔ cup)
Convert 50 tablespoons to liters:
50 tbsp × 0.0148 = 0.739 L
This is approximately 739 milliliters (just over 3 cups)
Convert 100 tablespoons to liters:
100 tbsp × 0.0148 = 1.479 L
This is approximately 1.5 liters (about 6¼ cups)
Convert 67.628 tablespoons to liters:
67.628 tbsp × 0.0148 = 1.000 L
This is exactly 1 liter