How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon?

3

teaspoons

This one is the same in US and UK measures — a rare case where the two systems agree.

Three teaspoons make a tablespoon almost everywhere — the US, the UK, New Zealand and Europe all agree. Australia is the exception: its 20 ml tablespoon holds four 5 ml teaspoons, not three. For salt, baking powder or chilli, that difference is the whole dish.

1 tablespoon in teaspoons, by region

United States3 teaspoons
UK / imperial (250 ml cup)3 teaspoons
Australia (20 ml tablespoon)4 teaspoons

Convert any amount

Quick converter

Convert cups, grams, millilitres and oven temperatures — instantly, right here.

Cup size

= 1 cups

Frequently asked questions

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

There are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon, in both US and UK measures.

Is a tablespoon always 3 teaspoons?

Everywhere except Australia, yes. The Australian tablespoon is 20 ml against a 5 ml teaspoon, so it is 4 teaspoons. Australian recipes that call for "1 tablespoon" of a strong ingredient are asking for a third more than a UK or US recipe would.

How many teaspoons in half a tablespoon?

One and a half teaspoons in the US, UK and Europe; two teaspoons in Australia.

Does this apply to baking powder and yeast?

Yes, and it matters more there than anywhere. Leavening and salt are the ingredients where a 33% error is immediately obvious in the result, so check which country your recipe is from before scaling a spoon measure.

Other kitchen measures