To get 1 cup (16 tablespoons) of lemon juice, the number of lemons needed varies depending on their size and juiciness:

• About 4 medium lemons (each yielding roughly 3 to 4 tablespoons) are typically required for 1 cup of juice

• Some sources suggest 5 medium lemons or 6 large lemons to yield 1 cup of juice, considering medium lemons produce about 3 tablespoons each and large lemons about 4-5 tablespoons

• Smaller lemons may require about 8 lemons to produce 1 cup of juice, as they yield around 2 tablespoons each

• Estimates vary slightly, but a good rule of thumb is 4 to 6 medium lemons or 5 to 8 small lemons for 1 cup of fresh lemon juice

In summary, plan for about 4 to 6 medium-sized lemons to get 1 cup of lemon juice, buying a couple extra to be safe due to natural variation in lemon size and juiciness