How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Quick answer: 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon in US and metric cooking. Multiply tablespoons by 3 to get teaspoons, or divide teaspoons by 3 to get tablespoons.
Teaspoons to tablespoons chart
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters (US) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 3/4 tsp | about 3.7 ml |
| 1/3 tbsp | 1 tsp | about 4.9 ml |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp | about 7.4 ml |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | about 14.8 ml |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | about 29.6 ml |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | about 44.4 ml |
| 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) | 12 tsp | about 59.1 ml |
Common situations
Halving a recipe that calls for 1 tablespoon. Use 1 1/2 teaspoons.
A recipe asks for 1/2 tablespoon but you only have teaspoons. That is 1 1/2 teaspoons.
You lost the tablespoon. Use three level teaspoons.
How many teaspoons are in a cup? 48, because a cup holds 16 tablespoons. See how many tablespoons are in a cup.
US teaspoons vs metric teaspoons
A US teaspoon is about 4.93 ml. A metric teaspoon is defined as 5 ml. A US tablespoon is about 14.79 ml, and the metric tablespoon is 15 ml. The difference is small enough that most cooks can ignore it. In baking, where ingredients like baking powder are used in tiny amounts, use level spoons and the same set throughout a recipe.
The Australian tablespoon
Australia uses a 20 ml tablespoon, which is 4 teaspoons rather than 3. If you follow an Australian recipe with a US tablespoon, you will use about a quarter too little of anything measured in tablespoons. For a spice, that is not a disaster. For salt or baking soda, adjust carefully. More on measuring differences in US cup vs metric cup vs UK cup.
Level, heaped and rounded
A recipe means a level spoon unless it says otherwise. Fill the spoon and sweep the back of a knife across the top. A heaped spoon can hold up to twice as much, so the wording matters.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in 2 tablespoons? 6.
How many teaspoons are in 1/4 cup? 12, since 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons.
Is a dessert spoon the same as a tablespoon? No. Dessert spoons are a UK and Commonwealth measure, usually about 10 ml, and cutlery spoons from a drawer are not accurate measuring tools.
Try the teaspoons to tablespoons converter or the tablespoons to teaspoons converter.