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, tbs, tbsp, tblsp,
or tblspn. Only the tbs and tbsp abbreviations are currently
formally recognized, although the tblsp abbreviation is also
commonly used informally. In most countries one level
tablespoon is approximately 15 mL. In Australia it is defined as
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.
tablespoons intended for use as cutlery (called dessert spoons in
the UK, where a tablespoon is always a serving spoon) usually hold
slightly less than a tablespoonful.
Relationship to teaspoon and fluid ounce
most regions (including the United States, Canada, Japan, New
Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea),
one tablespoonful equals three teaspoons. In these regions, one
tablespoon is approximately 15 mL, which is about 1⁄2 U.S. fl oz.
In some places like the U.S., the tablespoon was historically
defined as 1⁄2 U.S. fl oz. (2 tbsp. = 1 U.S. fl oz) In Australia a
tablespoon is defined as four teaspoons (20 mL). Victorian &
Edwardian tablespoons used in the UK are often 25 mL or sometimes
larger. They are used only for preparing and serving food, not as
part of a place-setting.
In writing volume-based recipes, an abbreviation like tbsp. is
usually used, to differentiate it from the smaller teaspoon
(tsp.). Some authors additionally capitalize the abbreviation
Tbsp., while leaving tsp. in lower case, to emphasize that the
larger tablespoon, rather than the smaller teaspoon, is wanted. The tablespoon abbreviation may be even further abbreviated to T
in some cases.
The traditional U.S. interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of
1 U.S. tablespoon =
1⁄2 U.S. fl oz.