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How Many Tablespoons Are in a Fluid Ounce?

November 10, 2026

There are 2 U.S. tablespoons in 1 U.S. fluid ounce. That is exact in U.S. customary measure: a tablespoon is ½ fluid ounce, so two tablespoons fill an ounce. There are also 6 teaspoons in a fluid ounce, because 3 teaspoons make a tablespoon.

Two identical stainless steel tablespoon measuring spoons each holding a little water, beside a small clear glass also holding water, on a white marble counter — Two U.S. tablespoons equal one U.S. fluid ounce of volume.

Quick conversion

Measure	Equals
1 U.S. fluid ounce	2 tablespoons
1 U.S. fluid ounce	6 teaspoons
1 U.S. tablespoon	½ fluid ounce, or 3 teaspoons
1 U.S. tablespoon	about 14.79 mL, rounded to 15 mL on nutrition labels
1 U.S. cup	8 fluid ounces, or 16 tablespoons

NIST lists 1 tablespoon as ½ fluid ounce, or about 15 milliliters in kitchen rounding. The exact U.S. tablespoon is 14.79 mL; nutrition labels use 15 mL. An Australian tablespoon is 20 mL, so do not swap that into a U.S. ounce count. Related: tablespoons in a cup, teaspoons in a tablespoon and the kitchen measurement conversion chart.

Spoons measure the same ounce as a cup does

A stainless steel measuring spoon set fanned out beside a small glass liquid measuring cup with water, on a light wooden counter — A measuring-spoon set and a liquid cup use the same fluid-ounce units.

Two level tablespoons of a liquid equal 1 fluid ounce of volume, not 1 ounce of weight. Oil, honey and water all fill the same spoon, but they do not weigh the same. For the difference, see fluid ounces vs. ounces by weight.

This conversion is handy when a medicine cup, a shot glass or a recipe lists ounces and all you have is a spoon set. Two level tablespoons fill the ounce. For sticky liquids such as honey or syrup, grease the spoon or use a silicone spatula so the full half-ounce actually leaves the spoon. Do not use a casual dinner tablespoon; kitchen measuring spoons are the standard behind this chart.

U.S. cups stay consistent with this math: 16 tablespoons make a cup, and 8 fluid ounces make a cup, so 2 tablespoons per ounce holds at every step of the ladder, including half-ounces, which are a single tablespoon.

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