Convert Tablespoon to Teaspoon (tbsp → tsp)
The tablespoon is the standard mid-size cooking measure, equal to 15 milliliters in international recipe conventions.
Tablespoon to Teaspoon Conversion Table
10 common values| Tablespoon | Teaspoon |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 3.002686 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | 6.005372 tsp |
| 5 tbsp | 15.013431 tsp |
| 10 tbsp | 30.026862 tsp |
| 20 tbsp | 60.053724 tsp |
| 50 tbsp | 150.13431 tsp |
| 100 tbsp | 300.26862 tsp |
| 200 tbsp | 600.53724 tsp |
| 500 tbsp | 1,501.3431 tsp |
| 1,000 tbsp | 3,002.6862 tsp |
How to Convert Tablespoon to Teaspoon Manually
Step by StepConverting tablespoons to teaspoons is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in tablespoonsStart with the number of tablespoons (tbsp) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 3.002686The conversion factor from tbsp to tsp is 3.002686. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in teaspoonsThe result is your value in teaspoons (tsp).
Formula
Multiply the value in tablespoons by 3.002686. For the reverse direction, multiply by 0.333035.
tsp = tbsp × 3.002686tbsp = tsp × 0.333035Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- US tbsp = 15 ml (practical); 14.787 ml (legal); 3 teaspoons in any system.
- Australian tablespoon = 20 ml — 33% larger. Adjust when using Australian recipes.
- For accurate cooking, weigh dry ingredients rather than measuring by tablespoon.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Using an Australian tablespoon (20 ml) for a US recipe (15 ml) — 33% overshoot.
- Treating teaspoon and tablespoon as interchangeable — tablespoon is 3× larger.
- Using a dinner spoon from the cutlery drawer as a tablespoon — they vary widely.
About Tablespoon and Teaspoon
What is the Tablespoon?
The tablespoon equals exactly 15 milliliters (international culinary standard) or about 14.787 mL (US strict definition based on ½ fluid ounce). The tablespoon is a near-universal cooking measure for ingredients larger than a teaspoon but smaller than a cup — typical uses include oils, sauces, and condiments. The Australian tablespoon is uniquely 20 mL (4 teaspoons rather than 3), an oddity in international recipe interpretation. Standard recipes assume 1 tbsp = 15 mL globally except in Australia and the United States (where it is sometimes 14.787 mL but commonly rounded to 15 mL). The tablespoon relates to the teaspoon (3 tsp = 1 tbsp), the cup (16 tbsp = 1 cup), the fluid ounce (2 tbsp = 1 US fl oz), and the milliliter (1 tbsp = 15 mL conventional). Measuring spoons are calibrated to the local convention.
- Cooking recipes worldwide (dominantly US 15 ml)
- Nutrition-label serving sizes
- Over-the-counter liquid-medication doses
Olive-oil recipes call for tablespoons of oil. Cough syrups often recommend 1 tbsp = 15 ml per dose.
What is the Teaspoon?
The teaspoon equals exactly 5 milliliters (international culinary standard) or about 4.929 mL (US strict definition based on 1/3 of a tablespoon). The teaspoon is the smallest standard cooking measure, used worldwide for spices, baking soda, vanilla extract, salt, and small ingredient quantities. A flat (level) teaspoon is the recipe convention; rounded or heaping teaspoons are inconsistent and avoided in serious cooking. The teaspoon is also a medical unit: many liquid medications are dosed in teaspoons (5 mL standard). The teaspoon relates to the tablespoon (1 tbsp = 3 tsp), the cup (48 tsp = 1 cup), the milliliter (1 tsp = 5 mL conventional), and the fluid ounce (6 tsp = 1 fl oz). Standardized 5-mL measuring spoons are available globally to avoid the variability of household teaspoons (which range from 2 to 7 mL).
- Baking powder, salt and spices in recipes
- Over-the-counter liquid-medicine dosing
- Coffee and tea sweetener measurements
1 teaspoon of sugar = 4 g = 16 calories. Salt in a recipe often ½ to 1 tsp per 500 g food.