Imperial teaspoon to US tablespoon
imp tsp
tbsp
Conversion History
| Conversion | Reuse | Delete |
|---|---|---|
| No conversion history to show. | ||
Quick Reference Table (Imperial teaspoon to US tablespoon)
| Imperial teaspoon (imp tsp) | US tablespoon (tbsp) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 | 0.10007916046139448279 |
| 0.5 | 0.20015832092278896557 |
| 1 | 0.40031664184557793114 |
| 2 | 0.80063328369115586229 |
| 3 | 1.20094992553673379343 |
| 6 | 2.40189985107346758686 |
About Imperial teaspoon (imp tsp)
The imperial teaspoon is a unit of volume equal to approximately 5.919 milliliters, one third of an imperial tablespoon. It is larger than the US teaspoon (4.929 mL) and the metric teaspoon (5 mL). It appears in pre-metrication British and Commonwealth recipes. In medicine and pharmacology, both the UK and US have standardized on the 5 mL metric teaspoon for dosing, replacing all customary teaspoon sizes. Modern UK recipes do not use the imperial teaspoon.
Pre-metrication British recipes called for teaspoons of approximately 5.92 mL. A standard UK medicine teaspoon is now 5 mL (metric).
About US tablespoon (tbsp)
The US tablespoon (tbsp) is a unit of culinary volume equal to approximately 14.787 milliliters, defined as 3 US teaspoons or half a US fluid ounce. It is a fundamental cooking measurement in the United States for both liquid and dry ingredients. Butter is measured in tablespoons (1 stick = 8 tbsp), as are cooking oils, sauces, and spices. The US tablespoon differs from the Australian tablespoon (20 mL) and the imperial tablespoon (17.76 mL).
One tablespoon of olive oil is about 14 g. A standard butter portion is 1 tbsp (≈ 14 g).
Imperial teaspoon – Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters is an imperial teaspoon?
One imperial teaspoon equals approximately 5.919 mL — slightly larger than the US teaspoon (4.929 mL) and the metric teaspoon (5 mL).
What is the difference between an imperial and a metric teaspoon?
An imperial teaspoon is approximately 5.92 mL; a metric teaspoon is exactly 5 mL. The metric teaspoon is now standard in UK cooking, medicine, and pharmacology.
Is the imperial teaspoon used today?
The imperial teaspoon is obsolete in modern UK, Australian, and Canadian cooking, which all use the 5 mL metric teaspoon. It may appear in cookbooks published before the 1970s metrication period.
Why is a "pinch" of salt not as vague as it sounds?
A culinary pinch — the amount you can hold between thumb and forefinger — is roughly 0.3–0.5 mL, or about 1/16 of a teaspoon. Professional recipe developers have measured this and found surprising consistency across people: the human fingertip geometry constrains how much fine powder you can grip. A "dash" (liquid) is about 0.6 mL, and a "smidgen" is half a pinch (~0.15 mL). These folksy terms survive in recipes because they map to real, repeatable volumes — within the tolerance that salt and spice measurements actually require.
Why did the UK standardize on 5 mL for medicine teaspoons?
The WHO recommended the 5 mL metric teaspoon for medication dosing in the 1970s to eliminate ambiguity between imperial (5.92 mL), US (4.93 mL), and other teaspoon sizes. A calibrated 5 mL oral syringe is now the recommended tool for all liquid medicines.
US tablespoon – Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters are in a US tablespoon?
One US tablespoon equals approximately 14.787 mL, typically rounded to 15 mL in culinary contexts. It equals 3 US teaspoons (3 × 4.929 mL = 14.787 mL).
How does the US tablespoon differ from the Australian tablespoon?
The Australian tablespoon is 20 mL — about 35% larger than the US tablespoon (14.79 mL). When using Australian recipes: 1 Australian tbsp ≈ 1.35 US tbsp. This is a significant difference in baking.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
There are 16 US tablespoons in one US cup (240 mL): 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 48 tsp = 8 fl oz.
How much butter is in a tablespoon?
One US tablespoon of butter weighs approximately 14.2 grams (½ oz). A standard 4-oz US butter stick = 8 tablespoons = ½ cup.
Is a tablespoon the same in US and UK recipes?
No. A US tablespoon is about 14.79 mL; a UK/imperial tablespoon is about 17.76 mL — approximately 20% larger. Most modern UK recipes now use 15 mL metric tablespoons.