A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Metric teaspoons Converter — cup to metric tsp
Convert Cup (cup) to Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 47.3176473 metric teaspoon). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Cups to Metric teaspoons converter
Converter
Volume Converter
Convert metric, US customary, imperial, cooking, dry, and industrial volume units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A metric teaspoon is 5 milliliters.
Result = input x 0.0002365882365 / 5e-6.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Cups to Metric teaspoons
Cup and Metric teaspoon appear side by side at fuel pumps and on beverage labels, since the US measures liquids in gallons while most of the world uses liters. Cup is most often used for us recipe and cooking measurement.
Formula
metric teaspoons = cups × 47.3176473
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, and 1 metric teaspoon equals 0.000005 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-metric teaspoon factor of 47.3176473.
Simple example
1 cup × 47.3176473 = 47.3176473 metric tsp
1 cup = 47.3176473 metric teaspoons.
Real-world example
10 cup × 47.3176473 = 473.176473 metric tsp
10 cups = 473.176473 metric teaspoons.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 47.3176473 metric tsp |
| 5 cup | 236.5882365 metric tsp |
| 10 cup | 473.176473 metric tsp |
| 25 cup | 1,182.941182 metric tsp |
| 50 cup | 2,365.882365 metric tsp |
| 100 cup | 4,731.76473 metric tsp |
Reverse conversion: Metric teaspoon to Cup
47.3176473 metric tsp × 0.02113376419 = 1 cup
47.3176473 metric teaspoons = 1 cup.
cups = metric teaspoons × 0.0211337641887
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Metric teaspoon to Cup.
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 Metric teaspoon (metric tsp)
A metric teaspoon is 5 milliliters.
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 metric teaspoons are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 47.3176473 metric teaspoons, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to metric teaspoon?
Multiply the cup value by 47.3176473. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert metric teaspoon back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 metric teaspoon equals 0.0211337642 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 metric teaspoon?
Metric teaspoon (metric tsp) is a unit of volume.
Is the cup to metric teaspoon 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.
Where is the cup still used today?
United States (recipes and cooking measurement)