What is tablespoon (metric)?
A metric tablespoon is a volume unit equal to exactly 15 millilitres. It is widely used in cooking recipes in metric countries as a convenient measure for sauces, oils, and seasonings.
Real-world uses
The metric tablespoon (15 mL) is used in cooking recipes worldwide, particularly for oil, vinegar, sauces, and spices. It is also a common dosing measure for adult liquid medicines. Nutritional databases often list serving sizes in tablespoons.
History
The tablespoon evolved from the table or serving spoon and was adopted as a cooking measure. The metric tablespoon was standardized at 15 mL (3 metric teaspoons). In Australia, the tablespoon was standardized at 20 mL, creating a regional exception.
Common mistakes
Assuming a tablespoon is always 15 mL—the Australian tablespoon is 20 mL, and the US customary tablespoon is 14.79 mL. Failing to check which standard a recipe uses can alter the outcome of precise baking recipes.
What is Imperial gallon?
An Imperial gallon is a volume unit used in the United Kingdom equal to approximately 4.546 litres. It is larger than the US gallon and is commonly referenced for fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) in the UK.
Real-world uses
Imperial gallons are used in the United Kingdom, Canada (for some purposes), and several Caribbean countries. British fuel economy was historically quoted in miles per Imperial gallon. Older Commonwealth-era recipes and industrial specifications may reference Imperial gallons.
History
The Imperial gallon was established by the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824 as the volume occupied by 10 pounds of water at 62°F (≈ 17°C). It replaced several older gallon definitions including the wine gallon (retained by the US) and the ale gallon.
Common mistakes
Assuming the Imperial gallon equals the US gallon. The Imperial gallon is about 4.546 litres versus 3.785 litres for the US gallon. Converting mpg figures between the two systems without adjusting for gallon size gives misleading results.
When is this conversion used?
Converting tablespoon (metric) to Imperial gallon is useful in the volume domain when comparing values across different measurement standards or applying formulas that require a specific unit.
Worked examples
1 tablespoon (metric) = 0.00329954 Imperial gallon
1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litre
How to convert tablespoon (metric) to Imperial gallon
To convert tablespoon (metric) to Imperial gallon, multiply the value by 0.00329954.
To convert Imperial gallon back to tablespoon (metric), multiply by 303.07266667.
Measurement standards
The cubic metre is the SI derived unit of volume. The litre, equal to exactly one cubic decimetre (0.001 m³), is accepted by the BIPM for use alongside SI units. Both the lowercase "l" and uppercase "L" are approved symbols for the litre.
Did you know?
An Olympic swimming pool holds 2,500 cubic metres of water — about 2.5 million litres. The Amazon River discharges roughly 209,000 cubic metres per second, enough to fill 84 Olympic pools every single second.
Quick reference: tablespoon (metric) to Imperial gallon
| tablespoon (metric) | Imperial gallon |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.00032995 |
| 0.5 | 0.00164977 |
| 1 | 0.00329954 |
| 2 | 0.00659908 |
| 5 | 0.01649769 |
| 10 | 0.03299539 |
| 25 | 0.08248847 |
| 50 | 0.16497694 |
| 100 | 0.32995387 |
| 250 | 0.82488468 |
| 500 | 1.64976936 |
| 1,000 | 3.29953872 |
Common values
| tablespoon (metric) | Imperial gallon | |
|---|---|---|
| A teaspoon | 0.33333333 tablespoon (metric) | 0.00109985 Imperial gallon |
| A cup of coffee | 16.66666667 tablespoon (metric) | 0.05499231 Imperial gallon |
| A water bottle | 33.33333333 tablespoon (metric) | 0.10998462 Imperial gallon |
| A bathtub | 20,000 tablespoon (metric) | 65.99077449 Imperial gallon |
| A swimming pool (Olympic) | 166,666,666.66666669 tablespoon (metric) | 549,923.12074772 Imperial gallon |
Available Volume units
More tablespoon (metric) conversions
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to litre
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to millilitre
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to US gallon
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to cubic metre
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to Imperial gallon
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to US fluid ounce
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to Imperial fluid ounce
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to teaspoon (metric)
- Convert tablespoon (metric) to cubic centimetre