A metric teaspoon is 5 milliliters.
Metric teaspoons to Cups Converter — metric tsp to cup
Convert Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) to Cup (cup) using the exact conversion factor (1 metric teaspoon = 0.0211337642 cup). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Metric teaspoons to Cups 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 customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Result = input x 5e-6 / 0.0002365882365.
Volume units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Metric teaspoons to Cups
Metric teaspoon and Cup 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. Specifically: A metric teaspoon is 5 milliliters, and a US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Formula
cups = metric teaspoons × 0.0211337641887
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 metric teaspoon equals 0.000005 base units, and 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct metric teaspoon-to-cup factor of 0.0211337641887.
Simple example
1 metric tsp × 0.02113376419 = 0.0211337642 cup
1 metric teaspoon = 0.0211337642 cups.
Real-world example
2 metric tsp × 0.02113376419 = 0.0422675284 cup
2 metric teaspoons = 0.0422675284 cups.
Conversion table
| Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) | Cup (cup) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 metric tsp | 0.005283441 cup |
| 0.5 metric tsp | 0.0105668821 cup |
| 1 metric tsp | 0.0211337642 cup |
| 2 metric tsp | 0.0422675284 cup |
| 4 metric tsp | 0.0845350568 cup |
| 8 metric tsp | 0.1690701135 cup |
Reverse conversion: Cup to Metric teaspoon
0.0211337642 cup × 47.3176473 = 1.000000001 metric tsp
0.0211337642 cups = 1.000000001 metric teaspoons.
metric teaspoons = cups × 47.3176473
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Cup to Metric teaspoon.
Understanding the Metric teaspoon (metric tsp)
A metric teaspoon is 5 milliliters.
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.
Cup — sources
- US FDA — Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed — Uses the 240 mL rounded cup for nutrition labeling.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups are in 1 metric teaspoon?
1 metric teaspoon equals 0.0211337642 cups, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert metric teaspoon to cup?
Multiply the metric teaspoon value by 0.02113376419. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert cup back to metric teaspoon?
Use the reverse factor: 1 cup equals 47.3176473 metric teaspoons. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a metric teaspoon?
Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) is a unit of cooking.
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).
Is the metric teaspoon to cup conversion exact?
Yes. 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). 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.