Kitchen
Measuring Spoon Conversion Chart (tbsp, tsp, ml)
3 min readUpdated September 2026
Most recipe mistakes come from mixing measuring systems. This chart covers the spoon sizes you actually use, the US-versus-metric difference, and when to weigh instead of scoop.
The core conversions
- 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 14.8 ml (US) / 15 ml (metric).
- 1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon = 4.9 ml (US) / 5 ml (metric).
- 1/2 tablespoon = 1.5 teaspoons = 7.4 ml.
- 1/4 teaspoon = 1.2 ml. 1/8 teaspoon = 0.6 ml (a 'pinch').
- 1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoons = 29.6 ml.
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons = 12 teaspoons = 59 ml.
US vs metric vs Australian spoons
- A US tablespoon is 14.8 ml; a metric tablespoon is 15 ml. The difference is irrelevant for cooking.
- An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml — four teaspoons, not three. Follow an Australian recipe with a US spoon and you are 25% short.
- Teaspoons are 5 ml essentially everywhere, so teaspoon measurements travel safely between recipes.
Level, rounded and heaped
- Unless a recipe says otherwise, every spoon measurement is level: scoop, then sweep the top flat with a straight edge.
- A rounded spoon is roughly 1.5x a level spoon; a heaped spoon can be 2x or more.
- For baking soda, baking powder, salt and yeast, always level. These are the ingredients where a rounded spoon ruins the bake.
When to use an adjustable spoon
- One adjustable spoon with a sliding dial covers every size from 1/8 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon, so you wash one tool instead of eight.
- The trough shape reaches into narrow spice jars and bottle necks that a round spoon cannot enter.
- For sticky ingredients — honey, molasses, peanut butter — a sliding dial pushes the ingredient out instead of leaving half of it behind.
Frequently asked
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Three teaspoons make one tablespoon in the US and metric systems. An Australian tablespoon is the exception at four teaspoons (20 ml).
How many ml is a tablespoon?
14.8 ml in the US, 15 ml metric, and 20 ml in Australia. For everyday cooking, treat US and metric as identical.
Should measuring spoons be level or heaped?
Level, unless the recipe explicitly says heaped. Scoop and sweep the top flat with a straight edge — a heaped spoon can hold twice as much.
Can one adjustable measuring spoon replace a full set?
Yes. An adjustable spoon with a sliding dial covers 1/8 teaspoon through 1 tablespoon in one tool, which is the entire range of a standard six or eight piece set.
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