Tablespoon to Teaspoon

Updated May 2026

Convert tablespoons to teaspoons instantly. Type a number to get your answer.

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

15 ml = 3 x 5 ml (US and UK)

Standard:

Tablespoons

Teaspoons

Formula: tbsp x 3 = tsp

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon

In Australia it is 4. Everywhere else, 3:1 is exact.

Common Fractional Conversions

1/4 tbsp

3/4 tsp

vanilla for one mug cake

1/2 tbsp

1.5 tsp

baking powder for muffins

1 tbsp

3 tsp

olive oil per dressing

2 tbsp

6 tsp

= 1 fl oz

3 tbsp

9 tsp

cocoa powder for one cup

4 tbsp

12 tsp

= 1/4 cup

Common Tablespoon-to-Teaspoon Conversions

Quick reference with ml, fl oz, and real cooking examples. See the full kitchen chart.

Tablespoons	Teaspoons	ml	fl oz	Common Use
1/4	3/4	3.7	0.12	pinch of baking powder, vanilla for mug cake
1/3	1	4.9	0.17	small spice measurement
1/2	1.5	7.4	0.25	vanilla extract, baking powder for small batch
3/4	2.25	11.1	0.37	small sauce garnish
1	3	14.8	0.5	salad dressing portion, honey drizzle
1.5	4.5	22.2	0.75	soy sauce serving, fish sauce
2	6	29.6	1	standard butter portion (= 1 fl oz)
3	9	44.4	1.5	cream cheese per serving
4	12	59.1	2	= 1/4 US cup
8	24	118.3	4	= 1/2 US cup
16	48	236.6	8	= 1 US cup

Spoon Size Comparison

Three spoons, three volumes. Only measuring spoons are calibrated.

Teaspoon

5 ml

Spices, baking powder, vanilla extract, liquid medicine.

Dessert Spoon

10 ml

2 teaspoons. Found in UK recipes. Not used in US cooking.

Tablespoon

15 ml

3 teaspoons. AU tablespoon is 20 ml (4 tsp).

UK tip: A dessert spoon (10 ml) is NOT the same as a tablespoon (15 ml). See guide.

Australia: 1 tablespoon = 20 ml = 4 teaspoons. US/UK = 15 ml = 3 tsp. See guide.

Measuring liquid medicine?

Do not use kitchen spoons. A household teaspoon may hold anywhere from 2.5 ml to 7 ml, not the 5 ml it should. Use the dosing syringe or cup supplied with the medicine, or a calibrated oral syringe from a pharmacy. Full medicine-dosing safety guide.

Ingredient Weights per Tablespoon

Tablespoons measure volume, not weight. The same spoon holds very different grams depending on the ingredient. Full weight reference.

Ingredient	Per tablespoon	Note
Water	15 g	The reference standard (1 ml = 1 g)
Flour (all-purpose, levelled)	8 g
Flour (all-purpose, scooped/packed)	10-12 g	Scoop method adds 25-50% more
Sugar (granulated)	12.5 g
Sugar (brown, packed)	13.8 g
Butter	14.2 g
Honey	21 g	Denser than water
Maple syrup	20 g
Olive oil	13.5 g
Cocoa powder	7.4 g
Baking powder	13.8 g
Salt (table/iodised)	18 g
Salt (kosher, Diamond Crystal)	9 g	Half the weight of table salt per tbsp
Salt (kosher, Morton)	15 g	1.67x denser than Diamond Crystal
Vanilla extract	13 g
Baking soda	14 g

Salt warning: Diamond Crystal kosher salt (9 g/tbsp) weighs nearly half of Morton kosher salt (15 g/tbsp). Using the wrong brand without adjusting quantity will dramatically over- or under-salt a dish. Full salt conversion table.

5 Measurement Tips That Prevent Recipe Failures

Level your spoons

A heaped tablespoon of flour can hold 50% more than a levelled one. Always sweep the flat edge of a knife across dry ingredients unless the recipe specifies heaping.

Do not pack unless instructed

"1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)" means pressed firmly into the spoon. Without the word packed, measure loosely. Packed brown sugar weighs about 13.8 g per tablespoon versus 10 g unpacked.

Liquid cups and dry cups are different tools

Liquid measuring cups have a pour spout and extra headroom above the marked line. Dry cups are flat-topped for levelling. Using the wrong type causes 10 to 15 percent measurement errors.

Temperature affects volume

Butter measured as a solid tablespoon versus melted tablespoon yields a different amount because the crystalline structure takes up more space. Measure butter in its solid state unless the recipe says otherwise.

When in doubt, weigh it

Professional bakers weigh everything. A kitchen scale removes all measurement confusion. 250 g of flour is always 250 g regardless of how you scoop. The OXO Good Grips digital scale is the standard recommendation for home bakers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

There are exactly 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon (US and UK standard). Australia uses 4 teaspoons per tablespoon because the Australian tablespoon is 20 ml rather than 15 ml. The teaspoon is 5 ml everywhere.

Is 1 tablespoon the same as 1 teaspoon?

No. A tablespoon is three times a teaspoon by volume. A tablespoon holds 15 ml; a teaspoon holds 5 ml. Confusing the two will triple or third your ingredient amount.

What is half a tablespoon in teaspoons?

Half a tablespoon is 1.5 teaspoons. Measure one teaspoon plus half a teaspoon rather than trying to eyeball a half-filled tablespoon, which is much less accurate.

How many tablespoons in a cup?

There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup (236.59 ml). That is 48 teaspoons. The UK cup is 284 ml, which is approximately 19 tablespoons.

Is an Australian tablespoon bigger than a US tablespoon?

Yes. The Australian tablespoon is 20 ml and equals 4 teaspoons. The US and UK tablespoon is 15 ml and equals 3 teaspoons. The teaspoon itself is 5 ml in all three countries.

Is a tablespoon the same as a dessert spoon?

No. A tablespoon is 15 ml (3 teaspoons). A dessert spoon is 10 ml (2 teaspoons). This confusion is common in UK kitchens where both types of spoon are found in the cutlery drawer. Older British recipes may specify a dessert spoon.

Can I use kitchen spoons to measure medicine?

No. Kitchen spoons vary from 2.5 ml to 7 ml and are not calibrated. Always use the dosing syringe or cup supplied with the medicine. Confusing a teaspoon (5 ml) with a tablespoon (15 ml) can triple a medicine dose.

Why does Diamond Crystal kosher salt behave differently to Morton?

Diamond Crystal kosher salt weighs about 9 g per tablespoon. Morton kosher salt weighs about 15 g per tablespoon. The difference is grain shape: Diamond Crystal uses hollow pyramid crystals that pack loosely; Morton crystals are flat and dense. Swapping one for the other without adjusting quantity changes the saltiness of a dish significantly.

What does scant tablespoon mean?

A scant tablespoon means slightly less than a full tablespoon. Fill the spoon and leave a small gap at the top, giving roughly 2.5 teaspoons rather than the full 3.

Is a tablespoon of flour the same weight as a tablespoon of water?

By volume yes, by weight no. One tablespoon of water weighs 15 g. One tablespoon of all-purpose flour weighs about 8 g. Density determines the difference, which is why professional bakers weigh ingredients rather than measuring by volume.

See all 30+ questions about tablespoon and teaspoon conversions.

Related Resources

Teaspoon to Tablespoon

Reverse direction converter

Kitchen Measurement Chart

Every volume unit in one table

Tablespoon to ml, Cups, Oz

Adjacent-unit conversions

SquareMetersToSquareFeet

Area unit converter

AcresToSquareFeet

Land area converter