4 teaspoons (tsp) is equal to 1 tablespoon (tbs).
This conversion is based on the fact that 1 tablespoon equals 3 teaspoons. Therefore, dividing 4 teaspoons by 3 gives the equivalent amount in tablespoons, which results in approximately 1.3333 tablespoons.
Conversion Tool
Result in tbs:
Conversion Formula
Teaspoons (tsp) and tablespoons (tbs) are both units of volume commonly used in cooking. The relationship between them is that 1 tablespoon contains exactly 3 teaspoons. To convert teaspoons to tablespoons, the number of teaspoons must be divided by 3.
The formula:
tablespoons = teaspoons ÷ 3
This works because each tablespoon is equal to three teaspoons, so dividing the tsp value by 3 gives the equivalent tbs value.
Example:
- Given 4 tsp, divide by 3 → 4 ÷ 3 = 1.3333 tbs
- This means 4 teaspoons equals 1 and 1/3 tablespoons.
Conversion Example
- Convert 9 tsp to tbs:
- Step 1: Start with 9 teaspoons.
- Step 2: Apply formula: 9 ÷ 3 = 3 tablespoons.
- Result: 9 teaspoons equals 3 tablespoons.
- Convert 7 tsp to tbs:
- Step 1: Take 7 teaspoons.
- Step 2: Divide by 3: 7 ÷ 3 ≈ 2.3333 tablespoons.
- Result: 7 teaspoons is about 2 and 1/3 tablespoons.
- Convert 1.5 tsp to tbs:
- Step 1: Begin with 1.5 teaspoons.
- Step 2: Divide 1.5 by 3: 1.5 ÷ 3 = 0.5 tablespoons.
- Result: 1.5 teaspoons is half a tablespoon.
- Convert 12 tsp to tbs:
- Step 1: Use 12 teaspoons.
- Step 2: Divide by 3: 12 ÷ 3 = 4 tablespoons.
- Result: 12 teaspoons equals 4 tablespoons.
Conversion Chart
The following table shows teaspoons values from -21.0 to 29.0 and their equivalent in tablespoons, calculated by dividing the teaspoon value by 3. Use this chart to quickly find tablespoon equivalents without needing a calculator.
Teaspoons (tsp) | Tablespoons (tbs) |
---|---|
-21.0 | -7.0000 |
-18.0 | -6.0000 |
-15.0 | -5.0000 |
-12.0 | -4.0000 |
-9.0 | -3.0000 |
-6.0 | -2.0000 |
-3.0 | -1.0000 |
0.0 | 0.0000 |
3.0 | 1.0000 |
6.0 | 2.0000 |
9.0 | 3.0000 |
12.0 | 4.0000 |
15.0 | 5.0000 |
18.0 | 6.0000 |
21.0 | 7.0000 |
24.0 | 8.0000 |
27.0 | 9.0000 |
29.0 | 9.6667 |
Related Conversion Questions
- How many tablespoons are in 4 teaspoons of sugar?
- What is 4 tsp converted to tbs for cooking recipes?
- Is 4 tsp equal to 1 tablespoon or more?
- How to convert 4 teaspoons to tablespoons without a calculator?
- How many tbs is 4 tsp when measuring liquids?
- Can 4 tsp be measured as 1 tbs in baking?
- What is the tablespoon equivalent of 4 teaspoons in metric?
Conversion Definitions
tsp (teaspoon): A teaspoon is a unit of volume measurement used in cooking and medicine, representing approximately 4.92892 milliliters in the US customary system. It is commonly used for measuring small amounts of ingredients like spices, liquid extracts, or powders.
tbs (tablespoon): A tablespoon is a larger unit of volume often used in cooking, equal to three teaspoons or about 14.7868 milliliters in the US system. It helps measure moderate quantities of liquids or dry ingredients, commonly seen in recipes and food preparation.
Conversion FAQs
Can I round 4 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon when cooking?
Rounding 4 teaspoons down to 1 tablespoon may cause slight differences in the recipe, because 1 tablespoon equals exactly 3 teaspoons. Using 4 teaspoons actually means 1 and 1/3 tablespoons, so rounding down could reduce the ingredient amount by about 25%.
Is the teaspoon to tablespoon conversion the same worldwide?
While the US customary system defines 1 tablespoon as 3 teaspoons, other countries like the UK or Australia may have slightly different volumes for these units. However, the ratio of 3 teaspoons per tablespoon remains consistent in most cooking measurements.
Why is the conversion factor 3 between tsp and tbs?
The factor 3 comes from the standardized volume sizes where a tablespoon is defined as three times the volume of a teaspoon. This standardization ensures measurements are consistent across recipes and nutrition labeling.
How precise is the conversion when using decimal tablespoons?
Using decimal values for tablespoons, such as 1.3333 tbs for 4 tsp, offers precise measurement for recipes requiring accuracy. However, in casual cooking, rounding to the nearest fraction or whole tablespoon might be acceptable depending on the ingredient.
Can I use this conversion for both liquid and dry ingredients?
The tsp to tbs conversion works for volume measurements regardless of liquid or dry ingredients. But keep in mind, volume does not equal weight, so for dry ingredients density variations may affect actual weight despite same volume conversions.