How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon {tsp to Tbsp}

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Need to know how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon? Want to scale up or down a recipe? Check out my conversion chart, and never Google it again!

Table of Contents

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
US customary measurements conversions chart
Imperial versus metric measurement systems
Measuring spoon tips
Wet versus dry ingredients
Tips for remembering measurements
What is a tablespoon?
What is a teaspoon?
How much is a pinch or dash?
Frequently asked questions
More cooking resources

Confession time: I’ve been a food blogger for years and I STILL don’t have all of my conversions memorized!

Shocking, I know, but there is a lot to remember. When working in small quantities (like with mug cakes), knowing how to convert teaspoons to tablespoons is essential.

So, let’s cut to the chase and figure out exactly how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon using some tried and true tips, tricks, and handy charts!

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

One tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons.

This applies to the Imperial system, the United States customary, and most metric systems of measurement. The next time you can’t find your tablespoon measuring spoon, simply measure out 3 teaspoons, and you’re good to go!

US customary measurements conversions chart

If you don’t have a measuring cup on hand, you can use teaspoons or tablespoons instead. Keep in mind one cup contains 16 tablespoons OR 48 teaspoons.

The chart below shows the dry measurement conversions.

Cup	Tablespoon (tbsp)	Teaspoon (tsp)
1 cup	16 tablespoons	48 tsp
3/4 cup	12 tablespoons	36 tsp
2/3 cup	10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons	32 tsp
1/2 cup	8 tablespoons	24 tsp
3/8 cup	6 tablespoons	18 tsp
1/3 cup	5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon	16 tsp
1/4 cup	4 tablespoons	12 tsp
1/6 cup	2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons	8 tsp
1/8 cup	2 tablespoons	6 tsp
1/16 cup	1 tablespoon	3 tsp

Imperial versus metric measurement systems

Depending on which country you live in, the unit of measurement may be different. In the US, the US customary system of measurement is most common. This is similar to the Imperial system, with a few differences.

Under the US customary and Imperial systems, 1 US tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons.

Most of Europe, Canada, and Australia use the metric system, AKA the International System of Units (SI). To convert tablespoons to teaspoons, use milliliters (ml). A teaspoon contains approximately 5 milliliters.

Under the metric system, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) contains 3 teaspoons (3 x 5 ml).

In the UK, however, a tablespoon equals approximately 17.7 ml, or 4 teaspoons. In Australia, a tablespoon equals 20 ml, so there would be 4 teaspoons in one Australian tablespoon.

Measuring spoon tips

Even with the proper measuring spoon, it’s easy to overmeasure if you’re not careful. Here are some tips for accurately measuring your dry ingredients:

Tap lightly. Rather than pack down the dry ingredients, a light tap should be enough force to get the proper measurement.
Sift your dry ingredients. Sifting flour (or any dry ingredient) adds air and makes for a more evenly dispersed product.
Keep your dry ingredients dry. Any humidity can impact the weight of dry ingredients if they hold onto moisture.
Soften certain ingredients. A stick of butter or coconut oil is more accurately measured when it’s soft and malleable.

Wet versus dry ingredients

Unlike many other units of measurement, it’s easy to use tablespoons and teaspoons for wet and dry ingredients. There’s no extra math or tools needed!

Tips for remembering measurements

For tablespoons to teaspoons: 1 tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons.

For cups to tablespoons: 1 cup contains 16 tablespoons.

For cups to milliliters: 1 cup is equal to 240 ml.

It’s important to note that in some countries like Australia and New Zealand, a metric cup is used, which is equivalent to 250 milliliters.

What is a tablespoon?

A tablespoon (abbreviated as ‘tbsp’ or ‘tbs’) is a commonly used culinary measuring tool for measuring the volume of ingredients like vanilla extract, sugar, or citrus juice.

It is equal to approximately 15 milliliters (ml) or 0.5 fluid ounces (fl oz), depending on the measurement systems. This makes it larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a fluid ounce.

What is a teaspoon?

A teaspoon (abbreviation ‘tsp’) is a commonly used unit of measurement in cooking and baking. It allows recipes to use smaller amounts of ingredients, like baking powder, extracts, or spices.

It is designed to hold 5 milliliters (ml) of liquid or dry ingredients or 1/6 fluid ounces (fl oz). In most measurement systems, a teaspoon is 1/3 the size of a tablespoon.

How much is a pinch or dash?

If you’ve ever seen a recipe calling for a ‘pinch of salt’ or a ‘dash of cinnamon,’ you’re probably wondering how much that means.

In general, a pinch is about ⅛ of a teaspoon, enough to fit between your thumb and forefinger. A dash is typically less than a pinch or under ⅛ of a teaspoon.