How many teaspoons in a tablespoon: 3
There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. To convert tsp to tbsp, divide the teaspoons by 3.
Teaspoons in 1 tbsp
1 tbsp x 3 tsp per tbsp = 3 tsp
3 tsp = 1 tbsp in US and metric spoons, from NIST SP 811 and 21 CFR 101.9. How we calculate this
From: Tablespoons. Amount: 1 tbsp.
A tablespoon holds 3 teaspoons. NIST SP 811 lists the US teaspoon at 4.929 mL and the tablespoon at 14.787 mL, exactly three times as much. The FDA nutrition labeling rule rounds them to 5 mL and 15 mL, and the 3 to 1 ratio holds there too. So 2 tablespoons are 6 teaspoons, and 4 teaspoons are 1 1/3 tablespoons.
Pick the direction under From and type the amount. The result shows the kitchen fraction a spoon set can measure, such as 1 1/3 tablespoons. For tablespoon answers it also names the spoons to use, such as 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon.
Quick answer: how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. That holds for US customary spoons, 4.929 mL and 14.787 mL in NIST SP 811, and for the 5 mL and 15 mL spoons of the FDA labeling rule. To convert tsp to tbsp, divide by 3: 4 teaspoons is 1 1/3 tablespoons, or 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon.
Key takeaways
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons, so tablespoons = teaspoons / 3 and teaspoons = tablespoons x 3.
- Half a tablespoon is 1 1/2 teaspoons, and 1/3 tablespoon is 1 teaspoon.
- A US cup holds 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons.
- The metric 5 mL teaspoon is 1.4 percent larger than the 4.929 mL US one, but both standards keep 3 teaspoons to the tablespoon.
Worked example: 4 teaspoons to tablespoons
A spice rub calls for 4 teaspoons of paprika and you want to use a tablespoon. Divide by 3: 4 / 3 = 1.333 tablespoons, which is 1 1/3. No spoon set has a 1/3 tablespoon, so measure 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon.
Scaling the other way: a recipe for four uses 1 1/2 tablespoons of soy sauce and you are cooking for two. Half of 1 1/2 tablespoons is 3/4 tablespoon, and 3/4 x 3 = 2 1/4 teaspoons.
How we calculate this
Formula
Teaspoons = tablespoons x 3.
1 x 3 = 3 tsp.
Your inputs
Amount: 1 tbsp. Spoons: US customary, 14.787 mL and 4.929 mL (NIST SP 811); labeling, 15 mL and 5 mL (21 CFR 101.9). Both hold 3 teaspoons to the tablespoon.
The converter multiplies tablespoons by 3 for teaspoons and divides teaspoons by 3 for tablespoons. The figure shows the nearest kitchen fraction in thirds or eighths when one lands within 3 percent, and two decimals otherwise. For a tablespoon answer that is not whole, a second line gives whole tablespoons plus the leftover teaspoons, rounded to the nearest quarter teaspoon.
Sources
- NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.8 (read 8 October 2026). It lists the US tablespoon at 0.014 786 76 L and the teaspoon at 0.004 928 922 L, a ratio of 3. It lists the US cup at 0.236 588 2 L, which is 16 tablespoons.
- 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii), the FDA nutrition labeling rule, on the eCFR (read 8 October 2026). It sets the teaspoon at 5 mL and the tablespoon at 15 mL for labels.
Limits
The ratio assumes level spoons. A heaped spoon holds more, so sweep each spoon flat with a straight edge, as our guide on how to measure flour without a scale shows. For the weight of a spoonful of a named ingredient, use grams to tablespoons.
Video: Difference Between Teaspoon and a Tablespoon
Teaspoons to tablespoons chart
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Measure with |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 1/3 tbsp | 1 tsp |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 1/2 tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp |
| 2 tsp | 2/3 tbsp | 2 tsp |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | 1 tbsp |
| 4 tsp | 1 1/3 tbsp | 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp |
| 5 tsp | 1 2/3 tbsp | 1 tbsp plus 2 tsp |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | 2 tbsp |
| 8 tsp | 2 2/3 tbsp | 2 tbsp plus 2 tsp |
| 9 tsp | 3 tbsp | 3 tbsp |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp | 4 tbsp |
Tablespoons to teaspoons chart
| Tablespoons | Teaspoons | US customary | 15 mL spoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 3/4 tsp | 3.7 mL | 3.8 mL |
| 1/3 tbsp | 1 tsp | 4.9 mL | 5.0 mL |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp | 7.4 mL | 7.5 mL |
| 2/3 tbsp | 2 tsp | 9.9 mL | 10.0 mL |
| 3/4 tbsp | 2 1/4 tsp | 11.1 mL | 11.3 mL |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.8 mL | 15.0 mL |
| 1 1/2 tbsp | 4 1/2 tsp | 22.2 mL | 22.5 mL |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.6 mL | 30.0 mL |
| 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | 44.4 mL | 45.0 mL |
| 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.1 mL | 60.0 mL |
How many teaspoons in 1/4, 1/3 and 1/2 cup?
A US cup holds 48 teaspoons, so a quarter cup is 12, a third of a cup is 16 and half a cup is 24. In tablespoons those are 4, 5 1/3 and 8. For every cup fraction in spoons, see how many tablespoons in a cup.
Is a metric teaspoon different?
Slightly. The US customary teaspoon is 4.929 mL and the metric and labeling teaspoon is 5 mL, 1.4 percent larger. The tablespoons differ by the same 1.4 percent, 14.787 mL against 15 mL. Because both spoons in each set grow together, the answer to how many teaspoons in a tablespoon stays 3 in either set. Mixing sets changes the answer a little: three 5 mL teaspoons hold 15 mL, a hair more than one 14.787 mL US tablespoon.
Teaspoon or tablespoon: which is which?
The tablespoon is the larger spoon, three times the teaspoon. Recipes abbreviate them as tsp and tbsp. Because the two differ by three times, swapping them changes the amount by that much, which matters most for salt, baking soda and baking powder.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1 tablespoon 3 teaspoons? Yes, in both US customary and metric spoons.
How many teaspoons are in half a tablespoon? 1 1/2 teaspoons.
How many tablespoons are 2 teaspoons? 2/3 of a tablespoon.
How many teaspoons are in 2 tablespoons? 6 teaspoons.
How many mL are in a teaspoon? 4.93 mL for a US customary teaspoon and 5 mL for the metric and labeling teaspoon.
How many teaspoons are in a cup? 48 teaspoons in a US cup.
Conclusion
Three teaspoons make a tablespoon, in US and metric spoons alike, so tsp to tbsp is a division by 3. Use the converter for odd counts, and the measure line tells you which spoons to fill. For recipes to put the spoons to work, see the TheSawad cookbooks.