Pounds to Tablespoons Conversion Calculator
Enter the weight in pounds below to calculate the volume in tablespoons.
Result in Tablespoons:
1 lb ≈ 30 2/3 tbsp
Do you want to convert tablespoons to pounds?
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How to Convert Pounds to Tablespoons
Since pounds are a unit of mass and tablespoons are a unit of volume, which are different physical quantities, we need to know one more physical quantity of the ingredient or substance to convert between them. In this case, we need to account for the density of the substance whenever we do a conversion.
Therefore, to convert between pounds and tablespoons of an ingredient or substance, we must either multiply or divide by its density, depending on which direction we are performing the conversion.
Pounds to Tablespoons Formula
To convert a measurement in pounds to tablespoons, divide the weight by the density of the ingredient or material. Note that in order for this to work, the density must be in pounds per tablespoon (lb/tbsp).
If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first divide 30.6756 by the density to convert to lb/tbsp.
For a density given in g/mL, you can use this simple formula to convert:
tablespoons = pounds × 30.6756 / density
Thus, the volume in tablespoons is equal to the weight in pounds times 30.6756 divided by the density of the ingredient, substance, or material.
For example, here's how to convert 5 pounds to tablespoons for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.
tablespoons = 5 lb × 30.6756 / 0.7 g/mL = 219.1112 tbsp
When to Convert Pounds to Tablespoons
Pounds and tablespoons are both commonly used to measure cooking ingredients.
For cooking applications, most chefs suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight rather than volume to improve accuracy in the measurements.[1] The density of dry ingredients can vary for a variety of reasons, such as compaction and clumping.
The best way to ensure an accurate conversion is to use a scale. When a scale is not available, a calculator like the one above is a good way to estimate the weight to volume conversion.
For cooking and baking ingredients, you can get more specific results using our butter, flour, and sugar conversion calculators.
Another useful application of weight and volume conversions is chemistry. When performing chemical reactions by combining separate chemicals to produce a new chemical, one must know the exact amount of each chemical to add in order to maximize the yield of the reaction.
It is common to mix powdered chemicals with liquid, or aqueous, chemicals, and this is where it becomes very useful to convert between weights and volumes.[2]
A third application of weight and volume conversions is when shipping freight when calculating the volumetric weight for cargo and packages. Trucks, ships, and airplanes are limited in the amount of weight or volume they can transport, so if one of those quantities is known, but the limitation is on the other, then it becomes necessary to convert between the two so as not to overload the shipping vehicle.
Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.
How Many Tablespoons Are in a Pound?
The actual volume of a pound will vary depending on the density of the material. The table below shows how many tablespoons of various wet and dry ingredients are in a pound.
| Weight in Pounds: | Volume in Tablespoons of: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Milk | Cooking Oil | All Purpose Flour | Granulated Sugar | |
| 1 lb | 30.68 tbsp | 29.78 tbsp | 34.86 tbsp | 57.99 tbsp | 43.51 tbsp |
| 2 lb | 61.35 tbsp | 59.56 tbsp | 69.72 tbsp | 115.98 tbsp | 87.02 tbsp |
| 3 lb | 92.03 tbsp | 89.35 tbsp | 104.58 tbsp | 173.96 tbsp | 130.53 tbsp |
| 4 lb | 122.7 tbsp | 119.13 tbsp | 139.43 tbsp | 231.95 tbsp | 174.05 tbsp |
| 5 lb | 153.38 tbsp | 148.91 tbsp | 174.29 tbsp | 289.94 tbsp | 217.56 tbsp |
| 6 lb | 184.05 tbsp | 178.69 tbsp | 209.15 tbsp | 347.93 tbsp | 261.07 tbsp |
| 7 lb | 214.73 tbsp | 208.47 tbsp | 244.01 tbsp | 405.91 tbsp | 304.58 tbsp |
| 8 lb | 245.4 tbsp | 238.26 tbsp | 278.87 tbsp | 463.9 tbsp | 348.09 tbsp |
| 9 lb | 276.08 tbsp | 268.04 tbsp | 313.73 tbsp | 521.89 tbsp | 391.6 tbsp |
| 10 lb | 306.76 tbsp | 297.82 tbsp | 348.59 tbsp | 579.88 tbsp | 435.11 tbsp |
| 11 lb | 337.43 tbsp | 327.6 tbsp | 383.44 tbsp | 637.87 tbsp | 478.63 tbsp |
| 12 lb | 368.11 tbsp | 357.39 tbsp | 418.3 tbsp | 695.85 tbsp | 522.14 tbsp |
| 13 lb | 398.78 tbsp | 387.17 tbsp | 453.16 tbsp | 753.84 tbsp | 565.65 tbsp |
| 14 lb | 429.46 tbsp | 416.95 tbsp | 488.02 tbsp | 811.83 tbsp | 609.16 tbsp |
| 15 lb | 460.13 tbsp | 446.73 tbsp | 522.88 tbsp | 869.82 tbsp | 652.67 tbsp |
| 16 lb | 490.81 tbsp | 476.51 tbsp | 557.74 tbsp | 927.81 tbsp | 696.18 tbsp |
| 17 lb | 521.48 tbsp | 506.3 tbsp | 592.6 tbsp | 985.79 tbsp | 739.69 tbsp |
| 18 lb | 552.16 tbsp | 536.08 tbsp | 627.45 tbsp | 1,044 tbsp | 783.21 tbsp |
| 19 lb | 582.84 tbsp | 565.86 tbsp | 662.31 tbsp | 1,102 tbsp | 826.72 tbsp |
| 20 lb | 613.51 tbsp | 595.64 tbsp | 697.17 tbsp | 1,160 tbsp | 870.23 tbsp |
| 21 lb | 644.19 tbsp | 625.42 tbsp | 732.03 tbsp | 1,218 tbsp | 913.74 tbsp |
| 22 lb | 674.86 tbsp | 655.21 tbsp | 766.89 tbsp | 1,276 tbsp | 957.25 tbsp |
| 23 lb | 705.54 tbsp | 684.99 tbsp | 801.75 tbsp | 1,334 tbsp | 1,001 tbsp |
| 24 lb | 736.21 tbsp | 714.77 tbsp | 836.61 tbsp | 1,392 tbsp | 1,044 tbsp |
| 25 lb | 766.89 tbsp | 744.55 tbsp | 871.46 tbsp | 1,450 tbsp | 1,088 tbsp |
| 26 lb | 797.56 tbsp | 774.33 tbsp | 906.32 tbsp | 1,508 tbsp | 1,131 tbsp |
| 27 lb | 828.24 tbsp | 804.12 tbsp | 941.18 tbsp | 1,566 tbsp | 1,175 tbsp |
| 28 lb | 858.92 tbsp | 833.9 tbsp | 976.04 tbsp | 1,624 tbsp | 1,218 tbsp |
| 29 lb | 889.59 tbsp | 863.68 tbsp | 1,011 tbsp | 1,682 tbsp | 1,262 tbsp |
| 30 lb | 920.27 tbsp | 893.46 tbsp | 1,046 tbsp | 1,740 tbsp | 1,305 tbsp |
| 31 lb | 950.94 tbsp | 923.25 tbsp | 1,081 tbsp | 1,798 tbsp | 1,349 tbsp |
| 32 lb | 981.62 tbsp | 953.03 tbsp | 1,115 tbsp | 1,856 tbsp | 1,392 tbsp |
| 33 lb | 1,012 tbsp | 982.81 tbsp | 1,150 tbsp | 1,914 tbsp | 1,436 tbsp |
| 34 lb | 1,043 tbsp | 1,013 tbsp | 1,185 tbsp | 1,972 tbsp | 1,479 tbsp |
| 35 lb | 1,074 tbsp | 1,042 tbsp | 1,220 tbsp | 2,030 tbsp | 1,523 tbsp |
| 36 lb | 1,104 tbsp | 1,072 tbsp | 1,255 tbsp | 2,088 tbsp | 1,566 tbsp |
| 37 lb | 1,135 tbsp | 1,102 tbsp | 1,290 tbsp | 2,146 tbsp | 1,610 tbsp |
| 38 lb | 1,166 tbsp | 1,132 tbsp | 1,325 tbsp | 2,204 tbsp | 1,653 tbsp |
| 39 lb | 1,196 tbsp | 1,162 tbsp | 1,359 tbsp | 2,262 tbsp | 1,697 tbsp |
| 40 lb | 1,227 tbsp | 1,191 tbsp | 1,394 tbsp | 2,320 tbsp | 1,740 tbsp |
What Is a Pound?
Pounds are a widely used unit of weight in the United States. The National Bureau of Standards approved the international definition of the pound for use in the United States in 1959 after an agreement between six nations referred to as the International Yard and Pound Agreement.[3]
One pound is equal to 16 ounces, or 0.45359237 kilograms. In the avoirdupois or apothecaries' systems, one pound is equal to 7,000 grains.[4]
The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of mass. A pound is sometimes also referred to as a common ounce. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb (plural lbs), and are also sometimes abbreviated as lbm or #. For example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb, 1 lbm, or 1 #, and 2 pounds can be written as 2 lbs.
A pound is frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a pound is a measure of mass, and weight is actually a measure of force, the two are equivalent as long as we are performing our calculations on Earth.
For example, an object with a mass of 1 pound weighs 1 pound on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.
Learn more about pounds.
What Is a Tablespoon?
A tablespoon is a unit of volume equal to three teaspoons or ½ fluid ounce.[5] One tablespoon is equal to 14.7868 milliliters, but for nutrition labeling, one tablespoon is rounded to 15 milliliters.[6]
The tablespoon is a US customary unit of volume. Tablespoons can be abbreviated as tbsp, and are also sometimes abbreviated as T, Tbls, or Tb. For example, 1 tablespoon can be written as 1 tbsp, 1 T, 1 Tbls, or 1 Tb.
Learn more about tablespoons.
Pound to Tablespoon Conversion Table
| Weight in Pounds: | Volume in Tablespoons of: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Milk | Cooking Oil | All Purpose Flour | Granulated Sugar | |
| 1 lb | 30.68 tbsp | 29.78 tbsp | 34.86 tbsp | 57.99 tbsp | 43.51 tbsp |
| 2 lb | 61.35 tbsp | 59.56 tbsp | 69.72 tbsp | 115.98 tbsp | 87.02 tbsp |
| 3 lb | 92.03 tbsp | 89.35 tbsp | 104.58 tbsp | 173.96 tbsp | 130.53 tbsp |
| 4 lb | 122.7 tbsp | 119.13 tbsp | 139.43 tbsp | 231.95 tbsp | 174.05 tbsp |
| 5 lb | 153.38 tbsp | 148.91 tbsp | 174.29 tbsp | 289.94 tbsp | 217.56 tbsp |
| 6 lb | 184.05 tbsp | 178.69 tbsp | 209.15 tbsp | 347.93 tbsp | 261.07 tbsp |
| 7 lb | 214.73 tbsp | 208.47 tbsp | 244.01 tbsp | 405.91 tbsp | 304.58 tbsp |
| 8 lb | 245.4 tbsp | 238.26 tbsp | 278.87 tbsp | 463.9 tbsp | 348.09 tbsp |
| 9 lb | 276.08 tbsp | 268.04 tbsp | 313.73 tbsp | 521.89 tbsp | 391.6 tbsp |
| 10 lb | 306.76 tbsp | 297.82 tbsp | 348.59 tbsp | 579.88 tbsp | 435.11 tbsp |
| 11 lb | 337.43 tbsp | 327.6 tbsp | 383.44 tbsp | 637.87 tbsp | 478.63 tbsp |
| 12 lb | 368.11 tbsp | 357.39 tbsp | 418.3 tbsp | 695.85 tbsp | 522.14 tbsp |
| 13 lb | 398.78 tbsp | 387.17 tbsp | 453.16 tbsp | 753.84 tbsp | 565.65 tbsp |
| 14 lb | 429.46 tbsp | 416.95 tbsp | 488.02 tbsp | 811.83 tbsp | 609.16 tbsp |
| 15 lb | 460.13 tbsp | 446.73 tbsp | 522.88 tbsp | 869.82 tbsp | 652.67 tbsp |
| 16 lb | 490.81 tbsp | 476.51 tbsp | 557.74 tbsp | 927.81 tbsp | 696.18 tbsp |
| 17 lb | 521.48 tbsp | 506.3 tbsp | 592.6 tbsp | 985.79 tbsp | 739.69 tbsp |
| 18 lb | 552.16 tbsp | 536.08 tbsp | 627.45 tbsp | 1,044 tbsp | 783.21 tbsp |
| 19 lb | 582.84 tbsp | 565.86 tbsp | 662.31 tbsp | 1,102 tbsp | 826.72 tbsp |
| 20 lb | 613.51 tbsp | 595.64 tbsp | 697.17 tbsp | 1,160 tbsp | 870.23 tbsp |
| 21 lb | 644.19 tbsp | 625.42 tbsp | 732.03 tbsp | 1,218 tbsp | 913.74 tbsp |
| 22 lb | 674.86 tbsp | 655.21 tbsp | 766.89 tbsp | 1,276 tbsp | 957.25 tbsp |
| 23 lb | 705.54 tbsp | 684.99 tbsp | 801.75 tbsp | 1,334 tbsp | 1,001 tbsp |
| 24 lb | 736.21 tbsp | 714.77 tbsp | 836.61 tbsp | 1,392 tbsp | 1,044 tbsp |
| 25 lb | 766.89 tbsp | 744.55 tbsp | 871.46 tbsp | 1,450 tbsp | 1,088 tbsp |
| 26 lb | 797.56 tbsp | 774.33 tbsp | 906.32 tbsp | 1,508 tbsp | 1,131 tbsp |
| 27 lb | 828.24 tbsp | 804.12 tbsp | 941.18 tbsp | 1,566 tbsp | 1,175 tbsp |
| 28 lb | 858.92 tbsp | 833.9 tbsp | 976.04 tbsp | 1,624 tbsp | 1,218 tbsp |
| 29 lb | 889.59 tbsp | 863.68 tbsp | 1,011 tbsp | 1,682 tbsp | 1,262 tbsp |
| 30 lb | 920.27 tbsp | 893.46 tbsp | 1,046 tbsp | 1,740 tbsp | 1,305 tbsp |
| 31 lb | 950.94 tbsp | 923.25 tbsp | 1,081 tbsp | 1,798 tbsp | 1,349 tbsp |
| 32 lb | 981.62 tbsp | 953.03 tbsp | 1,115 tbsp | 1,856 tbsp | 1,392 tbsp |
| 33 lb | 1,012 tbsp | 982.81 tbsp | 1,150 tbsp | 1,914 tbsp | 1,436 tbsp |
| 34 lb | 1,043 tbsp | 1,013 tbsp | 1,185 tbsp | 1,972 tbsp | 1,479 tbsp |
| 35 lb | 1,074 tbsp | 1,042 tbsp | 1,220 tbsp | 2,030 tbsp | 1,523 tbsp |
| 36 lb | 1,104 tbsp | 1,072 tbsp | 1,255 tbsp | 2,088 tbsp | 1,566 tbsp |
| 37 lb | 1,135 tbsp | 1,102 tbsp | 1,290 tbsp | 2,146 tbsp | 1,610 tbsp |
| 38 lb | 1,166 tbsp | 1,132 tbsp | 1,325 tbsp | 2,204 tbsp | 1,653 tbsp |
| 39 lb | 1,196 tbsp | 1,162 tbsp | 1,359 tbsp | 2,262 tbsp | 1,697 tbsp |
| 40 lb | 1,227 tbsp | 1,191 tbsp | 1,394 tbsp | 2,320 tbsp | 1,740 tbsp |
References
- National Institute of Standards & Technology, Culinary Measurement Tips, https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/culinary-measurement-tips
- CK-12 Foundation, Introductory Chemistry (CK-12) - 12.6: Mass-Volume Stoichiometry, https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/12%3A_Stoichiometry/12.06%3A_Mass-Volume_Stoichiometry
- National Bureau of Standards, Refinement of Values for the Yard and Pound, U.S. Department of Commerce, July 1, 1959, https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/05/09/frn-59-5442-1959.pdf
- Encyclopædia Britannica, Avoirdupois weight, https://www.britannica.com/science/avoirdupois-weight
- Merriam-Webster, tablespoon, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablespoon
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Guidance for Industry: Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures, https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-guidelines-determining-metric-equivalents-household-measures