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
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)
