mL to tsp Converter
Turn milliliter amounts into teaspoon measures
Milliliters to teaspoons FAQ
How do you convert milliliters to teaspoons exactly?
This calculator uses the standard US teaspoon definition where 1 tsp = 4.92892159375 milliliters. To convert from mL to tsp, you divide the milliliter value by 4.92892159375. For example, 5 mL ÷ 4.9289 ≈ 1.014 tsp. The tool performs this division for you and formats the result so it is easy to read and reuse in recipes, dosing notes or tracking apps.
Is this based on US teaspoons, metric teaspoons or UK teaspoons?
There are several teaspoon standards in use. This page is based on the US customary teaspoon, defined as exactly one third of a US tablespoon and tied to the US fluid ounce. A metric teaspoon is usually rounded to 5 mL, and older UK sources can assume slightly different sizes. If your instructions or labels use “tsp” in a US context, this converter lines up well with that definition.
Why do many labels say 5 mL = 1 teaspoon?
For simplicity, lots of cookbooks, medicine cups and packaging round a teaspoon to 5 mL. The official US teaspoon is slightly smaller at about 4.93 mL. In practice, treating 5 mL as 1 teaspoon works fine for most recipes and everyday uses. This calculator uses the more precise 4.9289 mL figure so that you can see the difference when accuracy matters, especially for concentrated liquids.
What is 5 mL in teaspoons for medicine dosing?
Using the exact US teaspoon definition, 5 mL ≈ 1.014 tsp. Many dosing guides simply treat that as “1 teaspoon”. The calculator helps you see the precise relationship between your milliliter syringe or cup and older teaspoon-based instructions. For medicines and infant products, always follow the label and your healthcare provider’s advice first, and treat this converter as a supporting tool only.
Why don’t my mL syringes and teaspoons always match?
Real-world measuring tools are not perfect. Kitchen teaspoons and household spoons can hold more or less than a standard teaspoon, and even marked measuring spoons have manufacturing tolerances. Syringes and medicine cups often round to whole milliliters. This converter applies the official mL to teaspoon relationship, but small differences between physical tools are normal, especially in everyday kitchen use.
How many decimal places of teaspoons should I keep?
For home cooking, baby bottles and most supplements, two decimal places in teaspoons is usually plenty. For example, 7.5 mL becomes about 1.52 tsp. If you only have standard measuring spoons, rounding to the nearest quarter or half teaspoon works in many cases. Where precision really matters, it is usually better to measure directly in milliliters using the markings on a medical-grade syringe or cup.
Can I use this for baby formula, supplements and recipes?
Yes. Baby formula instructions, supplement droppers, flavor concentrates and recipes all mix milliliters and teaspoons. A fast milliliters to teaspoons conversion helps you translate the values into whichever unit your spoons and jugs use. For anything related to health, infants or medication, rely on the official measuring devices and instructions provided with the product, and use this converter as a quick numerical check rather than the primary dosing method.
From milliliters on the label to teaspoons on the spoon
This mL to tsp converter is designed for everyday situations where instructions give volumes in milliliters, but you want to understand or measure them in teaspoons. That might be a syrup bottle that says “5 mL per dose”, a recipe written in mL while your spoons are marked in teaspoons, or a supplement dropper where you are used to thinking in “half a teaspoon” instead of “2.5 mL”. Instead of rough guessing, you enter the milliliters once and get a clear line such as “5 mL ≈ 1.01 tsp”.
1. One metric input, one clear teaspoon result
The layout stays intentionally minimal: a single box for milliliters and a result card underneath. You can type small values like 0.5 mL for concentrated flavors, or larger amounts like 30 mL for medicine cups or recipe batches. The converter divides by the precise US teaspoon factor and prints the teaspoon value with sensible formatting, ready to read aloud, jot down, or paste into a note on your phone.
When you need to go the other way, from teaspoons to milliliters, the “Swap Units” button jumps directly to the tsp to mL tool. The two converters are built as a pair so that you can move between teaspoons and milliliters without changing how you prefer to think about the amounts.
2. Exact relationship: 1 tsp ≈ 4.92892159375 mL
Behind the scenes, this page uses the official US customary teaspoon, derived from the US fluid ounce. That gives an exact factor of 1 teaspoon ≈ 4.92892159375 milliliters, or about 0.20288 tsp per milliliter. The converter applies this relationship consistently so you can rely on the output when you are double-checking doses, scaling test recipes, or converting old teaspoon notes into metric values. For other volume units like tablespoons, cups, fluid ounces or litres, the volume conversion calculator covers a broader set of unit pairings in the same style.
3. Common mL to tsp values at a glance
These sample conversions match what the calculator produces and make useful checkpoints when you sanity-check labels, charts and recipe notes:
| Milliliters (mL) | Teaspoons (tsp) |
|---|---|
| 1 mL | ≈ 0.20 tsp |
| 2.5 mL | ≈ 0.51 tsp |
| 5 mL | ≈ 1.01 tsp |
| 7.5 mL | ≈ 1.52 tsp |
| 10 mL | ≈ 2.03 tsp |
| 15 mL | ≈ 3.04 tsp |
| 20 mL | ≈ 4.06 tsp |
| 30 mL | ≈ 6.09 tsp (about 2 US tbsp) |
A quick mental rule of thumb is to divide by five and add a tiny amount. For example, 10 mL → about 2 teaspoons. The calculator replaces this rough estimate with the precise value whenever you need more confidence, such as when dealing with stronger supplements or finicky baking recipes.
4. Where the mL to tsp converter shines
You will most often reach for this tool in situations like:
- Liquid medicines and syrups — relate milliliter-based dosing cups and syringes to older teaspoon instructions.
- Baby formula and feeding — convert bottle volumes and mixing guides in mL to teaspoons when you only have spoon measures handy.
- Supplements, tinctures and drops — understand how many teaspoons are in your usual milliliter dose.
- Cooking and baking — translate metric recipe quantities into teaspoon amounts that match your measuring spoons.
- DIY cleaners and small-batch mixes — scale formulas that use milliliters into teaspoon-sized amounts for test batches.
Because it is anchored to officially recognised definitions, you can return to this milliliters to teaspoons converter any time and get consistent, predictable results that support both everyday kitchen use and more careful record keeping.
References and further reading on milliliters and teaspoons
These references explain how milliliters and teaspoons are defined and used:
- Millilitre — describes the milliliter as a metric volume unit and its relation to litres and cubic metres.
- Teaspoon — covers culinary and measurement teaspoons, including US and metric variants.
- SI Units — Volume (NIST) — provides official background on volume units, including litres and millilitres, within the SI framework.
For medicines, infant feeding and other health-related uses, always follow the measuring devices and instructions supplied with the product and any guidance from your healthcare provider. Use this converter as a numerical helper, not as a replacement for professional advice.