The basic kitchen ratio
- Teaspoons (US)
- 3
Result Tablespoons (US): 1
- 3 tsp × 0.333333 = 1 tbsp
Three level US teaspoons fill exactly one US tablespoon, the ratio every other answer on this page comes from.
Teaspoons to Tablespoons
There are 3 US teaspoons in 1 US tablespoon, so divide the number of teaspoons by 3 to get tablespoons. For example, 12 teaspoons is 4 tablespoons and 4.5 teaspoons is 1.5 tablespoons. One teaspoon is one third of a tablespoon, about 0.333 tbsp or 4.93 mL.
Teaspoons (US) to Tablespoons (US) conversion table
| tsp | tbsp |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.333333 |
| 2 | 0.666667 |
| 5 | 1.66667 |
| 10 | 3.33333 |
| 20 | 6.66667 |
| 25 | 8.33333 |
| 50 | 16.6667 |
| 100 | 33.3333 |
| 250 | 83.3333 |
| 500 | 166.667 |
| 1,000 | 333.333 |
About this tool
Scaling a recipe up is where teaspoon counts get awkward: doubling 2 teaspoons of cumin three times leaves you counting out 16 level spoons. Converting to tablespoons cuts the scooping and the chance of losing count. Type the number of US teaspoons and the tablespoon figure appears as you type, together with the division used. The ratio is exact, because US customary units define the tablespoon as three teaspoons. One limit: Australian tablespoons hold 20 mL, or four teaspoons, so a recipe written in Australia will not follow the 3-to-1 rule shown here.
How to use it
Enter the teaspoons
Type the amount in US teaspoons. Use decimals for fractions, such as 0.25 for a quarter teaspoon or 1.5 for one and a half.
Read the tablespoons
The result in US tablespoons updates while you type, with the division shown beneath it.
Reverse or share
Use Swap to turn tablespoons back into teaspoons, or Share to send a link that reopens the same amount.
Examples
Twelve teaspoons of sugar
- Teaspoons (US)
- 12
Result Tablespoons (US): 4
- 12 tsp × 0.333333 = 4 tbsp
A recipe that calls for 12 teaspoons is easier to measure as 4 tablespoons, which is also a quarter cup.
4½ teaspoons of baking powder
- Teaspoons (US)
- 4.5
Result Tablespoons (US): 1.5
- 4.5 tsp × 0.333333 = 1.5 tbsp
Doubling a recipe that uses 2¼ teaspoons gives 4½ teaspoons, which is one and a half tablespoons.
How it is calculated
tbsp = tsp ÷ 3
tsp- volume in US teaspoons (about 4.929 mL)
tbsp- volume in US tablespoons (about 14.787 mL)
US customary measure defines one tablespoon as half a US fluid ounce and one teaspoon as a third of a tablespoon, so the conversion is a plain division by three with no rounding in the ratio itself. In metric terms a US teaspoon is 4.92892 mL and a tablespoon 14.7868 mL. Results such as 0.333 tablespoons come from amounts that do not divide evenly; in practice measure the whole tablespoons and add the remainder in teaspoons.
When not to use it
- Australian recipes use a 20 mL tablespoon equal to four teaspoons.
- Heaped or rounded spoonfuls are not a fixed volume, so no ratio applies.
- For flour or sugar in large amounts, weighing in grams is more consistent than spoons.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up tsp and tbsp abbreviations gives a threefold error in salt or baking soda.
- Using a dinner spoon from the cutlery drawer instead of a measuring spoon.
- Reading 1/3 tablespoon as a third of a teaspoon when splitting a recipe.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Three. A US tablespoon is defined as exactly three US teaspoons, and a UK metric tablespoon of 15 mL is likewise three 5 mL teaspoons. Only the Australian 20 mL tablespoon breaks the pattern, holding four teaspoons.
How many tablespoons is 2 teaspoons?
Two teaspoons is two thirds of a tablespoon, about 0.667 tbsp. Since few kitchens own a 2/3 tablespoon measure, it is simpler to just use the teaspoon twice.
How do I measure a result like 1.333 tablespoons?
Split it into whole tablespoons and leftover teaspoons. The 0.333 part is one teaspoon, so 1.333 tbsp is 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon. Likewise 0.667 tbsp is 2 teaspoons.
Is a UK teaspoon the same as a US teaspoon?
Nearly. The UK and most metric countries use a 5 mL teaspoon and 15 mL tablespoon, while the US teaspoon is 4.93 mL. The difference is about 1.4 percent, too small to matter in home cooking, and the 3-to-1 ratio is the same.
How many teaspoons are in a quarter cup?
A US quarter cup is 4 tablespoons, which is 12 teaspoons. So if a scaled recipe reaches 12 teaspoons of an ingredient, a quarter-cup measure does the job in one scoop.
Does this work for dry ingredients like salt and flour?
Yes, as long as both measures are level. The conversion is between volumes, so it holds for liquids and dry goods alike. What it cannot fix is packing: a firmly packed spoon of brown sugar holds more than a loose one, whichever spoon size you use.
Cite this tool
Using this tool in an assignment, article or report? Copy a citation, or a link for your website.
APA
Tools Directory Editorial Team. (2026, October 14). Teaspoons to Tablespoons. Tools Directory. Retrieved October 27, 2026, from https://tools.milunir.com/cooking/recipe-scaling-and-conversions/teaspoons-to-tablespoons/
MLA
Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Teaspoons to Tablespoons.” Tools Directory, 14 Oct. 2026, https://tools.milunir.com/cooking/recipe-scaling-and-conversions/teaspoons-to-tablespoons/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Tools Directory Editorial Team. “Teaspoons to Tablespoons.” Tools Directory. Last modified October 14, 2026. Accessed October 27, 2026. https://tools.milunir.com/cooking/recipe-scaling-and-conversions/teaspoons-to-tablespoons/.
Link
<a href="https://tools.milunir.com/cooking/recipe-scaling-and-conversions/teaspoons-to-tablespoons/">Teaspoons to Tablespoons – Tools Directory</a>