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 litre?
The litre is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimetre. It is widely used for measuring liquid quantities in cooking, beverages, fuel, and laboratory work across metric countries.
Real-world uses
Litres are the global standard for beverage volumes, fuel tank capacities, engine displacement, and liquid medications. Water intake recommendations are given in litres (about 2 L/day), and swimming pools are measured in thousands of litres.
History
The litre was originally defined in 1795 as one cubic decimetre. In 1901 it was redefined based on the mass of water, creating a tiny discrepancy with the cubic decimetre. In 1964, the original definition (1 L = 1 dm³ exactly) was restored.
Common mistakes
Confusing litres with liters (both are correct—"litre" is the international spelling, "liter" is American). Also, assuming 1 litre of any liquid weighs 1 kg; this is only true for water at 4°C.
When is this conversion used?
Fuel economy, beverage volumes, and liquid measurements frequently require converting between litres and US gallons, especially for automotive and cooking contexts across different markets.
Worked examples
1 tablespoon (metric) = 0.015 litre
1 litre = 1 litre
How to convert tablespoon (metric) to litre
To convert tablespoon (metric) to litre, multiply the value by 0.015.
To convert litre back to tablespoon (metric), multiply by 66.66666667.
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 litre
| tablespoon (metric) | litre |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0015 |
| 0.5 | 0.0075 |
| 1 | 0.015 |
| 2 | 0.03 |
| 5 | 0.075 |
| 10 | 0.15 |
| 25 | 0.375 |
| 50 | 0.75 |
| 100 | 1.5 |
| 250 | 3.75 |
| 500 | 7.5 |
| 1,000 | 15 |
Common values
| tablespoon (metric) | litre | |
|---|---|---|
| A teaspoon | 0.33333333 tablespoon (metric) | 0.005 litre |
| A cup of coffee | 16.66666667 tablespoon (metric) | 0.25 litre |
| A water bottle | 33.33333333 tablespoon (metric) | 0.5 litre |
| A bathtub | 20,000 tablespoon (metric) | 300 litre |
| A swimming pool (Olympic) | 166,666,666.66666669 tablespoon (metric) | 2,500,000 litre |
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