How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
1 Tbsp = 3 tsp
1/2 Tbsp = 1 1/2 tsp · 1 tsp = 1/3 Tbsp · 1 Tbsp = 14.79 mL
Converter
Common amounts in Tbsp
Other cup standards
US cups: 0.063 · nutrition-label cups (240 mL): 0.062 · metric cups (250 mL): 0.059 · UK fluid ounces: 0.52
A US tablespoon holds exactly 3 teaspoons. Half a tablespoon is 1 1/2 teaspoons, and a teaspoon is a third of a tablespoon. Spoon sets rarely include a 1/2 tablespoon, so when a recipe asks for one, use 1 tsp plus 1/2 tsp.
In metric terms a tablespoon is 14.79 mL and a teaspoon 4.93 mL, which labels round to 15 mL and 5 mL. Australia is the exception: its standard tablespoon is 20 mL, or 4 teaspoons, so Australian recipes call for a little more per tablespoon than American ones.
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Measure with |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 0.083 | 1/4 tsp |
| 1/2 tsp | 0.167 | 1/2 tsp |
| 3/4 tsp | 0.25 | 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp |
| 1 tsp | 0.333 | 1 tsp |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 0.5 | 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp |
| 2 tsp | 0.667 | 2 tsp |
| 2 1/2 tsp | 0.833 | 2 tsp + 1/2 tsp |
| 3 tsp | 1 | 1 Tbsp |
| 4 tsp | 1.333 | 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp |
| 4 1/2 tsp | 1.5 | 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp |
| 5 tsp | 1.667 | 1 Tbsp + 2 tsp |
| 6 tsp | 2 | 2 Tbsp |
| 9 tsp | 3 | 3 Tbsp |
| 12 tsp | 4 | 4 Tbsp |
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | mL |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 Tbsp | 0.75 | 3.7 |
| 1/2 Tbsp | 1.5 | 7.4 |
| 3/4 Tbsp | 2.25 | 11.1 |
| 1 Tbsp | 3 | 14.8 |
| 1 1/2 Tbsp | 4.5 | 22.2 |
| 2 Tbsp | 6 | 29.6 |
| 3 Tbsp | 9 | 44.4 |
| 4 Tbsp | 12 | 59.1 |
| 8 Tbsp | 24 | 118.3 |
| 16 Tbsp | 48 | 236.6 |
When the spoon you need is missing
- No tablespoon: 3 level teaspoons
- No 1/2 Tbsp: 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp
- No 3/4 tsp: 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp
- 2 Tbsp: 1/8 cup, or 1 fl oz
- 4 Tbsp: 1/4 cup
Spoon counts for every cup fraction are in spoons in a cup.
Level spoons, not heaping
Recipes mean a level spoonful: fill the spoon, then sweep a knife across the top. A heaping teaspoon of flour or sugar can hold close to twice as much, which matters most for baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Questions
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
3 teaspoons in 1 US tablespoon.
How many teaspoons in 1/2 tablespoon?
1 1/2 teaspoons.
How many tablespoons is 4 teaspoons?
1 1/3 tablespoons, or 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp.
Is an Australian tablespoon different?
Yes. It is 20 mL, or 4 teaspoons, against about 15 mL (3 teaspoons) in the US and UK.
By Alton Vieira · Updated . Sources: US customary units: NIST Handbook 44. How we calculate.