Convert US tablespoons to EU tablespoons without the guesswork.

Ever tried baking a French cake using an American recipe? You might’ve noticed your tablespoons don’t quite match up. While a US tablespoon and EU tablespoon look identical, their volumes differ by about 0.2 mL. That’s roughly the volume of a raindrop. Sounds negligible, right? But in delicate recipes like macarons or soufflés, those raindrops add up. Let’s unravel why these spoons aren’t twins and how to convert them flawlessly.

Unit definitions

What is a US tablespoon (US tbsp)?

• Description: The US tablespoon is a unit of volume in the imperial system, primarily used in cooking and pharmaceuticals.
• Symbol: US tbsp
• Common uses: Measuring ingredients like spices, oils, and baking powder.
• Definition: 1 US tablespoon equals exactly 14.7868 milliliters (often rounded to 15 mL in casual use).

What is a EU tablespoon (EU tbsp)?

• Description: The EU (metric) tablespoon is standardized under the metric system, common in Europe and most Commonwealth countries.
• Symbol: EU tbsp
• Common uses: Following recipes in European cookbooks or food packaging.
• Definition: 1 EU tablespoon equals exactly 15 milliliters, aligning with metric conventions.

Conversion formula

To convert US tablespoons to EU tablespoons:

EU tbsp = US tbsp × (14.7868 / 15) ≈ US tbsp × 0.9858

For practical purposes, 0.986 is a sufficient multiplier. Reverse the process for EU to US:

US tbsp = EU tbsp / 0.9858 ≈ EU tbsp × 1.0144

Example calculations

1. Converting 3 US tablespoons to EU:

   3 US tbsp × 0.9858 = 2.9574 EU tbsp (≈ 2.96 EU tbsp)
   

2. Converting 5 EU tablespoons to US:

   5 EU tbsp × 1.0144 = 5.072 US tbsp (≈ 5.07 US tbsp)
   

Conversion tables

US tablespoons to EU tablespoons

EU tablespoons to US tablespoons

Why do tablespoons differ across the pond?

The tablespoon’s history is as messy as a poorly measured dough. Originally, tablespoons were based on actual eating utensils. In 18th-century Europe, a tablespoon was roughly 15 mL, while the US adopted a slightly smaller version (14.8 mL) through the 1824 Weights and Measures Act. When Europe transitioned to the metric system, they fixed the tablespoon at 15 mL for simplicity. The US, however, retained its imperial measures, leading to today’s discrepancy. Fun fact, Canada uses the 15 mL tablespoon, creating a mini continental divide in North American kitchens.

Interesting facts

1. Australia marches to its own spoon: Aussie tablespoons are 20 mL, larger than both US and EU. Always check the origin of your recipe.
2. Pharmaceutical precision: US tablespoons are critical in medication dosages, where 0.2 mL errors can be risky.
3. The “rounded tablespoon” myth: Many assume “tbsp” means a heaped spoon. Nope. It’s always a level measure unless stated.
4. Spoons as legal standards: In some EU countries, manufacturers must label tablespoons as 15 mL by law, ensuring consumer consistency.
5. Digital scales solve everything: Professional bakers bypass spoon debates by measuring dry ingredients in grams. 1 EU tbsp of flour ≈ 8 grams, for instance.

FAQ