Question 1

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

Accepted Answer

There are exactly 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. This is true for US measurements. So 2 tablespoons = 6 teaspoons, 3 tablespoons = 9 teaspoons, and so on. In metric measurements, 1 tablespoon = 15 ml and 1 teaspoon = 5 ml, so the 3:1 ratio holds there too.

Question 2

How many ml is a tablespoon?

Accepted Answer

A US tablespoon is 14.79 ml. A metric or UK tablespoon is exactly 15 ml. A US teaspoon is 4.93 ml, and a metric teaspoon is exactly 5 ml. For most practical cooking purposes, rounding to 15 ml per tablespoon and 5 ml per teaspoon is accurate enough.

Question 3

How many tablespoons in a cup?

Accepted Answer

There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup. Equivalently, 1 cup equals 48 teaspoons, or 8 fluid ounces, or approximately 237 ml. A half cup is 8 tablespoons. A quarter cup is 4 tablespoons.

Question 4

What is the difference between a tablespoon and a dessertspoon?

Accepted Answer

A dessertspoon is a UK measurement equal to 10 ml — halfway between a teaspoon (5 ml) and a tablespoon (15 ml). It equals 2 teaspoons. Dessertspoons appear in older British and Australian recipes. They are not commonly used in US recipes, where tablespoons and teaspoons are the standard.

Question 5

How do I measure a tablespoon without a measuring spoon?

Accepted Answer

A level tablespoon is approximately the size of your thumb tip from the first knuckle. A teaspoon is roughly the size of your fingertip. For more accuracy: a regular dinner spoon holds about 1 tablespoon, a dessert spoon about 2 teaspoons, and a coffee spoon about 1 teaspoon. Always level off dry ingredients for the most accurate measure.

Question 6

Is a tablespoon the same in every country?

Accepted Answer

No — tablespoon sizes vary by country. A US tablespoon is 14.79 ml. A UK and metric tablespoon is 15 ml. An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml (4 teaspoons, not 3). If following Australian recipes, note that their tablespoon is one-third larger than the US/UK version.

Ingredient	1 tbsp (grams)	1 tsp (grams)	Notes
Water	15g	5g	Used as density baseline
All-purpose flour	8g	2.6g	Spooned & levelled
White sugar	12.5g	4.2g	Granulated
Brown sugar	13.8g	4.6g	Packed
Powdered sugar	8g	2.7g	Sifted
Butter	14.2g	4.7g	Softened
Olive oil	13.5g	4.5g	Liquid fat
Table salt	18g	6g	Fine grain
Baking powder	12g	4g	Levelled
Baking soda	18g	6g	Dense powder
Cocoa powder	7.4g	2.5g	Unsweetened
Honey	21g	7g	Viscous — heavier than water

Tablespoon
to Teaspoon

Full Measurement Chart

Weight per Tablespoon by Ingredient

Common Questions

Tablespoonto Teaspoon

Full Measurement Chart

Weight per Tablespoon by Ingredient

Common Questions

Tablespoon
to Teaspoon