Updated 31 July 2026 · Written by MKB Team
A tablespoon is about 15 milliliters. The US tablespoon is 14.8 ml, usually rounded to 15, while the metric and UK tablespoons are exactly 15 ml. For everyday cooking you can treat a tablespoon as 15 ml, and a teaspoon as 5 ml.
1 tablespoon = about 15 ml (US 14.8, metric/UK 15). 1 teaspoon = 5 ml.
US vs Metric
The US tablespoon is 14.8 ml, rounded to 15 for convenience, while metric and UK tablespoons are a round 15 ml. The tiny difference rarely matters in cooking.
Teaspoons Too
A teaspoon is 5 ml, so three teaspoons make the 15 ml tablespoon. Measuring liquids in millilitres avoids any confusion between spoon standards.
Spoon to Millilitre
| Spoon | Millilitres |
|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon | 15 ml |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml |
| 1/2 tablespoon | 7.5 ml |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a tablespoon 15 or 20 ml?
In the US, UK and metric systems a tablespoon is about 15 ml. The 20 ml tablespoon is used only in Australia.
How many ml in a teaspoon?
A teaspoon is 5 millilitres, so three teaspoons equal a 15 ml tablespoon.
