Knowing how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon is key to a seamless baking experience. Working out is simple when you know how.

Teaspoons and tablespoons are a way of measuring the volume of small ingredients. Great for measuring delicate ingredients like spices, baking soda or salt. Knowing how to go from a teaspoon to a tablespoon is a critical skill in the kitchen.

This is the ultimate guide to a hassle-free baking or cooking experience using teaspoons or tablespoons as measurements.

teaspoon in a tablespoon

1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons. This is true whether the measurements are made using imperial or metric systems.

Knowing how to quickly convert teaspoons to tablespoons and vice versa will simplify your baking/cooking life.

A side note is to remember that, for example, “how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon” is often written as an abbreviation for “how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon”.

Imperial and Metric Measurements

When learning to convert tsp to tbsp, it is important to understand how recipes in different parts of the world use these measurements.

It would be nice if all our measurements were equal around the world, but they don’t. For example, teaspoons and tablespoons, while used globally, are different around the world.

There are two systems: metric and imperial.

American customary system

The United States of America, Liberia, and Burma use the imperial system. In this system, here are some indicators to pay attention to:

• 1 teaspoon equals 4.93 milliliters and 1/6 fluid ounce
• 1 tablespoon equals 14.79 ml and ½ fl oz

The rest of the world uses the metric system. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the source of the recipe you are reading. For example, it might be written somewhere in the UK, Australia, South Africa, or Europe. If so, assume the measurements are part of the metric system.

US Metric

Here are some notes about the metric system for converting tsp to tbsp:

• One metric tablespoon equals 15 milliliters.
• Australia is slightly different. Their tablespoons are equal to 20 ml.

The difference between the imperial and metric systems is negligible when it comes to calculating how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon. This is not the case for broader measuring tools such as cups. So you can use whatever spoon or teaspoon you have in your kitchen drawer for recipes and conversions, no matter its origin.

Wet vs. Dry Ingredients

Wet and dry ingredients may pop up as queries when figuring out how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon. Can you measure wet and dry ingredients in teaspoons and tablespoons?

For example, do you need to figure out how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon of olive oil and flour? Yes! The tablespoon and teaspoon measurements appear in both wet and dry ingredients.

measuring spoon head

When measuring flour, it is important not to pack it too tightly. This is important when measuring in teaspoons, tablespoons or cups.

Flour should be light and aerated when measured, not packed in. Sifting flour before measuring is a good way to make sure there are no lumps. This also helps if the environment is humid.

A humid environment will cause the flour (or any fine grains) to densify and, in essence, weigh more. This can cause problems with conversion and calculation precision. Flour, or fines, are inherently heavier, which can lead to too much flour being added to the recipe.

Making sure the grain is light and aerated will give the most accurate measurements. This is especially important in baking or dessert making, where precision is of the essence.

When measuring butter, soft butter is essential for accurate measurements. This “wet” ingredient should be pliable enough to fill a spoon. Hard butter cannot be accurately measured in teaspoons, cups, or tablespoons.

How much does a spoonful of sugar weigh?

We all know the song, “A spoonful of sugar, let the medicine go down!” How the hell did Mary Poppins weigh that spoonful? Her measurements may not be accurate.

The exact conversion from grams to a spoonful of sugar can be interpreted as 1 teaspoon equals 4.2 grams of sugar. This conversion is sometimes rounded to 4 grams and sometimes to 5 grams.

Remember that sugar lumps must be sifted or whisked before measuring. This is especially important when measuring with a spoon or cup. Lumps can mislead measurements.

It’s also important to make sure the sugar isn’t packed tightly into the cup or spoon. It should be light, airy, and loose.

Conversion table

Here’s a useful conversion table for teaspoons and tablespoons.

What is a spoon?

A tablespoon is a common unit of volume used in culinary measurements.

It is abbreviated “tbsp” or “T” and equals approximately 15 milliliters (ml) or 0.5 fluid ounces (fl oz) in many countries, including the US.

Tablespoons are commonly used to measure liquid ingredients and dry ingredients such as oils, sauces, spices, and granular substances.

It’s larger than a teaspoon, but smaller than a fluid ounce.

Spoon sizes may vary slightly by country. So it’s always a good idea to double-check the specific measurement guidelines provided in recipes.

What is a teaspoon?

The teaspoon is a common unit of volume used in cooking and culinary measurements.

It is abbreviated “tsp” or “t” and equals approximately 5 milliliters (ml) or 1/6 fluid ounce (fl oz) in most countries, including the US.

A teaspoon is smaller than a tablespoon and is typically used to measure small amounts of ingredients such as spices, extracts or liquids such as herbs, lemon juice or milk.

Teaspoon sizes may vary slightly by country. It’s always a good idea to double-check the specific measurement guidelines provided in recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

you can also enjoy

If you enjoyed this comprehensive conversion guide, please leave a rating and review!For more inspiration check out my Facebook, instagramand Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, Sign up Receive my free newsletter!

Enjoy this article!