How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon? The answer might surprise you. Did you know this simple question plagues even the best home cooks?

And yet it’s an important measurement to remember, especially when it comes to baking. Accidentally adding an extra teaspoon can alter a recipe outcome. So it’s time to remember this simple equation.

How Many Teaspoons are in a Tablespoon?

How many times have you been in the middle of a recipe or meal prep with no clean tablespoon to be found? Well, probably at least once if you’re reading this. And how annoying is it to Google “how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon” when you have raw egg all over your fingers? Probably right up there with realizing you’re missing a key ingredients on your list. So let’s jump to it.

1 tablespoon equals exactly 3 teaspoons

Got it? Good! Because remembering this simple conversion will be invaluable not only when you run out of clean measuring spoons, but also when you need to scale up or down the size of your recipes. Use it to scale everything from oils to spices to salt to baking soda without messing with the final outcome of your meal or dessert (like my triple layer chocolate cake).

Is there a difference between metric and imperial teaspoons?

As you probably know, the U.S. (along with Liberia, and Myanmar) is a little bit different in that it follows the imperial system of weights and measures while the rest of the world follows the metric system. So, you might be wondering, is there a difference between an imperial teaspoon and a metric teaspoon?

The answer: Yes, with some nuance.

In the U.K. and Canada 1 metric teaspoon equals 5 milliliters, 1 U.S. teaspoon equals 4.93 milliliters (or ⅙ of a fluid ounce). So, if you happen to have a set of measuring spoons from across the pond or up north, you can rest assure that the difference in volume is so small that it won’t make a difference in your recipe.

But in Australia 1 metric tablespoon equals 20 milliliters or 4 U.S. teaspoons. And that one extra teaspoon can make a difference in certain recipes.

If you’re from the U.K., Australia, or New Zealand, you might also be wondering about the difference between a teaspoon and a dessert spoon, which is a common unit of measurement in these countries. A dessert spoon is 10 milliliters, so it falls between a U.S. teaspoon (4.93 mL) and a U.S. tablespoon (14.78 mL). 

Other common kitchen conversions

Learning how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon isn’t the only kitchen conversion that’s going to come in handy. Here are some of the most important ones to know. So do yourself a favor and commit the common conversions below to memory—or better yet, print them out and stick them right on your fridge.

• 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon
• 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce
• 4 tablespoons = 1/4 cup
• 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
• 2 cups = 1 pint
• 2 pints = 1 quart
• 4 quarts = 1 gallon

The measuring spoons I absolutely swear by

I don’t promote a product unless I’m super passionate about it—and when it comes to measuring spoons, I’ve got one set I can’t live without. In fact, you can spot them in pretty much all of my recipe videos!

These magnetic measuring spoons stick together for super convenient storage, making it much less likely that you’ll misplace one. I especially love the fact that they stick to any metal surface, so I can stick them to the edge of my oven if I need to clear some counter space.

One of the best features is that each spoon also lists its quantity in milliliters, which makes on-the-spot conversions much easier. (Want to see all the other fun kitchen gadgets I use on the regular? Check out my shop page.)

Hope this helps cut down on kitchen math! Who knew you’d learn so much just by looking up how many teaspoons are in a tablespoon, huh?