Convert Plain Flour from Cup (US) to Tablespoon

How many tablespoons is 1 US cup of plain flour?

1 US cup of plain flour (All-Purpose Flour) is 16 tablespoons. 2 US cups of plain flour is 32 tablespoons. 1/2 US cup of plain flour is 8 tablespoons. 1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of plain flour is 4 tablespoons. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the US cup (240 ml). A metric cup is slightly larger at 250 ml, so it holds a little more. Use the metric cup converter →
  • Cup sizes are not standard worldwide, so the same cup of an ingredient can weigh more or less depending on the country. What is a cup measurement →
  • A tablespoon here is the 15 ml metric standard, about 16.67 to a metric cup, the same size as a UK tablespoon. A US tablespoon is smaller at 14.79 ml, so US cooks measuring with US spoons need slightly more. An Australian tablespoon is larger at 20 ml, so it holds about a third more. When tablespoon size matters →
  • A little over or under won't ruin the bake, though it can nudge the final taste or colour.
  • Flour settles, so a cup's weight depends on how it is filled. This page uses 140 g for a metric cup spooned and levelled. Sifted it can drop to about 125 g; scooped and packed it can reach 160 g. Weigh for the most reliable result.

Plain flour (also known as all-purpose flour) is one of the most commonly used ingredients in baking and cooking. It has a moderate protein content, making it versatile enough for pastries, breads, sauces, and coatings. In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, it’s called plain flour, while in the US and Canada, it’s known as all-purpose flour.

Since different countries use different measurement systems (and flour can settle when scooped), converting between grams, cups, and tablespoons helps ensure your recipes turn out just right. Use this page to easily convert plain flour for any recipe.

Also known as

  • All-Purpose Flour

Plain Flour Calculator

Don't have self-raising flour? Use our calculator to make it from scratch.

Self Raising Flour Calculator

Cake flour is softer and lower in protein than plain flour (around 7 to 9% vs 10 to 12%), giving a more tender crumb. It is lighter per cup (130 g vs 140 g); for a quick stand-in when out of cake flour, sift 1 cup of plain flour with 2 tablespoons removed and replaced with cornstarch. See our Cake Flour converter.

Bread flour carries more protein than plain flour (around 12 to 14% vs 10 to 12%), giving stronger gluten and a chewier crumb in yeasted bakes. It is slightly heavier per cup (150 g vs 140 g); swap by weight in pizza, sandwich loaves, and bagels for a more open, chewy texture. See our Bread Flour converter.

Self-raising flour is plain flour with baking powder already blended in, matched in weight per cup (140 g each). Use the self-raising flour calculator to make your own from plain flour, or swap to plain flour and add your own leavener. See our Self Raising Flour converter.

Out of plain flour? See plain flour substitutes →

No measuring cups? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring cup set keeps every batch the same.

Plain Flour Measurement Converter

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

0 Tablespoon

Common Plain Flour Conversions

Here are the most common plain flour conversions from cups (US) to tablespoons.

Cups (US)Tablespoons
0.25 cups (US)4 tbsp
0.5 cups (US)8 tbsp
0.75 cups (US)12 tbsp
1 cup (US)16 tbsp
1.25 cups (US)20 tbsp
1.5 cups (US)24 tbsp
2 cups (US)32 tbsp
2.5 cups (US)40 tbsp
3 cups (US)48 tbsp

Plain Flour Conversion Chart

The conversion chart below gives a quick reference for converting plain flour from Cup (US) to Tablespoon and other measurements.

cup(US)tbspcupgramsouncestsp
0.25 cup (US)4 tbsp0.24 cup33.6 g1.19 oz12 tsp
0.5 cup (US)8 tbsp0.48 cup67.2 g2.37 oz24 tsp
1 cup (US)16 tbsp0.96 cup134.4 g4.74 oz48 tsp
2 cup (US)32 tbsp1.92 cup268.8 g9.48 oz96 tsp

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tablespoons is 1 US cup of plain flour?
1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 2 US cups of plain flour is 32 tablespoons and 0.5 US cups is 8 tablespoons. Use the converter above for any quantity, or check the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts at a glance. Open the plain flour converter
How many tablespoons is 1.5 US cups of plain flour?
1.5 US cups of plain flour is 24 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart below for the common ones.
How many tablespoons is 2 US cups of plain flour?
2 US cups of plain flour is 32 tablespoons. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact tablespoons reading.
How many US cups of plain flour is 16 tablespoons?
16 tablespoons of plain flour is 1 US cup. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between tablespoons and US cups without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists US cups but you would rather weigh or measure in tablespoons. The converter above and the chart below cover both directions for any amount.
How many tablespoons is 1 US cup of All-Purpose Flour?
All-Purpose Flour is another name for plain flour, so 1 US cup of All-Purpose Flour is 16 tablespoons, exactly the same as plain flour. The figure does not change with the name: 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons and 0.5 US cups is 8 tablespoons. Use the converter above for any quantity, or read the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts.
Are plain flour and All-Purpose Flour the same thing?
Yes. All-Purpose Flour is another name for plain flour, so they are the same ingredient and convert identically. 1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons under either name, and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
How many tablespoons is 1/2 US cup of plain flour?
1/2 US cup of plain flour is 8 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. Half measures come up often when scaling a recipe down, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other amount, or the chart below for the common ones.
How many tablespoons is 1/4 US cup of plain flour?
1/4 US cup (0.25 US cup) of plain flour is 4 tablespoons. The ratio is fixed, so 1 US cup of plain flour is 16 tablespoons and 2 US cups is 32 tablespoons. Quarter amounts often come up when scaling a recipe down step by step, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts.
Why does a cup of flour vary in weight?
Flour compresses easily, so how you fill the cup changes the weight. Spooned lightly and levelled, a metric cup of plain flour is about 140 grams. Sifted first it can fall to around 125 grams, while scooping straight from the bag and packing it down can push it to 160 grams. For consistent baking, weigh flour on a scale rather than measuring by cup.

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