Convert Cups to Teaspoons (tsp)
1 cup equals 48 Teaspoons.
Cup to Teaspoon Converter
What Is a Cup?
The US customary cup (c) is a unit of volume equal to 8 fluid ounces, 16 tablespoons, 48 teaspoons, or approximately 236.588 mL. It is the primary ingredient measure in American recipes.
What Is a Teaspoon?
The US teaspoon (tsp) is a customary unit of volume equal to ⅓ tablespoon or approximately 4.929 mL. The metric teaspoon is exactly 5 mL. It is used for small-quantity measurement in cooking and medicine dosing.
Cups to Teaspoons Formula
The conversion is exact by definition:
teaspoons = cups × 48
Since 1 cup = 16 tablespoons and 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons: 16 × 3 = 48.
Worked Example
Convert ¼ cup of baking powder to teaspoons:
- Multiply: 0.25 × 48 = 12 teaspoons
Common Cups to Teaspoons Conversions
| Cups | Teaspoons | Also Equals |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 6 tsp | 2 tbsp / 1 fl oz |
| ¼ cup | 12 tsp | 4 tbsp / 2 fl oz |
| ⅓ cup | 16 tsp | 5⅓ tbsp |
| ½ cup | 24 tsp | 8 tbsp / 4 fl oz |
| ⅔ cup | 32 tsp | 10⅔ tbsp |
| ¾ cup | 36 tsp | 12 tbsp / 6 fl oz |
| 1 cup | 48 tsp | 16 tbsp / 8 fl oz |
| 1½ cups | 72 tsp | 24 tbsp / 12 fl oz |
| 2 cups | 96 tsp | 1 pint / 32 tbsp |
| 4 cups | 192 tsp | 1 quart / 64 tbsp |
When You Need This Conversion
- Scaling recipes down: Halving a recipe that calls for ½ cup of salt = ¼ cup = 12 teaspoons — easier to measure precisely with a teaspoon.
- Baking precision: Leavening agents (baking powder, baking soda) are critical to get right. ¼ cup = 12 teaspoons lets you adjust by single teaspoons.
- Spice blends: Creating a spice mix where ingredients are listed in cups but you need teaspoon-level precision for individual spices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teaspoons in a cup?
Exactly 48 teaspoons (16 tablespoons × 3 teaspoons per tablespoon).
How many teaspoons in ¼ cup?
12 teaspoons (48 ÷ 4). Also equals 4 tablespoons.
How many teaspoons in ¾ cup?
36 teaspoons (48 × 0.75). Also equals 12 tablespoons or 6 fluid ounces.
What is the cup-to-tablespoon-to-teaspoon ratio?
1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons. The chain: 1 cup → ÷16 → 1 tbsp → ÷3 → 1 tsp.
Cooking Notes & Cross-References
Cup sizes vary by country. This converter uses US customary cups (236.588 mL) and US teaspoons (4.929 mL). Metric teaspoons are exactly 5 mL, and metric cups (250 mL) give different results. The "48 teaspoons = 1 cup" rule is a US convention. Always check which system your recipe uses.
See our complete Cooking Measurement Guide for a quick-reference chart with all cup, tablespoon, and teaspoon equivalencies.
Need to convert the other way? Use our Teaspoons to Cups converter.
Common Cup to Teaspoon Conversions
| Cup | Teaspoon | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 48 Teaspoons | |
| 5 cups | 240 Teaspoons | |
| 10 cups | 480 Teaspoons | |
| 25 cups | 1200 Teaspoons |
| Cup | Teaspoon | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 50 cups | 2400 Teaspoons | |
| 100 cups | 4800 Teaspoons | |
| 500 cups | 24000 Teaspoons | |
| 1000 cups | 48000 Teaspoons |
Cups to Teaspoons Conversion Table
Reference table with common cups to teaspoons conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Cups to Teaspoons Table
1 to 100000
Teaspoons to Cups Table
0.01 to 50
Teaspoons to Cups Table
100 to 10000000
Looking for the reverse? Convert Teaspoon to Cup
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- Grams to Ounces — Recipes often need both volume (cups) and weight (g/oz)
