100 ml is 6.76 tablespoons. The conversion is exact arithmetic: 1 tablespoon is 14.79 ml, and 100 divided by 14.79 is 6.76. In practice, nobody measures 0.76 of a tablespoon — use 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons, which is 99 ml, a single millilitre short and exact enough for any recipe. The tablespoon is the right unit for 100 ml because it is precise at small volumes, while a cup measure is too coarse: 100 ml is 0.42 cups, which falls between the markings on most cup measures and is hard to read accurately.
The tablespoon conversion is the one that actually gets used in the kitchen. Recipes written in millilitres meet measuring spoons marked in tablespoons every day — a dressing that calls for 100 ml of oil, a sauce that calls for 100 ml of stock, a marinade that calls for 100 ml of wine. Knowing that 100 ml is just under 7 tablespoons lets you measure it without a jug, without a calculator, and without guessing. It is also the conversion that scales: 200 ml is 13.5 tablespoons, 300 ml is 20 tablespoons, and 50 ml is 3.4 tablespoons — all from the same 14.79 ml figure.
Millilitres to tablespoons conversion table
The table below shows the common millilitre amounts in tablespoons, teaspoons and cups. All conversions use 1 tablespoon = 14.79 ml and 1 teaspoon = 4.93 ml.
| Millilitres | US cups | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Fluid ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ml | 0.21 cups | 3.38 tbsp | 10.14 tsp | 1.69 fl oz |
| 100 ml | 0.42 cups | 6.76 tbsp | 20.29 tsp | 3.38 fl oz |
| 250 ml | 1.06 cups | 16.91 tbsp | 50.72 tsp | 8.45 fl oz |
| 500 ml | 2.11 cups | 33.81 tbsp | 101.44 tsp | 16.91 fl oz |
| 1,000 ml (1 litre) | 4.23 cups | 67.63 tbsp | 202.88 tsp | 33.81 fl oz |
For 100 ml, use 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons (99 ml) — the practical measure. The exact figure is 6.76 tablespoons, but 0.76 of a tablespoon is not a measurable amount in a real kitchen.
Worked examples
A vinaigrette for four
A vinaigrette for four people uses 100 ml of olive oil — 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons — whisked with 3 tablespoons of vinegar, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and a pinch of salt. Measure the oil in tablespoons, because a cup measure is too coarse for this amount. Whisk the vinegar and mustard together first, then add the oil in a slow stream while whisking, so the dressing emulsifies. The dressing serves four as a side salad dressing, and any leftover keeps for a day in the fridge if you whisk it again before using. If you double the recipe, 200 ml is 13 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon.
A marinade for two chicken breasts
A marinade for two chicken breasts uses 100 ml of soy sauce, lemon juice and oil combined — 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons in total. Measure each component in tablespoons: 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of oil, plus 2 teaspoons of oil to make up the total. Mix them together, coat the chicken, and marinate for thirty minutes — no longer, because the lemon juice will start to cook the surface of the chicken if it sits too long. Grill or pan-fry the chicken and discard the used marinade.
A pan sauce that needs 100 ml of wine
A pan sauce for two steaks uses 100 ml of red wine to deglaze the pan — 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. Pour the wine into the hot pan after the steaks have rested, and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Let the wine bubble for a minute to cook off the alcohol, then add a knob of butter and a splash of stock. Measure the wine in tablespoons if you do not have a small jug: 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons is 99 ml, which is exact enough that no sauce will notice the missing millilitre.
How the figure is worked out
The figure above is worked out by simple division, not by guessing. The package weight is 100 millilitres. Divide that weight by the grams in one cup and you get the number of cups in the package. Because cup weights for dry ingredients depend on how the cup is filled, the result is approximate, and the honest way to use it is as a planning figure: it tells you how many batches a bag will cover, not the exact cup count to the last spoonful.
Practical guidance
Use proper measuring spoons, not spoons from the cutlery drawer. A tablespoon from the drawer can hold anywhere from 10 ml to 20 ml, while a measuring tablespoon holds exactly 14.79 ml — and when you are measuring 6 or 7 tablespoons, the error multiplies. Six drawer tablespoons could be anywhere from 60 ml to 120 ml, which is the difference between a dressing that works and one that does not. Measuring spoons are cheap and they are the single most useful tool for small conversions.
Level the spoon. A heaped tablespoon of liquid is not a tablespoon — it is more, and the excess runs off the sides anyway. Fill the spoon to the brim and level it with the back of a knife if you are measuring a dry ingredient, and for liquids, fill to the rim without spilling. When a recipe calls for 100 ml and you are using tablespoons, count carefully: 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. It is easy to lose count at 6, so count out loud or measure into a small bowl first, then pour the bowl into the recipe. And remember the easy approximation: 100 ml is just under 7 tablespoons, so if you are in a hurry and the recipe is forgiving, 7 tablespoons is 103 ml — 3 ml over, which is fine in a soup or a stew but not in a precise dressing.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in 100 ml?
20.29 teaspoons. One teaspoon is 4.93 ml, and 100 divided by 4.93 is 20.29. In practice, use 20 teaspoons — 98.6 ml — or use the tablespoon conversion instead: 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons is 99 ml and far easier to count.
Is 100 ml the same as 7 tablespoons?
Almost. 7 tablespoons is 103.5 ml, which is 3.5 ml more than 100 ml. In a soup or a stew the difference does not matter, but in a dressing or a precise sauce it can. Use 6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons for an accurate 99 ml.
How many millilitres are in a tablespoon?
14.79 ml in a US tablespoon. An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml, which is a different measure entirely — if you are following an Australian recipe, 100 ml is exactly 5 Australian tablespoons. Check which tablespoon your recipe uses before converting.
Can I use a tablespoon from the drawer to measure 100 ml?
Not reliably. Drawer tablespoons vary from about 10 ml to 20 ml, so six of them could be anywhere from 60 ml to 120 ml. Use proper measuring spoons, which hold exactly 14.79 ml per tablespoon, or use a small jug with millilitre markings.
How many tablespoons are in 200 ml?
13.52 tablespoons. Double the 100 ml figure: 6.76 times 2 is 13.52. In practice, use 13 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, which is 197 ml, or 13 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons, which is 202 ml — either is within a couple of millilitres of 200 ml.