A tsp measurement is a teaspoon, the smallest standard spoon in a recipe. One US teaspoon holds exactly 1/6 of a US fluid ounce, about 4.93 mL, so 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon. However, nutrition labels and metric recipes round it to 5 mL, which is close enough for cooking.
Convert Any Tsp Measurement to mL, Tbsp and Cups
First, enter an amount and choose the unit you have. The converter uses the exact US definitions, and it also shows the metric and Australian spoons next to the US ones.
“Tsp” is short for teaspoon. You see it on recipe cards and spice jars, and also on nutrition labels. Generally, it covers small amounts: salt, spices, vanilla, yeast and leaveners. Because those ingredients are strong, a small error matters more than it would with flour or milk.
In the US system, the teaspoon is not a loose kitchen guess. Instead, it is a defined fraction of the fluid ounce: 1 teaspoon is 1/3 of a tablespoon and 1/6 of a fluid ounce. As a result, its exact size is 4.92892159375 mL. For everyday use, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) lists 1 teaspoon as about 5 mL in its metric kitchen table.
Below you will find a quick chart, the abbreviations to watch for, how teaspoons differ by country, and finally a simple method for measuring one level spoonful.
Tsp Measurement Chart: Teaspoons to Tablespoons, Ounces and mL
Because these values come straight from the US definitions, the fractions are exact. Also, the milliliter column is rounded to two decimals.
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | US fluid ounces | Milliliters (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 tsp | 1/24 tbsp | about 0.02 fl oz | 0.62 mL |
| 1/4 tsp | 1/12 tbsp | about 0.04 fl oz | 1.23 mL |
| 1/2 tsp | 1/6 tbsp | about 0.08 fl oz | 2.46 mL |
| 3/4 tsp | 1/4 tbsp | 1/8 fl oz | 3.70 mL |
| 1 tsp | 1/3 tbsp | 1/6 fl oz | 4.93 mL |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 1/2 tbsp | 1/4 fl oz | 7.39 mL |
| 2 tsp | 2/3 tbsp | 1/3 fl oz | 9.86 mL |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | 1/2 fl oz | 14.79 mL |
| 4 tsp | 1 1/3 tbsp | 2/3 fl oz | 19.72 mL |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | 1 fl oz | 29.57 mL |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) | 2 fl oz | 59.15 mL |
| 48 tsp | 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 8 fl oz | 236.59 mL |
Want a printable copy? Then print this page and keep the chart inside a cabinet door. For the reverse direction, our guide on how to convert tablespoons to teaspoons walks through the math. Similarly, how much 30 mL is covers the 6-teaspoon ounce in detail.
What Tsp Stands For (and What It Does Not)
Most kitchen mistakes with teaspoons start with the label, not the spoon. For example, handwritten recipes often use a single letter, and the only clue is whether it is capital or lowercase.
| Abbreviation | Means | US size |
|---|---|---|
| tsp, t, ts, tspn | Teaspoon | about 4.93 mL |
| tbsp, T, Tbs, TB | Tablespoon | about 14.79 mL (3 tsp) |
| dstspn | Dessert spoon (older British recipes) | roughly 2 tsp, though not standardized |
The two spoons get confused often enough that we wrote a full comparison of teaspoon vs tablespoon, with a separate converter.
Recommended Tools for an Accurate Tsp Measurement
Overall, a proper set of measuring spoons solves most problems. First, choose engraved markings, since printed ones wear off in the dishwasher. Next, look for a flat rim, so you can level dry ingredients, and a narrow head that fits into spice jars. In addition, a scale that reads in 0.1 g steps helps when you bake by weight.
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Teaspoon Sizes Around the World
Luckily, the teaspoon is nearly the same everywhere. Still, the small differences explain why labels and recipes do not always match.
| System | 1 teaspoon | Teaspoons per tablespoon | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|---|
| US customary | 4.93 mL (exactly 1/6 US fl oz) | 3 | US recipes and measuring spoons |
| US nutrition label (FDA) | 5 mL | 3 | Serving sizes on food labels |
| Metric | 5 mL | 3 | UK, Canada, New Zealand, most of Europe |
| Australia | 5 mL | 4 (20 mL tablespoon) | Australian recipes |
For food labels, the FDA states that 1 teaspoon means 5 mL and 1 tablespoon means 15 mL. Meanwhile, the exact US teaspoon is about 1.4% smaller. Still, that gap is far too small to change a recipe.
How to Take a Tsp Measurement Step by Step
- Check the engraving. First, look for “1 tsp” or “5 mL” on the handle so you do not grab the tablespoon.
- Overfill dry ingredients a little. Then dip the spoon or sprinkle the ingredient in until it mounds above the rim.
- Level the top. Sweep the back of a knife across the rim so the surface is flat.
- Fill liquids to the brim. Hold the spoon flat over a small bowl, not over your batter, so drips stay out of the recipe.
- Grease the spoon for honey or syrup. That way, a thin film of oil lets sticky liquids slide out completely.
- Use the small spoons for fractions. Finally, reach for the 1/4 and 1/2 tsp spoons rather than guessing a partial spoonful.
That is all a level tsp measurement needs. Then, if a recipe says “heaping” or “scant”, add a small mound or stop just below the rim.
From Teaspoons to Grams: Why Weight Varies
A teaspoon measures volume, so it always holds the same space. However, what that space weighs depends on the ingredient and how tightly it packs. So the figures below are only typical values for a level US teaspoon.
| Ingredient (1 level tsp) | Approximate weight |
|---|---|
| Water | about 4.9 g |
| Table salt (fine) | about 6 g |
| Kosher salt (flaky) | about 3 g, depending on the brand |
| Granulated sugar | about 4 g |
| All-purpose flour (spooned and leveled) | about 2.6 g |
| Baking soda | about 5 g |
This is also where fluid ounces and weight ounces get mixed up. Indeed, a fluid ounce is a volume, exactly 6 teaspoons. By contrast, a weight ounce is about 28.35 g, and the number of teaspoons in it depends on the ingredient. For more detail, see how much an ounce is.
Getting a Tsp Measurement Without Measuring Spoons
No set at hand? You can still get close:
- Weigh water. Because water weighs about 1 g per mL, 5 g on a kitchen scale is about 1 teaspoon.
- Divide a tablespoon. If you only have a tablespoon, then fill it one-third of the way.
- Read a medicine cup or oral syringe. These show mL, so the 5 mL line equals one metric teaspoon.
- Compare with a coin-sized pile. As a rough visual check, a level teaspoon of salt is a small mound, not a pinch.
Do and Don’t for Measuring Teaspoons
Do
- Level dry ingredients with a straight edge so each spoonful matches.
- Keep 1/4, 1/2 and 1 tsp spoons together, because recipes use all three.
- Measure over a separate small bowl when you pour liquids.
- Pick spoons with engraved sizes, since printed ones fade.
- Weigh salt and leaveners when baking needs precision.
Don’t
- Treat a capital T and a lowercase t as the same, because one is three times bigger.
- Heap a spoon unless the recipe asks for it.
- Swap fine salt for kosher salt one-to-one, since their weights differ.
- Dose medicine with a cutlery spoon.
- Guess fractions by eye when a small spoon exists.
Honest Limits of a Tsp Measurement
Spoons are handy, but they are not lab equipment. For one thing, two “1 tsp” spoons from different sets can differ slightly. Moreover, the way you fill and level the spoon changes the result more than the spoon itself does. A heaping teaspoon, for example, can hold far more than a level one. In short, the exact 4.93 mL figure describes the definition, not every spoon in every drawer. Generally, for everyday cooking this does not matter. For salt in bread, leaveners in cakes, or very small batches, however, a 0.1 g scale gives you more consistent results.
When Accuracy Really Matters
Usually, a slightly generous teaspoon is fine for most dishes. Even so, three cases deserve extra care:
- Baking soda and baking powder. Too much leaves a bitter, soapy taste and can make a cake sink, so always measure level.
- Salt in bread, brines and cures. Otherwise, mixing up tsp and tbsp here triples the salt.
- Liquid medicine. Instead, use the oral syringe or dosing cup that comes with the medicine, and follow the dose in mL.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tsp measurement mean?
It means teaspoon. Specifically, a US teaspoon is a volume of about 4.93 mL, equal to 1/3 tablespoon or 1/6 fluid ounce.
How many mL are in 1 tsp?
One US teaspoon is about 4.93 mL. However, nutrition labels and metric recipes round it to 5 mL.
Is a tsp measurement the same as a teaspoon?
Yes. Tsp is simply the abbreviation for teaspoon, and recipes also write it as t or ts.
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in a US or metric tablespoon. In Australia, a tablespoon is 20 mL, so it holds 4 teaspoons.
How many grams are in a teaspoon?
It depends on the ingredient. For example, a teaspoon of water weighs about 4.9 g, table salt about 6 g, sugar about 4 g and flour about 2.6 g.
How many teaspoons are in a fluid ounce?
There are 6 teaspoons in 1 US fluid ounce, which equals 2 tablespoons or about 29.57 mL.
How many teaspoons are in a cup?
There are 48 teaspoons in 1 US cup, because a cup holds 16 tablespoons of 3 teaspoons each.
Is a tsp measurement the same in every country?
Almost. The US teaspoon is about 4.93 mL, while metric countries and Australia use 5 mL. Overall, the difference is about 1.4 percent.
Is half a teaspoon the same as 2.5 mL?
Close enough for cooking. Half a US teaspoon is about 2.46 mL, and metric recipes round it to 2.5 mL.
Can I use a regular spoon for a teaspoon?
Only as a rough guess in cooking, since cutlery spoons vary in size. Instead, use a measuring spoon or a scale, and never use cutlery for medicine.
Tsp Measurement: The Bottom Line
To sum up, tsp stands for teaspoon: about 4.93 mL in US measurements, rounded to 5 mL on labels and in metric recipes. Also, three teaspoons make a tablespoon, six make a fluid ounce, and 48 make a cup.
So read the abbreviation carefully, level each spoonful, and use the converter above for any other amount. Finally, for medicine, put the kitchen spoons away and use the dosing device in mL.
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