How many teaspoons in a tablespoon

If you are into cooking, you would find that there are several questions they would want to know about. One such question you would find rather endearing and quite confusing would include trying to understand how many teaspoons in a tablespoon. The question may appear rather simple and easy to follow, but equally much difficult to answer.

Teaspoons vs Tablespoons – How do they differ?

Well, the teaspoon comes with a differential calculation in terms of the measurement system made use of. Each of the areas come with different systems of weights and measures. The United States ( and a few other countries such as Liberia and Myanmar) follow the imperial system of units for measurement, while the rest of the world follows the metric system of measurement.

So, is there a difference between a metric teaspoon and an imperial teaspoon? Well, yes. While the difference may not be extremely huge, but yes – there is a difference between the two systems of measurement.

The teaspoons in different countries measure different. If we take up an example, One Teaspoon in UK, Canada, or other regions that follow the metric unit system – measures 5 milliliters. But, the same unit of a teaspoon in the US which goes by the imperial system of units, it measures 4.93 Millilitres. That would mean the difference is minuscule and should not be a huge one if we look at the smaller units.

Now let us come to the concept of Tablespoon. A tablespoon in the metric system of measurement reads 20 milliliters. That would make it 4 US Teaspoons. Since we are using the measure of tablespoon and teaspoon in cooking or medicine, a small difference is bound to make a considerably huge difference with respect to the quality or effects.

Difference between Metric and Imperial systems of measurements

Well, this is exactly what makes it extremely difficult to understand what exactly is the difference between a teaspoon and tablespoon. Or more so, how many teaspoons in a tablespoon. While teaspoons and tablespoons are used across the world, their measurements are not the same.

Let us enumerate each of these measures to arrive at the best possible understanding –

  • In the imperial system of measurements, a tablespoon measures 14.79 milliliters. This is equivalent to half fluid ounce
  • However, in the Metric system of units, a tablespoon measures exactly 15 milliliters. Nd then again, an Australian tablespoon measures 20 milliliters.
  • A teaspoon as per the US imperial system reads 4.93 ml which equals 1/6 fluid ounces.
  • A teaspoon as per the metric standard of measurements would read 5 ml.

That would help you decide the exact options you have in calculating and understanding the relation between a teaspoon and a tablespoon. Under ideal conditions, the metric and imperial system of units do not come with a huge difference and should not ideally make not much of a difference if you are using one or two tablespoons or teaspoons and that should make a huge difference in your recipe. However, mixing the two (or three measures) would definitely be a huge concern if the number of teaspoons of tablespoons is more in number.

So, how many Teaspoons make a Tablespoons, then?

Well, to cut the long discussion short – One Tablespoon measures Three Teaspoons! If you are looking to scale down your recipe from tablespoon to teaspoon, it would rather be one of the most difficult tasks. But, for most of the recipes and calculations, you can take it up as one tablespoon equals three teaspoons.

The table below should ideally provide you a better idea into how to convert tablespoons into teaspoons. In fact, it may be a good idea to consider taking a print and hanging it in your kitchen to arrive at the best results in arriving at the best measurements for your recipes.

Tablespoon (tbsp)Teaspoon (tsp)
4 tbsp12 tsp
3 tbsp9 tsp
2 tbsp6 tsp
1 tbsp3 tsp
1/2 tbsp1 1/2 tsp

The above table should be quite helpful for you if you have a teaspoon alone and do not have a tablespoon. The idea is to multiply each of the tablespoon measurements by the number 3 to arrive at the teaspoon measurements.

Converting a teaspoon into tablespoon measure will involve dividing the teaspoon unit by 3.

Any other fluid measurement that you should look out for?

Well, when it comes to the recipes, yet another measure that you would frequently come across would be the Cups. How would you convert cups into tablespoons or tablespoons into cups?

There are several ingredients that may need you to measure them in cups. In such situations, it would be extremely important to get the right conversion formula for converting the cups into tablespoons (or teaspoons) or even converting tablespoons into cups. There are situations where you do not have the actual cup and come across strange measurements such as 1/3 cup and 3/8 cup.

A cup consists of 16 tablespoons. Now that we know that one tablespoon equals three teaspoons, a cup actually consists of 48 teaspoons.

That brings us yet another chart that you can hang inside your kitchen so that it can accompany the earlier Teaspoon – tablespoon chart.

Cup (c)Tablespoon (tbsp)Teaspoon (tsp)
1 c16 tbsp48 tsp
3/4 c12 tbsp36 tsp
2/3 c10 tbsp + 2 tsp32 tsp
1/2 c8 tbsp24 tsp
3/8 c6 tbsp18 tsp
1/3 c5 tbsp + 1 tsp16 tsp
1/4 c4 tbsp12 tsp
1/6 c2 tbsp + 2 tsp8 tsp
1/8 c2 tbsp6 tsp
1/16 c1 tbsp3 tsp

The Closing Remarks

Well, that brings us to the concluding part of the post. As you can see clearly find from the discussion above. The difference and conversion factors used with respect to teaspoons, tablespoons, and cups should assist you to arrive at the best possible measurements for your kitchen.

The best way to remember how many teaspoons make a tablespoon can be to remember a phrase – One big T equals teaspoons three.As for the cup, however, there is no rhyming idea that we can share with you. Just remember that 16 tablespoons equal one Cup.

Well, that concludes the answer to your query. You would now be able to get access to the best possible experience in cooking your recipes to your heart’s content.