What this calculator does
Switch any amount between tablespoons and teaspoons, so a scaled recipe fits your measuring spoons. Scaling a recipe up or down quickly produces awkward amounts: half of 1 tablespoon, a third of 2 teaspoons, three times 1½ teaspoons. Converting between tablespoons and teaspoons turns those into amounts your measuring spoons can actually hold.
In the US system a tablespoon is exactly 3 teaspoons. The US teaspoon is 4.92892159375 mL and the tablespoon 14.78676478125 mL, and the calculator uses those sizes, so the ratio comes out exactly 3. Metric 15 mL and 5 mL spoons keep the same 3-to-1 ratio.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Halving recipes. Half of 1 tbsp of baking powder is 1½ tsp.
- Scaling up. Tripling a recipe that uses 2 tsp of salt gives 6 tsp, which is 2 tbsp.
- Missing spoon. Cooks without a tablespoon measure 1 tbsp of oil as 3 level teaspoons.
- Australian spoons. In Australia a tablespoon holds 20 mL, so it equals 4 teaspoons, not 3.
- Cups to spoons. Students change 1/4 cup, which is 4 tbsp, into 4 × 3 = 12 tsp.
Grade level and standards: Grades 4–5; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 4.MD.A.1, 5.MD.A.1. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.
How to use it
- Enter a number of tablespoons or teaspoons. Fractions go in as decimals (1½ is 1.5).
- Choose tablespoons to teaspoons, or teaspoons to tablespoons.
- Read the result and steps; the table covers quarter-spoons up to a full cup.
What the inputs mean
- Value to convert
- Tablespoons for tbsp → tsp, or teaspoons for tsp → tbsp.
- Direction
- The unit of the number you typed. The table switches to match.
Formula and method
tsp = tbsp × 3 tbsp = tsp ÷ 3
In the formulas, tbsp means tablespoons and tsp means teaspoons. The US tablespoon is ½ fluid ounce and the teaspoon ⅙ fluid ounce, so one tablespoon is 3 teaspoons exactly.
Teaspoons to tablespoons divides by 3, which gives repeating decimals such as 0.3333 for one teaspoon. In practice, 1 tsp is just ⅓ tbsp.
Worked example
You are tripling a sauce that uses 2 tablespoons of soy sauce per batch, but want to check it in teaspoons first.
- 1 tbsp is exactly 3 tsp, so multiply: 2 × 3.
- 2 × 3 = 6 tsp.
Result: 2 tablespoons is 6 teaspoons; tripled, that is 18 teaspoons, or 6 tablespoons.
Understanding the result
Scaling tips: half of 1 tbsp is 1½ tsp; a third of 1 tbsp is 1 tsp; two thirds of 1 tbsp is 2 tsp. Going up, 4½ tsp is 1½ tbsp, and 12 tsp is 4 tbsp, which is ¼ cup.
Larger amounts: 1 US fl oz is 2 tbsp or 6 tsp, and 1 cup is 16 tbsp or 48 tsp. Once a scaled amount passes about 4 tablespoons, switching to cups is usually easier.
Pitfall: Australian recipes use a 20 mL tablespoon, which equals 4 teaspoons of 5 mL. If an Australian recipe says 1 tablespoon, measure 4 teaspoons, not 3.
Assumptions and limitations
- Tablespoons and teaspoons are US customary measures (the metric 15 mL and 5 mL spoons give the same ratio).
- Spoons are level.
- The Australian 20 mL tablespoon is not an option; multiply by 4 instead of 3 for it.
- It converts volume only, not the weight of an ingredient.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Exactly 3 in the US and metric systems. An Australian tablespoon holds 4 metric teaspoons.
How many tablespoons is 1 teaspoon?
One third of a tablespoon, about 0.333 tbsp.
How do I measure half a tablespoon?
Use 1½ teaspoons. Many measuring-spoon sets also include a ½ tbsp spoon.
How this calculator is checked
Method: US customary: 1 tbsp = ½ fl oz, 1 tsp = ⅙ fl oz, so 1 tbsp = 3 tsp exactly. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.
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