How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon
A teaspoons-in-a-tablespoon page converts volumes between tablespoons and teaspoons. The standard US Customary system defines 1 tablespoon as exactly 3 teaspoons (approx. 14.8 mL). The Australian standard defines a tablespoon as exactly 4 teaspoons (20 mL). The page helps cooks scale recipe spices and ingredients.
Convert between teaspoons and tablespoons instantly. Learn the differences in US Customary, Imperial, and Australian measurement definitions.
Quick Answer
Find out exactly how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon (3 teaspoons per standard US tablespoon).
How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in a standard US tablespoon.
For Australian recipes, a tablespoon contains exactly 4 teaspoons (20 mL).
Tablespoon Definition
Formula: 1 Tablespoon = 3 teaspoons (US Standard (1 tbsp = 3 tsp))
Tablespoons to Teaspoons Reference Table (US)
| Tablespoons (tbsp) | Teaspoons (tsp) |
|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 0.75 tsp |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1.5 tsp |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp |
| 4 tbsp (1/4 Cup) | 12 tsp |
| 8 tbsp (1/2 Cup) | 24 tsp |
| 16 tbsp (1 Cup) | 48 tsp |
Examples
1/2 Tablespoon
1.5 tsp
1 Tablespoon
3 tsp
3 Tablespoons
9 tsp
How it works
In standard US kitchen measurements, a tablespoon contains exactly 3 teaspoons:
Standard Liquid Conversion
1 Tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 Teaspoons (tsp)
Conversion Formula
Multiply tablespoons by 3 to get teaspoons. Divide teaspoons by 3 to get tablespoons.
Spoon Abbreviations (tbsp vs. tsp)
Understanding recipe abbreviations is critical to preventing measurement errors. Here are the common notations for kitchen spoons:
- Tablespoon: Abbreviated as tbsp, T, Tbs, or tbl.
- Teaspoon: Abbreviated as tsp or t.
Because a capital "T" and lowercase "t" look very similar on printed recipe cards, using standard three- or four-letter abbreviations (tbsp vs. tsp) has become best practice to avoid massive over-seasoning or under-leavening.
The Australian Exception
While the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand all define a standard culinary tablespoon as containing 3 teaspoons (equivalent to 15 mL in metric countries), Australia defines a tablespoon as containing exactly 4 teaspoons (equivalent to 20 mL).
If you are cooking from an Australian recipe book using American measuring spoons, you will need to add an extra teaspoon for every tablespoon specified to ensure the proportions are correct.
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