Tablespoons to Teaspoons Converter (tbsp to tsp)
Type any amount — even fractions like 1/2 or 1/4 tbsp — and get the exact teaspoon count instantly. Converts both ways: tablespoons to teaspoons and teaspoons to tablespoons, with US, metric/UK and Australian spoon sizes.
Tablespoons to Teaspoons Converter
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How to Convert Tablespoons to Teaspoons
- Pick your direction. Convert tablespoons to teaspoons, or flip the tabs to convert teaspoons to tablespoons instead.
- Choose your spoon standard. Use US for American recipes, Metric / UK for British, Canadian and New Zealand recipes, and Australian only for Australian recipes (1 AU tbsp = 4 tsp).
- Type any amount. Whole numbers, decimals and fractions all work: 2, 2.5, 1/2, 1/4 or 1 1/2.
- Read the result instantly. The teaspoon count appears immediately, with milliliters, fluid ounces and cups alongside — no button needed. Copy it with one tap.
How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in one tablespoon — this is true for US tablespoons (14.79 ml) and metric tablespoons (15 ml, used in the UK, Canada and New Zealand). The one exception is Australia, where a tablespoon holds 4 teaspoons (20 ml). So “tbsp to tsp” is a simple ×3 multiplication almost everywhere in the world, and ×4 only for Australian recipes.
In reverse: 1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon (about 0.333 tbsp) in the US and metric systems, and 1/4 tablespoon in Australia.
What Is a Tablespoon?
A tablespoon (tbsp) is a unit of volume used in cooking. In the US, one tablespoon equals 14.7868 ml (exactly half a US fluid ounce). In the UK, Canada, New Zealand and most metric countries, a tablespoon is defined as exactly 15 ml. In Australia, a tablespoon is 20 ml — the largest tablespoon in common use.
Despite the different milliliter volumes, the US and metric tablespoons both contain exactly 3 teaspoons. Only the Australian tablespoon breaks the pattern with 4 teaspoons. In recipes, a tablespoon is written as tbsp, T (capital T) or tbl — capital T distinguishes it from the lowercase t used for teaspoon.
What Is a Teaspoon?
A teaspoon (tsp) is a smaller unit of volume used for precise amounts of spices, salt, baking powder, extracts and medicine. A US teaspoon equals 4.9289 ml, while a metric teaspoon (UK, Canada, NZ, Australia) is exactly 5 ml.
Three teaspoons make one tablespoon in the US and metric systems, which is why “how many teaspoons in a tablespoon” is the most-searched spoon conversion in the kitchen. Teaspoons are written as tsp or lowercase t — never confuse a lowercase t with a capital T (tablespoon), or a dish can get three times the intended seasoning.
Tablespoon to Teaspoon Conversion Table
Tap any tablespoon value to load it into the converter above. All values use 1 tbsp = 3 tsp (US and metric tablespoons).
| Tablespoons (tbsp) | Teaspoons (tsp) | Milliliters (ml) |
|---|---|---|
| ½ tbsp | 1.5 tsp | 7.393 ml |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.787 ml |
| 1½ tbsp | 4.5 tsp | 22.18 ml |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.574 ml |
| 2.5 tbsp | 7.5 tsp | 36.967 ml |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | 44.36 ml |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.147 ml |
| 5 tbsp | 15 tsp | 73.934 ml |
| 6 tbsp | 18 tsp | 88.721 ml |
| 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118.29 ml |
| 10 tbsp | 30 tsp | 147.87 ml |
| 12 tbsp | 36 tsp | 177.44 ml |
| 16 tbsp | 48 tsp | 236.59 ml |
| 24 tbsp | 72 tsp | 354.88 ml |
More Tablespoon & Teaspoon Conversions
Tablespoons also convert cleanly into every other common kitchen unit. Quick reference (US tablespoon = 14.7868 ml):
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters | Fluid Ounces | Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.787 ml | 0.5 fl oz | 0.0625 cup(s) |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.574 ml | 1 fl oz | 0.125 cup(s) |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.147 ml | 2 fl oz | 0.25 cup(s) |
| 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118.29 ml | 4 fl oz | 0.5 cup(s) |
Handy factors to remember: 1 tbsp = 3 tsp, 1 tbsp = 0.5 fl oz (exactly half a fluid ounce), and 16 tbsp = 1 cup.
Convert from Tablespoons
Quick lookup — every common tablespoon amount expressed in teaspoons (US/metric, ×3):
- 1/2 tablespoons = 1.5 teaspoons
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
- 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons
- 3 tablespoons = 9 teaspoons
- 4 tablespoons = 12 teaspoons
- 6 tablespoons = 18 teaspoons
- 8 tablespoons = 24 teaspoons
- 12 tablespoons = 36 teaspoons
- 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons
Convert to Teaspoons
Recipes speak many units; here they are all translated into teaspoons so you can count out spoonfuls directly:
| Amount | Equals (teaspoons) |
|---|---|
| 1/2 tbsp | 1.5 tsp |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp |
| 1/2 fl oz | 3 tsp |
| 1 fl oz | 6 tsp |
| 1/4 cup | 12 tsp |
| 1/3 cup | 16 tsp |
| 1/2 cup | 24 tsp |
| 1 cup | 48 tsp |
US Tablespoons to US Teaspoons
Exact US customary values — the US tablespoon (14.7868 ml) and US teaspoon (4.9289 ml) keep an exact 3:1 ratio. Fractions type straight into the converter above.
| US Tablespoons | US Teaspoons | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 US tbsp | 0.375 US tsp | 1.848 ml |
| 1/4 US tbsp | 0.75 US tsp | 3.697 ml |
| 1/3 US tbsp | 1 US tsp | 4.929 ml |
| 1/2 US tbsp | 1.5 US tsp | 7.393 ml |
| 2/3 US tbsp | 2 US tsp | 9.858 ml |
| 3/4 US tbsp | 2.25 US tsp | 11.09 ml |
| 1 US tbsp | 3 US tsp | 14.787 ml |
| 1 1/2 US tbsp | 4.5 US tsp | 22.18 ml |
| 2 US tbsp | 6 US tsp | 29.574 ml |
Tablespoons and teaspoons reference chart
Every spoon size at a glance — pin this chart when a recipe does not say which country it comes from:
| Spoon | Volume | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| US tablespoon (tbsp) | 14.7868 ml | 3 US teaspoons |
| US teaspoon (tsp) | 4.9289 ml | ⅓ US tablespoon |
| Metric tablespoon (UK, Canada, NZ) | 15 ml | 3 teaspoons |
| Metric teaspoon | 5 ml | ⅓ metric tablespoon |
| Australian tablespoon | 20 ml | 4 teaspoons |
| Australian teaspoon | 5 ml | ¼ Australian tablespoon |
| Imperial tablespoon (historic UK) | 17.7582 ml | ≈ 3 tsp (obsolete) |
Tablespoon to teaspoon conversions
Everyday kitchen amounts with metric and fluid-ounce equivalents (US tablespoon = 14.7868 ml):
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters | Fluid Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 0.75 tsp | 3.697 ml | 0.125 fl oz |
| 1/3 tbsp | 1 tsp | 4.929 ml | 0.1667 fl oz |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1.5 tsp | 7.393 ml | 0.25 fl oz |
| 2/3 tbsp | 2 tsp | 9.858 ml | 0.3333 fl oz |
| 3/4 tbsp | 2.25 tsp | 11.09 ml | 0.375 fl oz |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.787 ml | 0.5 fl oz |
| 1 1/2 tbsp | 4.5 tsp | 22.18 ml | 0.75 fl oz |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.574 ml | 1 fl oz |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | 44.36 ml | 1.5 fl oz |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.147 ml | 2 fl oz |
| 6 tbsp | 18 tsp | 88.721 ml | 3 fl oz |
| 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118.29 ml | 4 fl oz |
Teaspoon to tablespoon conversions
Reverse lookups: teaspoons back to tablespoons (divide by 3). Tap any teaspoon value to load it into the converter above.
| Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Milliliters (ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 0.3333 tbsp | 4.929 ml |
| 2 tsp | 0.6667 tbsp | 9.858 ml |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | 14.787 ml |
| 4 tsp | 1.3333 tbsp | 19.716 ml |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | 29.574 ml |
| 9 tsp | 3 tbsp | 44.36 ml |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp | 59.147 ml |
| 24 tsp | 8 tbsp | 118.29 ml |
| 48 tsp | 16 tbsp | 236.59 ml |
Different tablespoon and teaspoon sizes
The “how many teaspoons in a tablespoon” question has one answer almost everywhere — 3 — but the spoon volumes behind it differ by country:
| Standard | Tablespoon volume | Teaspoon volume | Tsp per tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (US customary) | 14.7868 ml | 4.9289 ml | 3 |
| Metric (UK, Canada, NZ, most recipes) | 15 ml | 5 ml | 3 |
| Australia | 20 ml | 5 ml | 4 |
| Imperial (historic UK, pre-metric) | 17.7582 ml | 5.9194 ml | ≈ 3 |
US vs metric: 14.79 ml vs 15 ml is a 1.4% difference — invisible in any recipe, and both are exactly 3 teaspoons. Australia is the real outlier: its 20 ml tablespoon holds 4 teaspoons, so following an Australian recipe with US spoons under-measures every tablespoon by 25%. Imperial tablespoons (17.76 ml) belong to old British cookbooks; modern UK recipes use the 15 ml metric tablespoon.
Tablespoons to Teaspoons Converter – Australian
Australian recipes use a bigger tablespoon: 1 Australian tbsp = 20 ml = 4 tsp. If your recipe was written in Australia, multiply tablespoons by 4 instead of 3 — using the US ×3 factor would under-measure every tablespoon by a full teaspoon.
Australian tablespoon to teaspoon values:
| Australian Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 AU tbsp | 2 tsp | 10 ml |
| 1 AU tbsp | 4 tsp | 20 ml |
| 1 1/2 AU tbsp | 6 tsp | 30 ml |
| 2 AU tbsp | 8 tsp | 40 ml |
| 3 AU tbsp | 12 tsp | 60 ml |
| 4 AU tbsp | 16 tsp | 80 ml |
| 6 AU tbsp | 24 tsp | 120 ml |
| 8 AU tbsp | 32 tsp | 160 ml |
Common Conversion Values For Tablespoons to Teaspoons Chart
The most-searched tbsp-to-tsp values, all in one chart (US and metric, ×3):
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.787 ml |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.574 ml |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | 44.36 ml |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.147 ml |
| 6 tbsp | 18 tsp | 88.721 ml |
| 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118.29 ml |
| 12 tbsp | 36 tsp | 177.44 ml |
| 16 tbsp | 48 tsp | 236.59 ml |
| 1/4 tbsp | 0.75 tsp | 3.697 ml |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1.5 tsp | 7.393 ml |
| 3/4 tbsp | 2.25 tsp | 11.09 ml |
Memorize two anchors and you will rarely need the chart: 1 tbsp = 3 tsp and 1/2 tbsp = 1.5 tsp.
Common Conversion Values For Tablespoons to Teaspoons Chart – Australian
The most-searched values for Australian recipes (×4 — the Australian tablespoon is 20 ml):
| Australian Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 AU tbsp | 4 tsp | 20 ml |
| 2 AU tbsp | 8 tsp | 40 ml |
| 3 AU tbsp | 12 tsp | 60 ml |
| 4 AU tbsp | 16 tsp | 80 ml |
| 6 AU tbsp | 24 tsp | 120 ml |
| 1/4 AU tbsp | 1 tsp | 5 ml |
| 1/2 AU tbsp | 2 tsp | 10 ml |
| 3/4 AU tbsp | 3 tsp | 15 ml |
Australian anchor to remember: 1 AU tbsp = 4 tsp = 20 ml.
Why Use This Tablespoon to Teaspoon Converter?
- Handles kitchen fractions. Type 1/2, 1/4 or 1 1/2 tbsp exactly as a recipe writes them — no decimal math in your head.
- Converts both directions. Tablespoons to teaspoons for measuring out, teaspoons to tablespoons when you have counted spoonfuls and want the bigger unit.
- Covers three spoon standards. US, metric/UK and Australian modes — the Australian 4-tsp tablespoon is the mistake this tool prevents.
- Exact milliliter volumes. Every result shows ml, fluid ounces and cups, so you can switch to a scale or a measuring cup mid-recipe.
- Zero friction. No sign-up, no reloads, no ads in the way. It works offline once loaded and never sends your numbers anywhere.
- Built for the kitchen. Instant equivalents plus quick-reference tables for the values you look up most — 1/2 tbsp, 2 tbsp, 1/3 cup and the rest.
Who Is This Tbsp to Tsp Tool For?
Tablespoons to Teaspoons: The Complete Guide
The tablespoon-to-teaspoon formula
The conversion is a single multiplication:
tsp = tbsp × 3
Worked example: convert 2.5 tbsp to tsp. 2.5 × 3 = 7.5 tsp. That is the whole method — no offsets, no special cases. For Australian recipes only, use × 4 instead: 2.5 AU tbsp = 10 tsp. If you only need a mental check, remember the anchor 1 tbsp = 3 tsp and scale from there: 4 tbsp is 12 tsp, 8 tbsp is 24 tsp.
Teaspoons to tablespoons: converting in reverse
Counted out spoonfuls and want the bigger unit? Invert the formula:
tbsp = tsp ÷ 3
So 9 tsp becomes 3 tbsp, and 1.5 tsp becomes 1/2 tbsp. The converter above handles the reverse direction in the “Teaspoons → Tablespoons” tab — useful when a spice jar lists “contains 48 teaspoons” and you want to know that is exactly 1 cup (16 tbsp).
Tablespoons and teaspoons in cooking and baking
American recipes live on spoons: a quarter cup is 4 tbsp (12 tsp), a stick of butter is 8 tbsp (24 tsp), and vanilla, salt and baking powder are almost always measured in teaspoons. Teaspoon-level precision matters most in baking — the difference between 1 tsp and 1 tbsp of baking powder is a ruined cake, which is exactly why the lowercase t vs capital T distinction exists.
When a recipe mixes volume and weight, pair this converter with a cups to grams converter to weigh ingredients, and a recipe converter when you need to scale the whole batch up or down.
Tips for accurate spoon conversions
- Level every spoonful. A heaping tablespoon can hold 1.5× the recipe’s intent — sweep the top flat with a knife.
- Match the recipe’s country. Australian recipes + US spoons = 25% under-measured tablespoons. Use the Australian mode above.
- Dry and liquid spoons measure the same volume, but for sticky ingredients like honey, lightly oil the spoon first.
- For large amounts, scale up the tool, not the spoon. 24 tsp is 8 tbsp — measure 8 tablespoons, not 24 teaspoons.
- Trust measuring spoons over cutlery. A dinner spoon is “about” a tablespoon; a real tablespoon measure is exact.
No measuring spoons? Estimate it
Three level teaspoons equal one tablespoon — count them out if you have any teaspoon measure. A standard water-bottle cap holds roughly 1 teaspoon, and a regular dinner spoon from the cutlery drawer is roughly 1 tablespoon (but imprecise). For anything where precision matters — baking powder, yeast, salt in bread — borrow real measuring spoons or weigh the ingredient: an ounces to grams converter plus a kitchen scale beats every spoon-counting trick.
Tablespoons to Teaspoons — Frequently Asked Questions
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in a US tablespoon and in a metric tablespoon (UK, Canada, New Zealand). An Australian tablespoon is larger — it holds 4 teaspoons. So the answer is 3, unless you are following an Australian recipe.
Is a tablespoon 3 or 4 teaspoons?
A tablespoon is 3 teaspoons in the US and in metric-standard countries. It is 4 teaspoons only in Australia, where the tablespoon is defined as 20 ml instead of 15 ml. Check where your recipe was written: a US or UK recipe means 3 tsp per tbsp.
How many tablespoons are in a teaspoon?
One teaspoon is 1/3 of a US or metric tablespoon (about 0.333 tbsp). In Australia, one teaspoon is 1/4 of an Australian tablespoon. Divide teaspoons by 3 (or by 4 in Australia) to get tablespoons.
What is 2 tablespoons in teaspoons?
2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons (US and metric). In Australia, 2 tablespoons = 8 teaspoons, because the Australian tablespoon equals 4 teaspoons.
How many teaspoons is half a tablespoon?
Half a tablespoon is 1.5 teaspoons (1 and 1/2 tsp) in the US and metric systems. In Australia, half a tablespoon is 2 teaspoons.
What is the formula to convert tablespoons to teaspoons?
The formula is: teaspoons = tablespoons × 3. To convert tablespoons to teaspoons, multiply by 3 (US and metric spoons). For Australian recipes, multiply by 4 instead. To go the other way, divide teaspoons by 3 to get tablespoons.
Is a US tablespoon the same as a UK tablespoon?
Almost. A US tablespoon is 14.79 ml; the metric tablespoon used in the UK, Canada and New Zealand is 15 ml. That is only a 1.4% difference, and both equal exactly 3 teaspoons, so you can treat them as the same in any recipe.
How can I measure a tablespoon without measuring spoons?
Three level teaspoons make exactly one tablespoon, so count out 3 tsp if you have a teaspoon measure. A standard dinner spoon holds roughly one tablespoon, but it is not precise — always use real measuring spoons for baking.
Still converting? Try the cups to grams converter for volume-based recipes, or the ounces to grams converter to weigh ingredients precisely.