An eighth cup (1/8 cup) equals 2 tablespoons, 6 teaspoons or 1 US fluid ounce, which is about 29.57 mL. This is because 1 US cup = 16 tablespoons = 236.59 mL by definition (NIST). However, nutrition labels round 1/8 cup to 30 mL, and a metric 1/8 cup (250 mL cup) holds 31.25 mL.
Convert an Eighth Cup to Tablespoons, Teaspoons and mL
First, enter any amount below. For example, the converter starts at 0.125, which is one eighth, and then shows tablespoons, teaspoons, fluid ounces and milliliters using the exact US definitions.
An eighth cup is one of those amounts most measuring sets skip. For example, you will see it in recipes for dressings, marinades, sauces and coffee. It also shows up when someone halves a recipe that called for 1/4 cup. Because the standard set stops at the 1/4 size, the easiest way to measure it is with spoons instead.
Fortunately, the math is fixed, not approximate. First, a US cup is 16 tablespoons. Next, one eighth of 16 is 2. So 1/8 cup is exactly 2 tablespoons, and since a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, it is also 6 teaspoons. In addition, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lists these kitchen equivalents in its cooking measurement table, where a tablespoon is listed as 1/2 fluid ounce and a fluid ounce as about 30 mL.
In short, if a recipe asks for an eighth cup, grab a tablespoon and fill it twice.
Eighth Cup Conversion Chart for Common Fractions
First, this chart lines up the common fractions. In addition, every row uses the exact US cup of 236.5882365 mL, rounded to two decimals. Also, feel free to print it and tape it inside a cabinet door.
| Fraction | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | US fl oz | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16 | 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 1/2 fl oz | 14.79 mL |
| 1/8 | 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 1 fl oz | 29.57 mL |
| 1/4 | 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 2 fl oz | 59.15 mL |
| 3/8 | 6 tbsp | 18 tsp | 3 fl oz | 88.72 mL |
| 1/2 | 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 4 fl oz | 118.29 mL |
| 5/8 | 10 tbsp | 30 tsp | 5 fl oz | 147.87 mL |
| 3/4 | 12 tbsp | 36 tsp | 6 fl oz | 177.44 mL |
| 7/8 | 14 tbsp | 42 tsp | 7 fl oz | 207.01 mL |
| 1 (whole cup) | 16 tbsp | 48 tsp | 8 fl oz | 236.59 mL |
Notice the pattern, because each eighth adds 2 tablespoons and 1 fluid ounce. As a result, 3/8, 5/8 and 7/8 are easy to build with a 1/4 or 1/2 measure plus a couple of tablespoons. For the spoon-to-spoon side of the math, see our guide to the difference between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
Recommended Tools for Small Measures
You do not need special gear. However, a few tools make small amounts faster and more consistent. For example, some measuring sets include an eighth-cup scoop, which is also the size of a classic coffee scoop. Similarly, a good set of measuring spoons with engraved markings covers 2 tablespoons in two quick scoops, and a small liquid measure with ounce marks handles oil or vinegar.
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Is an Eighth Cup the Same Everywhere?
Not quite. After all, the word “cup” means different volumes depending on where a recipe was written, so an eighth of it changes too. Overall, the differences are small for cooking. Even so, they add up in baking or when you scale a recipe up.
| Cup system | Full size | One eighth | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| US customary | 236.59 mL | 29.57 mL (2 tbsp) | US recipes and measuring sets |
| US legal (nutrition label) | 240 mL | 30 mL | Nutrition Facts panels |
| Metric | 250 mL | 31.25 mL | Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK recipes |
| Japanese | 200 mL | 25 mL | Japanese recipes and rice cookers |
| Old imperial (10 UK fl oz) | 284.13 mL | 35.52 mL | Older British cookbooks |
The FDA rule for food labels states that 1 cup means 240 mL and 1 fluid ounce means 30 mL for labeling. For this reason, a serving listed as “2 tbsp (30 mL)” on a bottle of dressing is really an eighth cup.
How to Measure an Eighth Cup With Spoons
- Find a level tablespoon. First, use a measuring spoon marked “1 Tbsp” or “15 mL”, not a dinner spoon.
- Scoop dry ingredients loosely. Next, spoon flour or sugar in until it mounds a little above the rim.
- Level the top. Then sweep the back of a knife across the rim so the surface is flat.
- Repeat once. As a result, two level tablespoons make exactly an eighth cup.
- For liquids, fill to the brim. Also, hold the spoon flat over a small bowl so drips stay out of your mix.
- Check with a scale if you want. Finally, water-based liquids weigh about 30 g at this volume, so the scale confirms your measure.
If you have a teaspoon only, then count out 6 level teaspoons. Alternatively, fill a quarter-size measure and pour off about half, though that method is the least precise of the three.
How Much Does an Eighth Cup Weigh?
Volume measures stay fixed, so this amount always takes up the same space. What it weighs, however, depends on the ingredient and on how tightly you pack it. Specifically, the figures below are one eighth of the per-cup weights in the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart, rounded to the nearest gram.
| Ingredient | Grams | Ounces (weight) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | about 30 g | about 1.04 oz |
| All-purpose flour | about 15 g | about 0.53 oz |
| Granulated sugar | about 25 g | about 0.87 oz |
| Brown sugar, packed | about 27 g | about 0.94 oz |
| Butter (2 tbsp) | about 28 g | about 1 oz |
| Milk | about 28 g | about 1 oz |
| Vegetable oil | about 25 g | about 0.87 oz |
| Honey | about 42 g | about 1.48 oz |
| Rolled oats | about 14 g | about 0.50 oz |
So the “1 fluid ounce” in this measure is a volume, not a weight. In fact, only water and liquids close to it weigh about one ounce per fluid ounce. For more on milliliter amounts this size, see how much 30 mL is in spoons and ounces.
Where an Eighth Cup Shows Up in the Kitchen
In fact, once you know that 1/8 cup is 2 tablespoons, you start spotting it everywhere:
- Coffee. A standard coffee scoop holds about 2 tablespoons, so it is a handy stand-in for dry goods.
- Salad dressing and sauces. Likewise, many dressing labels list a serving as 2 tablespoons.
- Halved recipes. Of course, half of 1/4 cup is 2 tablespoons, which comes up whenever you cut a batch in half.
- Butter. Similarly, on a standard US stick, the 2 tablespoon marks equal an eighth cup.
- Cocktails and drinks. Also, one fluid ounce of syrup or juice is the same as 2 tablespoons.
Do and Don’t for Small Measures
Do
- Use two level tablespoons for 1/8 cup.
- Also, level dry ingredients with a straight edge.
- Check whether a recipe uses US or metric measures.
- Weigh flour when a recipe gives grams.
- Finally, measure liquids at eye level in a clear jug.
Don’t
- Guess half of a quarter measure by eye for baking.
- Use dinner spoons as measuring spoons.
- Pack flour into the spoon, because it adds weight.
- Confuse fluid ounces with weight ounces, because one is a volume.
- Use kitchen spoons for medicine.
Honest Limits of Small Measurements
To begin with, the 29.57 mL figure describes the definition, not what every scoop in every drawer will hold. For one thing, measuring spoons and cups have small manufacturing tolerances. In addition, how you fill and level them matters more than the tool itself, because a heaping tablespoon holds noticeably more than a level one. Rounding is also a factor: labels say 30 mL, metric recipes use 31.25 mL, and the gap between them is about 6 percent. For soups and dressings, however, none of this changes the result. For leaveners, salt in bread, or very small batches, though, a scale gives more repeatable results than any scoop.
When Accuracy Really Matters
Most recipes forgive a slightly generous eighth cup. Still, a few jobs deserve more care. First comes baking, where a small error in oil, honey or water changes the texture of a small batch more than you might expect. Next come brines and cures, where the salt-to-water ratio matters for both flavor and food safety. Finally, liquid medicine needs a proper dosing device. For this reason, medication safety experts advise using the oral syringe or dosing cup that comes with the medicine and measuring in mL.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons are in an eighth cup?
There are exactly 2 tablespoons in 1/8 cup, because a US cup holds 16 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons are in 1/8 cup?
There are 6 teaspoons in 1/8 cup. That is because each tablespoon is 3 teaspoons, so 2 tablespoons make 6.
How many mL is 1/8 cup?
It is about 29.57 mL in US measure. However, nutrition labels round it to 30 mL, and the metric version is 31.25 mL.
Is 1/8 cup the same as 1 ounce?
It equals 1 US fluid ounce, which is a volume. However, it weighs about 1 ounce only for water and similar liquids.
What is half of 1/4 cup?
Half of 1/4 cup is 2 tablespoons, which also equals 6 teaspoons.
How can I measure an eighth cup with no measuring set?
First, use two level measuring tablespoons, or six level teaspoons. You can also weigh about 30 g of water on a kitchen scale.
How big is a standard coffee scoop?
A standard coffee scoop holds about 2 tablespoons, which is one eighth of a cup. Some scoops are smaller, so check the marking.
How much is an eighth cup of butter?
Specifically, it is 2 tablespoons of butter, about 28 g, or the space between two tablespoon marks on a US stick.
How much does an eighth cup of flour weigh?
About 15 g of all-purpose flour, based on 120 g per cup. However, packing the flour adds more.
What is 3/8 cup in tablespoons?
It is 6 tablespoons. In other words, it is 4 tablespoons plus 2 more.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, an eighth cup (1/8 cup) is 2 tablespoons, 6 teaspoons or 1 US fluid ounce, about 29.57 mL. Meanwhile, labels round that to 30 mL, and metric recipes use 31.25 mL. So for everyday cooking, two level tablespoons are the quickest way to get there, and the converter at the top of this page handles any other fraction. Also, for full-cup conversions, see how many milliliters are in 1 cup.
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