How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon? (Plus More Handy Measurements)

updated Oct 17, 2023
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One step in making southern hushpuppies: flour, baking powder being measured out over wood surface
Credit: Photo: Tara Donne; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell

If you haven’t yet, memorizing some basic cooking measurement conversions is absolutely worth the effort. Why? Because learning how many teaspoons are in one tablespoon, or how to convert tablespoons to cups, will help you cook with confidence and scale your recipes for more or fewer portions.

After years of recipe testing, these conversions have been drilled into my head. Of all the conversions to know, I believe that teaspoons to tablespoons is one of the most useful to memorize.

Quick Overview

How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon?

1 tablespoon equals exactly 3 teaspoons. If you’re making a recipe that calls for 1 tablespoon of flour, for example, but you can’t seem to find your measuring spoon, you can measure out 3 teaspoons. You can also use this formula when you have to find out how many teaspoons are in 2 tablespoons by simply doubling the amount.

Credit: Kitchn
How Many Teaspoons are in Tablespoon?

How to Tell How Many Teaspoons Are in a Tablespoon?

Remember this conversion for the future: 1 tablespoon equals exactly 3 teaspoons. If you’re scaling a recipe up or down, going from tablespoons to teaspoons isn’t as straightforward as, say, scaling from cups. When you are making a recipe that calls for one cup, and you want to cut it in half, you simply use a half-cup measurement.

However, when you’re doubling a recipe that calls for one-and-a-half teaspoons, learning how to convert teaspoons to tablespoons can make your entire process much smoother. You’ll know that three teaspoons is equal to one tablespoon, so instead of scooping three teaspoons you only have to measure once.

It’s an invaluable tip for scaling everything — from spices to salt to leaveners, like baking soda or baking powder — properly.

Measuring Spoon Tips

Keep your measuring spoons organized in order to make cooking, baking, and everything else you do in the kitchen a breeze!