How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?? This is a major conversion we face when scaling a recipe up or down. Let's see here how many teaspoons in a tablespoon and some related conversions here.

Teaspoon to a tablespoon (or vice-versa) is an easy conversion and this is really required in our everyday cooking. So remember these few conversion numbers or take a printout and save on your freeze.

And the simple answer is 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons. So half a tablespoon is equivalent to one and a half teaspoons. Similarly, 1 teaspoon will be one-third (1/3rd) of a tablespoon. But remember teaspoons or tablespoons measure only the volume and not the weight. This is specific to the US measurement system.

Also, read how many tablespoons in a cup?

Measuring Volume with teaspoon and tablespoon

Measurement is done in 2 ways - volume and weight

Volume measures the dimensions, amount of space whereas weight measures the heaviness of the object.

Example of volume measurement - a cup of flour, tbsp sugar, a gallon of water, etc. For volume measurement, we use cups, spoons for measurement.

Example of weight measurement - a pound of rice, gms of flour, etc. For weight measurement, we use ounces, grams, liters, etc.

But for recipe instructions like baking cakes, muffins, bread, etc which has to be very particular in measurement otherwise, the whole dish will be a disaster, we will be looking at volume measurement here.

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

The answer to this question "how many teaspoons in a tablespoon" is 3 tsp. As per the US measurement system, 1 tbsp is equivalent to 3 tsp. And 1/2 tbsp is 1 1/2 tsp (half tbsp = one and a half tsp).

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons

The tablespoon is abbreviated as tbsp (or Tbsp) as and a teaspoon is abbreviated as tsp.

Now let us see some basic tablespoon conversions based on this fact.

• 1 tbsp = 3 tsp

• 16 tbsp = 1 cup = 48 tsp

• 12 tbsp = 3/4 cup = 36 tsp

• 8 tbsp = 1/2 cup = 24 tsp

• 6 tbsp = 3/8 cup = 18 tsp

• 4 tbsp = 1/4 cup = 12 tsp

• 2 tbsp = 1/8 cup = 6 tsp

• 1 tbsp = 1/16 cup = 3 tsp

Tablespoon	Teaspoon	Cup	Fluid Ounce
1 tbsp	3 tsp	1/16 cup	0.5 oz
2 tbsp	6 tsp	1/8 cup	1 oz
4 tbsp	12 tsp	1/4 cup	2 oz
6 tbsp	18 tsp	3/8 cup	3 oz
8 tbsp	24 tsp	1/2 cup	4 oz
12 tbsp	36 tsp	3/4 cup	6 oz
16 tbsp	48 tsp	1 cup	8 oz

Difference in measurement systems - Imerial System & Metric System

Teaspoons and tablespoons are used across the globe including the USA and other countries. But again they are not the same since they don't follow the same measurement system. The USA, Myanmar, Liberia only use the imperial systems whereas the rest of the world uses the metric system for measurement.

In the USA there are two measurement systems, customary measurement, and legal measurement systems. Legal measurement is used for the nutritional labels by FDA. Other recipes are based on US customary measurements.

Size of tablespoons as per different systems -

In imperial systems, 1 tbsp is equaled to 1/2 fluid ounce and a tsp is 1/6 ounce. Whereas in the metric system, 1 tbsp is 15 ml, and 1 tsp is 5 ml. At the same time, in Australia 1 tbsp is 4 tsp since the tablespoon measures 20 ml.

What is the size of a dessert spoon?

A dessert spoon is specially made to eat desserts like puddings or ice creams. The size of the dessert spoon stands in between the tablespoon and the teaspoon. It generally measures 10 ml (0.4 fl oz) volume. Many a time the dessert spoon is used to measure the volume of 10ml. So here we can conclude 1 dessert spoon equals 2 teaspoons.

What is the size of a teaspoon?

The size of teaspoons ranges from 2.5 ml to 7.5 ml. But more precisely for culinary uses and medicinal doses, one tsp measures 5ml. As per the US customary unit, 1 tsp is equal to 4. 92892159375 ml. This also equals 1/3rd of a tbsp, 1/6 US fl oz, 1/48 cup.

Tablespoon vs Teaspoon - Tablespoon Conversion

Here is a printable chart so that you can easily take a printout and stick it to somewhere in your kitchen to help you in cooking. These are really important in baking as well as when we are using spices with strong flavor since a slight change in measurement can ruin the whole dish.

So it's very important to remember the basic conversions of teaspoons to tablespoon and similar conversions for everyday cooking. Knowing how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon will save your time and your dish.

Many times we use a pinch of salt or pinch of baking soda in some recipes. A pinch of salt is equivalent to 1/8 tsp. And a dash is equivalent to 1/8 tsp. Dash is used for salt and pinch is used for solid ingredients.

• 1 pinch is equivalent to 1/8 tsp - used for solids

• 1 dash is equivalent to 1/8 tsp - used for liquid

How many teaspoons in half a tablespoon (1/2 tbsp)?

1 tbsp = 3 tsp (3 teaspoons)

1/2 tbsp = 1 1/2 tsp (One and a half teaspoon)

Measuring Dry

However, with spoons we can measure only the volume and not mass, the weight of the same amount may vary from product to product. E.g weight of 1 tbsp salt will vary from the weight of 1 tbsp sugar and the same with 1 tbsp flour. Similarly powdered sugar and granulated sugar will be different.

1tbsp table salt = 17.06 gms

1 tbsp granulated sugar = 12.5 gms

Also while measuring the dry ingredients with tablespoons or teaspoons like flour, salt, baking powder, etc, we need to level the spoon to maintain the same amount of ingredients. A heaped spoon means it has a larger quantity as compared to leveled spoon.

So whenever following any recipe especially in baking you have to understand what measurement system the recipe creator is using and how can you convert it.

So the amount of sugar will be different from that of butter or cheese.

Read more conversion posts here- How many tablespoons in a cup?

Summary of teaspoons to tablespoon conversion

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

1 tbsp = 3tsp

How many teaspoons in half a tablespoon?

1/2 tbsp = 1 1/2 tsp

How many teaspoons in 2 tablespoons?

2 tbsp = 6 tsp

How many tablespoons in a quarter cup?

4 tbsp = 1/4 cup

How many tablespoons in a half-cup?

8 tbsp = 1/2 cup

How many tablespoons in a cup?

16 tbsp = 1 cup

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