How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?

Answer

3 tsp

There are 3 teaspoons in 1 US tablespoon (14.79 ml).

UK: 1 metric tablespoon (15 ml) = 3 tsp

Exact: 1 tbsp = 3 tsp

Tablespoons to Teaspoons conversion chart

Tablespoons to teaspoons (US units)
Tablespoons	Teaspoons
one half tablespoon	1 and one half
1 tbsp	3
1 and one half tablespoons	4 and one half
2 tbsp	6
3 tbsp	9
4 tbsp	12
5 tbsp	15
5 and one third tablespoons	16
6 tbsp	18
8 tbsp	24
10 tbsp	30
10 and two thirds tablespoons	32
12 tbsp	36
14 tbsp	42
16 tbsp	48
18 tbsp	54
20 tbsp	60
24 tbsp	72
32 tbsp	96
48 tbsp	144
64 tbsp	192

How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon - Tbsp to Tsp — Tablespoons to teaspoons chart from 1/2 tbsp to 64 tbsp, as a card to save or print.

How to convert tablespoons to teaspoons

teaspoons = tablespoons × 3

Example: 3 tbsp × 3 = 9 tsp.

Find out how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon. Convert tablespoons to teaspoons instantly, see a chart from 1/2 to 64 tablespoons and get the exact formula. — On the scale, 1 tablespoon lines up with 3 teaspoons; read any other amount straight across.

Multiply the tablespoons by 3. The ratio is exact in US measures, so the answer never needs rounding.

For 2 1/2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 1/2 × 3 = 7 1/2 teaspoons. For 2/3 tbsp of honey, it is 2 teaspoons, and 1 1/3 tablespoons come to a whole 4 teaspoons.

If the tablespoon is in the dishwasher, use 3 teaspoons instead. NIST Handbook 44 lists the measuring tablespoon as exactly that, so the swap is not an estimate.

US vs UK tablespoons and teaspoons

The metric spoons used in the UK, Canada and New Zealand keep the same ratio, with a 15 ml tablespoon and a 5 ml teaspoon. They are a hair larger than US spoons, which makes no difference over a few spoonfuls.

Australia is the exception. Its tablespoon holds 20 ml, so an Australian recipe that says 1 tablespoon wants noticeably more than a US spoon gives.

With a US set, 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon makes 19.7 ml, close enough to the Australian spoon for everyday cooking.

tablespoon and teaspoon sizes by country
Unit	Size	Used in
US tablespoon	14.79 ml	US
metric tablespoon	15 ml	UK, Canada, New Zealand
Australian tablespoon	20 ml	Australia
US teaspoon	4.929 ml	US
metric teaspoon	5 ml	UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand

How to tell tbsp from tsp in a recipe

Recipes shorten both spoon names, and the letters are easy to misread. Tablespoon may appear as tbsp, Tbsp or a capital T, and teaspoon as tsp or a lowercase t.

A slip changes the amount threefold. With dried herbs that is a small error, but with salt, baking soda or chili flakes it can ruin the dish.

If a handwritten card is unclear, look for a printed copy of the same recipe. When in doubt, compare the amount with a similar recipe before you measure.

Tablespoons and teaspoons: questions

Is a tablespoon 3 or 4 teaspoons?

Three in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. Australia's 20 ml tablespoon holds 4 teaspoons, so check where a recipe comes from before you swap spoons.

How many teaspoons are in half a tablespoon?

Half a tablespoon is 1 1/2 teaspoons. That is one level teaspoon topped up with a 1/2 teaspoon measure, a handy trick when you halve a recipe that calls for 1 tablespoon of something.

How many teaspoons are in 2 tablespoons?

2 tablespoons equal 6 teaspoons, which is also 1 fluid ounce. For liquids, a small measuring glass marked in ounces is easier than six separate spoonfuls.

How many teaspoons are in 1/4 tablespoon?

1/4 tbsp is 3/4 teaspoon. Measure it with a 1/2 teaspoon and a 1/4 teaspoon, or fill a teaspoon three quarters of the way if that is all you have.

Is a heaping tablespoon more than 3 teaspoons?

Yes. A heaping spoon carries extra above the rim, so it holds more than a level tablespoon and cannot be converted exactly. Unless a recipe says heaping, level each spoon with a straight edge.

Related conversions

Sources: Unit definitions: NIST Handbook 44 · Last reviewed Sep 27, 2026 · Report an error