A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Teaspoons Converter — cup to tsp
Convert Cup (cup) to Teaspoon (tsp) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 48 teaspoon). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, unit comparison, history, and common uses.
Cups to Teaspoons converter
Converter
Cooking Converter
Convert cooking volume and mass units used in recipes and nutrition workflows.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A US teaspoon is one third of a US tablespoon.
Result = input x 0.0002365882365 / 4.92892159e-6.
Volume units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Cups to Teaspoons
Cup and Teaspoon both show up in recipes, and converting between them matters whenever a recipe from one country's cookbook needs to be followed with another country's measuring tools. Cup is typically associated with united States (recipes and cooking measurement), while Teaspoon is typically associated with united States (cooking and recipe measurement).
Formula
teaspoons = cups × 48
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, and 1 teaspoon equals 0.00000492892159375 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-teaspoon factor of 48.
Simple example
1 cup × 48 = 48 tsp
1 cup = 48 teaspoons.
Real-world example
2 cup × 48 = 96 tsp
2 cups = 96 teaspoons.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Teaspoon (tsp) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 cup | 12 tsp |
| 0.5 cup | 24 tsp |
| 1 cup | 48 tsp |
| 2 cup | 96 tsp |
| 4 cup | 192 tsp |
| 8 cup | 384 tsp |
Reverse conversion: Teaspoon to Cup
48 tsp × 0.02083333333 = 1 cup
48 teaspoons = 1 cups.
cups = teaspoons × 0.0208333333333
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Teaspoon to Cup.
Cup vs. Teaspoon
| Aspect | Cup | Teaspoon |
|---|---|---|
| Family | US customary unit (culinary) | US customary unit |
| Typical use | US recipe and cooking measurement | US recipe and cooking measurement for small quantities |
| Where it's used | United States (recipes and cooking measurement) | United States (cooking and recipe measurement) |
Understanding the Cup
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
Where it's used: United States (recipes and cooking measurement)
Cooking cup vs. legal US cup. US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.
Uses of the Cup today
- US recipe and cooking measurement
- Nutrition labeling serving sizes
- Baking, where volume-based flour/sugar measurement is still common in the US
History of the Cup
The cup as a cooking measure grew out of household and community cookbook conventions in 19th-century America, standardizing what had been ad hoc measurements ('a teacup of flour') into a fixed volume.
The US FDA uses a rounded 240 mL 'metric cup' for nutrition labeling purposes, distinct from the slightly smaller legal/customary cup (236.588 mL, exactly 1/16 of a US gallon) used elsewhere.
Historical origin. Cup was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Understanding the Teaspoon
Teaspoon (tsp) measures volume. The US teaspoon is exactly 4.92892159375 milliliters — 1/3 of a US tablespoon and 1/48 of a US cup. It is classified as a US customary unit.
Where it's used: United States (cooking and recipe measurement)
Uses of the Teaspoon today
- US recipe and cooking measurement for small quantities
- Medication dosing instructions in the US
- Baking measurement alongside the tablespoon and cup
Cup — sources
- US FDA — Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed — Uses the 240 mL rounded cup for nutrition labeling.
Teaspoon — sources
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C — General tables of units including the US teaspoon definition.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many teaspoons are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 48 teaspoons, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to teaspoon?
Multiply the cup value by 48. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert teaspoon back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 teaspoon equals 0.0208333333 cups. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a cup?
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
What is a teaspoon?
Teaspoon (tsp) measures volume. The US teaspoon is exactly 4.92892159375 milliliters — 1/3 of a US tablespoon and 1/48 of a US cup. It is classified as a US customary unit.
Is the cup to teaspoon conversion exact?
Yes. The US teaspoon is exactly 4.92892159375 milliliters — 1/3 of a US tablespoon and 1/48 of a US cup. That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.
What is the difference between cooking cup vs. legal us cup?
US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.
Where is the cup still used today?
United States (recipes and cooking measurement)