Convert teaspoons to tablespoons without the guesswork.

Ever been halfway through a cookie recipe only to realize it calls for tablespoons of vanilla extract, but all you have is a teaspoon measure? You’re not alone. Teaspoons and tablespoons are the workhorses of kitchen measurements, but mixing them up can turn an perfect cake into a kitchen disaster. Let’s cut through the confusion and make converting between these units as easy as stirring batter.

Unit definitions

What is a teaspoon (tsp)?

• Description: A small spoon used for stirring drinks or measuring ingredients.
• Symbol: tsp
• Common uses: Measuring spices, baking powder, vanilla extract.
• Definition: 1 US teaspoon = 4.92892 milliliters. Often rounded to 5ml for simplicity.

What is a tablespoon (tbsp)?

• Description: A larger spoon for serving or measuring bigger quantities.
• Symbol: tbsp
• Common uses: Measuring oils, peanut butter, or sour cream.
• Definition: 1 US tablespoon = 14.7868ml (exactly 3 teaspoons). In Australia, it’s 20ml – a fun fact we’ll explore later.

Conversion formula

The golden ratio? 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons. To convert:

• Teaspoons to tablespoons: Divide tsp by 3
  Example: 9 tsp ÷ 3 = 3 tbsp
• Tablespoons to teaspoons: Multiply tbsp by 3
  Example: 2.5 tbsp × 3 = 7.5 tsp

Example calculations

Scenario 1: Your recipe needs 1.5 tbsp of honey, but you only have a teaspoon.
Calculation: 1.5 tbsp × 3 = 4.5 tsp
Translation: Use 4 and a half teaspoons.

Scenario 2: The sauce requires 12 tsp of lemon juice. How many tablespoons is that?
Calculation: 12 tsp ÷ 3 = 4 tbsp
Translation: Grab your tablespoon measure four times.

Conversion tables

Teaspoons to tablespoons

Tablespoons to teaspoons

Historical background

The teaspoon’s history is steeped in—you guessed it—tea. In 17th-century England, tea was expensive. Hosts would use smaller spoons to portion out leaves, creating the “teaspoon” measurement. Tablespoons came later as a larger counterpart for serving soups and cereals. The US standardized these measures in 1896, though Australia took a different path (hence their 20ml tbsp). Fun fact: Early American recipes often used “glassfuls” or “handfuls” until Fannie Farmer’s 1896 cookbook popularized standardized spoons.

Interesting facts?

1. Coffee spoons ≠ teaspoons: T.S. Eliot’s “coffee spoon” in The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock refers to smaller spoons used in 1910s cafes.
2. Medicinal roots: Apothecaries used teaspoons for liquid medicines, leading to the modern 5ml standard.
3. The Australian exception: Their 20ml tablespoon means 4 tsp per tbsp there. Watch out with international recipes!
4. Space kitchen: NASA uses specially designed measuring spoons that work in zero gravity.
5. Butter trick: 1 tbsp of butter = 3 tsp = that pre-marked wrapper section on your butter stick.

FAQ