Tablespoon to Teaspoon
Convert tablespoons to teaspoons instantly. Type a number and get your answer in real time.
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
15 ml = 3 x 5 ml
Formula: tablespoons x 3 = teaspoons
Common Tablespoon-to-Teaspoon Conversions
Quick reference with real cooking examples.
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 3/4 tsp | Pinch of baking powder |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp | Vanilla extract |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | Olive oil, honey |
| 1 1/2 tbsp | 4 1/2 tsp | Soy sauce |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | Butter (1 oz) |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | Cream cheese per serving |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 1/4 cup |
| 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 1/2 cup |
| 16 tbsp | 48 tsp | 1 cup |
Spoon Size Comparison
Teaspoon
5 ml
The small one. Used for spices, extracts, and baking powder.
Dessert Spoon
10 ml
The middle one. Common in UK recipes. Equals 2 teaspoons.
Tablespoon
15 ml
The large one. Equals exactly 3 teaspoons.
Note: In Australia, 1 tablespoon = 4 teaspoons (20 ml), not 3. Always check which standard your recipe uses.
UK tip: A "dessert spoon" (common in British recipes) equals 2 teaspoons, not 3. It is smaller than a tablespoon.
Complete Kitchen Measurement Chart
US standard measurements. Every volume conversion you need in one table.
| Measurement | Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Millilitres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 1 | 1/3 | 4.93 |
| 1 tablespoon | 3 | 1 | 14.79 |
| 1 fluid ounce | 6 | 2 | 29.57 |
| 1/4 cup | 12 | 4 | 59.15 |
| 1/3 cup | 16 | 5 1/3 | 78.86 |
| 1/2 cup | 24 | 8 | 118.29 |
| 1 cup | 48 | 16 | 236.59 |
| 1 pint | 96 | 32 | 473.18 |
| 1 quart | 192 | 64 | 946.35 |
UK Differences
- -UK tablespoon = 15 ml (same as US)
- -UK teaspoon = 5 ml (same as US)
- -UK cup = 284 ml (vs US 236.59 ml)
- -Imperial pint = 568 ml (vs US 473 ml)
Metric Quick Reference
- -1 ml = 0.2 tsp
- -5 ml = 1 tsp
- -15 ml = 1 tbsp
- -250 ml = roughly 1 US cup
- -1 litre = roughly 4.2 US cups
Dry vs Liquid Measurements
Teaspoons and tablespoons measure volume, not weight. One tablespoon of water weighs about 15 grams. One tablespoon of flour weighs about 8 grams. One tablespoon of honey weighs about 21 grams.
| Ingredient | Weight per tbsp | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 15 g | The reference standard |
| Flour (all-purpose) | 8 g | Scooped and levelled |
| Sugar (granulated) | 12.5 g | |
| Sugar (brown, packed) | 13.8 g | |
| Butter | 14.2 g | |
| Honey | 21 g | Denser than water |
| Olive oil | 13.5 g | |
| Salt (table) | 18 g | |
| Salt (kosher, Diamond Crystal) | 9 g | Half the weight of table salt |
| Baking powder | 13.8 g | |
| Cocoa powder | 7.4 g | |
| Vanilla extract | 13 g |
Salt Warning
Diamond Crystal kosher salt and Morton kosher salt weigh very differently per tablespoon. Diamond Crystal is about 9 g per tablespoon while Morton is about 15 g. This is the most common cause of over-salting in recipes that specify "kosher salt" without naming a brand. When a recipe says "1 tablespoon kosher salt," check which brand they tested with.
Universal Kitchen Converter
Convert between any kitchen measurement. Select an ingredient for volume-to-weight conversions.
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Measurement Tips That Prevent Recipe Failures
Level your spoons
A heaped tablespoon of flour can be 50% more than a levelled one. Always use the flat edge of a knife to level dry ingredients unless the recipe says "heaping."
Do not pack unless instructed
"1 tablespoon brown sugar (packed)" means pressed firmly into the spoon. Without the word "packed," measure loosely.
Liquid vs dry measuring cups are different
Liquid cups have a spout and extra space above the line. Dry cups are flat-topped for levelling. Using the wrong type can cause 10 to 15 percent measurement errors.
Temperature affects volume
Butter measured as a solid tablespoon vs melted tablespoon yields different amounts. Measure butter in its solid state unless otherwise specified.
When in doubt, use weight
Professional bakers weigh everything. A kitchen scale eliminates all measurement confusion. "250g flour" is always 250g flour, regardless of spoon technique.