Confused by tsp, Tbsp, oz, or C in a recipe? These common recipe abbreviations are used every day in cooking and baking, and knowing what they mean can help you avoid measuring mistakes.
From teaspoons to tablespoons, cups to quarts, this easy guide explains the most common recipe abbreviations, plus includes a free printable cheat sheet for quick kitchen reference.
⚠️ Quick Tip:
Lowercase "t" = teaspoon
Uppercase "T" = tablespoon
Mixing these up can change a recipe fast!
Get My Recipe Abbreviations Cheat Sheet!
Need a quick kitchen reference you can keep nearby? Download my free printable Recipe Abbreviations Cheat Sheet, including common cooking measurements plus a handy teaspoon-to-tablespoon and cups-to-ounces conversion chart.
This handy two-page pdf document has been formatted so it can be printed duplex on a single sheet of standard 8 ½ x 11" paper.
Common Recipe Abbreviations Chart
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| t or tsp | Teaspoon |
| T or TB or Tbsp or tbl or tbs | Tablespoon |
| C | Cup |
| oz | Ounce |
| pt | Pint |
| qt | Quart |
| lb | Pound |
| sq | Square |
| min | Minute |
| hr | Hour |
| doz | dozen |
| sq | square |
| mod | moderate |
Common Recipe Abbreviations Explained
Teaspoon Abbreviations
- t
- tsp
Look for the Lowercase "t". The abbreviations for teaspoon and tablespoon are often confusing. Essentially, a lowercase "t" and any abbreviation starting with a lowercase "t" mean teaspoon.
Tablespoon Abbreviations
- T
- TB
- tbsp
- tbl
- tbs
Look for the "b". There are numerous abbreviations for tablespoon. The most common is an uppercase "T" and the lowercase tbsp, with the "b" being the signal that the measurement is a tablespoon.
Cup Abbreviations
- C
- c
Look for a "c". Cup is already very short however many recipes written in speed writing use a "c" to designate cup. The "c" can be uppercase or lowercase.
Ounce Abbreviations
- oz - for weight
- fl oz - for liquids (fluid)
Look for the "z". The abbreviation "oz" for ounce dates back to the 1500s. It comes from the Italian word "onza", which translates to "ounce."
Ounce can mean both by weight or by volume and recipe writers that are meticulous will specify which is meant by denoting "fl oz" for liquids. Weights are always simply "oz".
Modern recipes, especially for cocktails and mixtures that include only liquids, often will not state "fl oz" as it is implied by the fact that everything in the recipe is a liquid.
Pint Abbreviations
- pt
- p
Look for a "p". Pint in recipes generally means liquid pint, except in canning where it could mean either a liquid or dry abbreviation. Understanding the intent of the recipe writer can help in determining which measure it is.
In the US, 2 cups equal a pint.
Quart Abbreviations
- qt
- q
Look for a "q". Quart is another term, like pint, that generally means a liquid quart. A quart contains 2 pints, which is 4 cups.
Pound Abbreviations
- lb
- #
The pound is a measurement of weight. There are 16 ounces in a pound.
Minute(s) Abbreviations
- min
- m
Minutes in recipes is a standard measurement of time.
Hour Abbreviations
- hr
- h
An hour is also a measurement of time, and there are 60 minutes in an hour.
Recipes written prior to the 20th century might state "quarter hour" (¼ hr) for 15 minutes, "half hour" (½ hr) for 30 minutes, and "three quarters hour" (¾ hr) for 45 minutes.
Dozen Abbreviations
- doz
- dz
Dozen can be 12 of anything, although it generally refers to eggs.
Square Abbreviation
- sq
Cooking and baking chocolate is frequently sold in bars divided into squares, each 1 ounce (weight).
Moderate Abbreviation
- mod
Moderate refers to oven temperature and is generally between 350°F and 375°F.
Teaspoon to Tablespoon Conversions
| Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (Tbsp) | Cups | Fluid Ounces (OZ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 tsp | 1 Tbsp | 1/16 C | ½ oz |
| 6 tsp | 2 Tbsp | ⅛ C | 1 oz |
| 8 tsp | 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp | ⅙ C | 1 ⅓ oz |
| 12 tsp | 4 Tbsp | ¼ C | 2 oz |
| 16 tsp | 5 Tbsp + 1 tsp | ⅓ C | 2 ⅔ oz |
| 24 tsp | 8 Tbsp | ½ C | 4 oz |
| 32 tsp | 10 Tbsp + 2 tsp | ⅔ C | 5 ⅓ oz |
| 36 tsp | 12 Tbsp | ¾ C | 6 oz |
| 48 tsp | 16 Tbsp | 1 C | 8 oz |
Recipe Abbreviations FAQs
Lowercase t means teaspoon, while uppercase T means tablespoon. Since 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons, mixing them up can significantly change a recipe.
Oz means ounce and may refer to either weight or liquid measurement. Recipes often use fl oz to indicate fluid ounces for liquids.
C means cup, a standard kitchen measurement commonly used in cooking and baking.
More Cooking and Baking Tips & Helps
Kitchen Basics & Measurements
Temperature & Cooking Charts
Reta Beth Loney says
would like these print outs for my spec ed high school kids
Jan Nunes says
Hi Reta,
This is a great idea! So, I've created a cheat sheet printout of the major abbreviations with the teaspoon conversions. It is available toward the end of the post and can be downloaded. The two pages can be printed duplex for an handy single page reference.
Have a wonderful day! ~Jan