Tsp in Measuring Spoons: Which Spoon Should You Use?

Quick Answer

Tsp means teaspoon. For a recipe, use the dedicated measuring spoon marked “1 tsp” or “5 mL.” It is smaller than the tablespoon spoon; do not substitute ordinary household cutlery.

Definitions

tsp

The common abbreviation for teaspoon, the smaller standard measuring-spoon size.

teaspoon

A volume measure used in recipes; it is commonly treated as 5 mL, although US customary and some regional standards differ slightly.

tbsp

The abbreviation for tablespoon, a larger recipe measure than a teaspoon.

level spoon

A measuring spoon filled to its rim and scraped or settled flat, without a mound above the top.

Tsp in measuring spoons: use the teaspoon

When a recipe says “tsp,” it means teaspoon. Choose the spoon in your measuring set marked “1 tsp,” “tsp,” or “5 mL.”

In a typical nested set, the teaspoon is one of the smaller spoons. It is usually larger than the 1/2 tsp and 1/4 tsp measures but smaller than the tablespoon. Use a dedicated measuring spoon rather than everyday table or serving cutlery, whose capacities are not standardised.

• Look for “1 tsp” or “5 mL” on the handle or bowl.
• Use a level spoon for dry ingredients unless the recipe says otherwise.
• Keep recipe measurement separate from medicine dosing; this guide is for cooking and baking only.

Which spoon in a measuring set is the tsp?

The marking is the most reliable identifier. Look for “tsp,” “1 tsp,” or “5 mL” on the handle or inside the bowl. If a set includes both metric and customary labels, follow any volume specified by the recipe.

Where fractional spoons are included, the full teaspoon is normally labelled 1 tsp, while 1/2 tsp and 1/4 tsp are smaller. Nesting order, shape, and colour can be useful clues, but they are not dependable because layouts vary between manufacturers.

• Find the clearly marked 1 tsp spoon.
• Check both the handle and the spoon bowl for a capacity mark.
• Use the recipe’s stated millilitre volume when it provides one.

How much is a teaspoon?

A metric teaspoon holds 5 mL, and Australian recipes use a 5 mL teaspoon. A US customary teaspoon is approximately 4.93 mL, although everyday home recipes commonly round it to 5 mL.

This small difference rarely affects ordinary cooking. For precise baking or a recipe written for a particular regional standard, follow its stated volume and use clearly marked measuring spoons.

• Metric teaspoon: 5 mL.
• Australian teaspoon: 5 mL.
• US customary teaspoon: approximately 4.93 mL.

Tsp versus tbsp: check the abbreviation

“tsp” means teaspoon, while “tbsp” means tablespoon. A tablespoon is the larger measure, so using it when a recipe calls for tsp can add substantially more ingredient than intended.

Read the letters before measuring, especially in handwritten recipes. The extra “b” identifies tbsp; if a recipe uses unfamiliar notation, check its ingredient wording or key before adding anything.

• tsp = teaspoon.
• tbsp = tablespoon.
• The extra “b” identifies tablespoon.

How to check an unlabelled measuring spoon

If a spoon’s markings have worn away, check its capacity rather than guessing from its appearance. Fill it with water to its normal rim, keeping the surface level, then transfer the water to a suitably fine-graduated kitchen volume measure that can read around 5 mL.

A coarse kitchen jug with widely spaced markings cannot reliably distinguish a teaspoon from nearby capacities. A spoon measuring about 5 mL is likely a metric teaspoon; if accuracy matters, particularly for baking, use a clearly marked spoon and follow the recipe’s regional convention.

• Fill the spoon to the rim, not heaped above it.
• Use a fine-graduated volume measure capable of reading around 5 mL.
• Do not compare it with ordinary cutlery, as household teaspoons vary in capacity.

Recipe-measuring checklist

Use this short check before measuring to avoid the common tsp-versus-tbsp error and keep recipe results consistent.

• Confirm whether the recipe says tsp or tbsp.
• Choose the spoon marked 1 tsp or 5 mL.
• Check the recipe’s regional convention when precision matters.
• Fill dry ingredients level unless the recipe says rounded or heaped.
• Fill liquids carefully to the rim without spilling.
• Use dedicated measuring spoons for baking instead of household cutlery.
• Verify an unlabelled spoon by capacity before using it.

Find a labelled measuring set

Check the included spoon markings before choosing a set, and use the spoon labelled for the recipe's required volume.

Final Verdict

• For tsp, select the dedicated spoon marked “1 tsp” or “5 mL.”
• If markings are missing, verify the spoon with a fine-graduated volume measure rather than its shape or position in the set.
• Do not confuse tsp with the larger tbsp spoon or replace it with ordinary household cutlery.

FAQs

What does tsp stand for on measuring spoons?

Tsp stands for teaspoon. Use the dedicated recipe-measuring spoon labelled “1 tsp,” “tsp,” or commonly “5 mL.”

Which spoon in a measuring set is the tsp?

It is the spoon labelled 1 tsp. It is generally larger than 1/2 tsp and 1/4 tsp spoons and smaller than the tablespoon, but the label is more reliable than the set order.

How many millilitres does a teaspoon represent?

A metric teaspoon represents 5 mL. A US customary teaspoon is approximately 4.93 mL, though many home recipes treat it as 5 mL.

Do metric, US, and Australian teaspoon measures differ?

Metric and Australian teaspoons are 5 mL, while a US customary teaspoon is approximately 4.93 mL. The difference is small for most cooking but can matter in precise baking.

What is the difference between tsp and tbsp?

Tsp means teaspoon and tbsp means tablespoon. They are different sizes, with the tablespoon being the larger measure.

How can an unlabelled measuring spoon be checked?

Fill it level with water and transfer the water to a fine-graduated kitchen volume measure that can read around 5 mL. Do not rely on a coarse measuring jug or ordinary cutlery for this check.