How many mL in 1 teaspoon?

1 US teaspoon = 4.92892 mL. 1 metric teaspoon = 5 mL exactly. For practical cooking, both are commonly rounded to 5 mL.

How many teaspoons in 1 mL?

1 mL = 0.2029 US teaspoons or 0.2 metric teaspoons. You need about 5 mL to make 1 teaspoon.

A metric teaspoon is exactly 5 mL. A US teaspoon is 4.929 mL — very close but not exactly 5 mL. For cooking and medicine, 5 mL is the universally accepted standard.

How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?

3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon in both US and metric systems. In Australia, 4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon (since AU tbsp = 20 mL and AU tsp = 5 mL).

How to convert teaspoons to mL?

For US teaspoons: multiply by 4.929. For metric: multiply by 5. Example: 3 US tsp × 4.929 = 14.787 mL (= 1 US tablespoon).

How to convert mL to teaspoons?

For US teaspoons: divide mL by 4.929. For metric: divide by 5. Example: 15 mL ÷ 4.929 = 3.04 US teaspoons.

What is half a teaspoon in mL?

Half a US teaspoon = 2.46 mL. Half a metric teaspoon = 2.5 mL. This is a common measurement for spices and baking powder.

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Teaspoons and Milliliters: Complete Guide to Conversion, US vs Metric, Cooking, Baking, Medicine Dosing, Spices, and Practical Applications

The teaspoon is the smallest standard kitchen measuring unit and arguably the most frequently used in recipes, medicine dosing, and food preparation worldwide. Yet the exact volume of a teaspoon varies between the US and metric systems, and using the wrong value — or worse, an uncalibrated household spoon — can affect recipe outcomes and medication safety. This bidirectional converter supports both US and metric teaspoons with instant, accurate milliliter conversion and comprehensive breakdowns across all volume units.

US vs Metric Teaspoon

The US teaspoon = 4.92892 mL (exactly ⅙ of a US fluid ounce, or ⅓ of a US tablespoon). The metric teaspoon = 5 mL exactly, used in the UK, EU, Australia, and most countries internationally. The difference is only 0.07 mL (1.4%), which is negligible for nearly all cooking applications. In practice, most recipes, medicine labels, and measuring spoon sets worldwide treat 1 teaspoon as 5 mL. Australian teaspoons are also 5 mL (metric), though Australian tablespoons are 20 mL — four teaspoons, not three.

US Tsp → mL: mL = US tsp × 4.92892
Metric Tsp → mL: mL = metric tsp × 5

mL → US Tsp: US tsp = mL ÷ 4.92892
mL → Metric Tsp: metric tsp = mL ÷ 5

3 US tsp = 1 US tbsp = 14.787 mL
3 metric tsp = 1 metric tbsp = 15 mL
48 US tsp = 1 US cup = 236.6 mL
1 US tsp = ⅙ US fl oz ≈ 4.929 mL

Kitchen Measuring Essentials

Understanding the teaspoon hierarchy is fundamental to cooking: ¼ tsp = 1.23 mL (a pinch of spice), ½ tsp = 2.46 mL (common for baking powder per cup of flour), 1 tsp = 4.93 mL (standard measure), 1½ tsp = 7.39 mL (half a tablespoon), 3 tsp = 1 tbsp = 14.79 mL. Standard measuring spoon sets include ¼ tsp, ½ tsp, 1 tsp, and 1 tbsp. These small volumes matter enormously — the difference between ½ tsp and 1 tsp of baking soda can determine whether a cake rises properly or tastes metallic.

Example: Common Kitchen Teaspoon Equivalents

⅛ tsp = 0.616 mL ≈ a dash
¼ tsp = 1.23 mL ≈ a large pinch
½ tsp = 2.46 mL — common for spices
¾ tsp = 3.70 mL
1 tsp = 4.93 mL — standard measure
1½ tsp = 7.39 mL = ½ tablespoon
2 tsp = 9.86 mL ≈ ⅔ tablespoon
3 tsp = 14.79 mL = 1 tablespoon
6 tsp = 29.57 mL = 2 tbsp ≈ 1 fl oz
12 tsp = 59.15 mL = ¼ cup
48 tsp = 236.6 mL = 1 cup

Medicine Dosing

Medicine labels standardize on the metric teaspoon: 1 dose teaspoon = 5 mL exactly. This is the universal medical standard regardless of country. Children's liquid medications — cough syrups, antibiotics, pain relievers — are typically dosed at 2.5 mL (½ tsp) or 5 mL (1 tsp) based on age and weight. Studies consistently show that household spoons produce inaccurate doses: actual kitchen teaspoons can hold anywhere from 3 to 7 mL — a variance that represents up to 40% dosing error. The FDA, AAP, and WHO all strongly recommend using calibrated oral syringes or dosing cups for medication.

Critical Medicine Safety

Never use kitchen teaspoons for medicine. Household spoons vary from 3–7 mL (up to 40% error). Always use the calibrated measuring device included with the medication. Medical teaspoon = exactly 5 mL. For infants and children, even a 1 mL error can be significant — always use an oral syringe marked in mL.

Baking Science

In baking, teaspoon measurements control the chemistry of leavening, flavoring, and salt. 1 tsp baking soda (≈ 6 g) can leaven up to 1 cup of flour when paired with an acid. 1 tsp baking powder (≈ 4.6 g) contains its own acid. 1 tsp vanilla extract (≈ 4.2 g) is the standard for a single batch of cookies. 1 tsp salt (≈ 6 g table salt, ≈ 4.8 g kosher salt) — note that different salt types have different weights per teaspoon due to crystal size. Using 2 tsp of baking soda instead of 1 tsp will make baked goods taste soapy and spread excessively. Precision at the teaspoon level is non-negotiable in baking.

Level vs Heaped vs Rounded

A "level" teaspoon (scraped flat across the top) = standard 5 mL. A "rounded" teaspoon (slightly domed) ≈ 6–7 mL. A "heaped" teaspoon (piled high) ≈ 8–10 mL. Recipes assume level teaspoons unless stated otherwise. For dry ingredients, dip the spoon, then level with a straight edge. The difference between level and heaped can double the amount — critical for baking soda, salt, and spices.

Spices and Seasonings

Spices are almost exclusively measured in teaspoons and fractions of teaspoons. A typical recipe might call for 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp cinnamon, and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper. Common weights per teaspoon: ground cinnamon = 2.6 g, ground cumin = 2.1 g, garlic powder = 3.1 g, ground ginger = 1.8 g, black pepper = 2.3 g, paprika = 2.3 g, chili powder = 2.6 g, dried oregano = 1.0 g. When scaling recipes internationally between teaspoon-based and gram-based systems, these weight equivalents are essential.

Coffee and Tea

Coffee and tea preparation relies heavily on teaspoon measurements. A standard cup of drip coffee uses approximately 2 teaspoons (10 mL volume, about 5 g) of ground coffee per 6 oz of water. Loose-leaf tea typically calls for 1 teaspoon per cup. Sugar is commonly added at 1–2 teaspoons per cup (4–8 g). Instant coffee uses about 1 teaspoon per cup. Understanding these volumes in mL helps when using precision scales or following international coffee recipes that specify grams and milliliters.

Liquid Drops and Micro-Measurements

Below the teaspoon, cooking uses approximate measures: a "pinch" ≈ ⅛ tsp (0.6 mL), a "dash" ≈ ⅛ tsp for liquid, a "smidgen" ≈ 1/32 tsp. For essential oils, extracts, and concentrated flavors, 1 mL ≈ 20 drops, so 1 teaspoon ≈ 100 drops. When a recipe calls for "a few drops of lemon extract," that is roughly 0.15–0.25 mL (3–5 drops). These micro-measurements show why the teaspoon-to-mL conversion matters even at tiny scales.

How to Use This Converter

This is a bidirectional converter — type in either the teaspoons or milliliters field and the other updates automatically. Use the US / Metric toggle at the top to switch between standards — all calculations, formulas, and reference charts update accordingly. Quick-value buttons include common fractions (¼, ½, ¾ tsp) and equivalents (3 tsp = 1 tbsp, 48 tsp = 1 cup). The swap button exchanges the two values. Press "Convert" for the full breakdown.

Teaspoons ⇄ Milliliters

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