Two-thirds of a teaspoon is 0.67 tsp, which is about 3.3 mL and a touch under 3/4 teaspoon.
Two-thirds teaspoon (2/3 tsp) pops up when you halve a spice mix, scale a marinade, or tweak a batter. Most spoon sets skip it, so people eyeball, then the dish swings salty, flat, or sharp.
You don’t need a special spoon. You need a clear target, a steady leveling method, and one or two reliable backups when you’re working with strong flavors.
How Much Is 2/3 Tsp? In Milliliters And Tablespoons
As a fraction, 2/3 tsp means two parts out of three. As a decimal, it’s 0.666… teaspoon, which you can treat as 0.67 tsp in normal cooking.
In milliliters, a teaspoon can be defined two ways. For U.S. nutrition labeling, the FDA sets 1 teaspoon to 5 mL, which matches most metric measuring spoon sets and keeps conversions simple. That definition appears in 21 CFR 101.9. With 1 tsp = 5 mL, 2/3 tsp equals 3.33 mL.
Some older references use the U.S. customary teaspoon (4.9289 mL). In that system, 2/3 tsp is close to 3.29 mL. The difference is small, yet it can show up with strong ingredients like salt or baking soda.
In tablespoons, most cooks use 3 tsp = 1 tbsp. So 2/3 tsp equals 2/9 tbsp, near 0.22 tbsp. That’s awkward to scoop, so it’s better to build 2/3 tsp from common teaspoon fractions.
2/3 Teaspoon Measurement Options That Work In Real Kitchens
Option 1: Two Scoops Of 1/3 Tsp
If your set includes 1/3 tsp, this is the clean path: two level scoops equals 2/3 tsp. Fill the spoon, then sweep the top flat with a straight edge. Repeat once.
Option 2: Measure 3.3 mL For Liquids
If you have a mini liquid measure or a small kitchen syringe, measure 3.3 mL. This shines for vanilla, lemon juice, fish sauce, and liquid sweeteners where “leveling” is messy.
Option 3: Use A Scale For Ingredients That Pack Or Stick
A scale can beat spoons for dense powders and sticky foods. The weight in grams depends on the ingredient, so use a gram value that matches what’s in your bowl. Two-thirds of a teaspoon of table salt weighs more than the same volume of paprika.
Level, Heaped, And Scant: The Part That Changes Your Result
Recipes assume a level measure unless they say “heaped” or “rounded.” Level means even with the rim. If you scoop and shake or press the ingredient down, you’ll fit more into the same spoon.
Heaped can double the dose with some powders. Scant is slightly under level. For tiny measures, that small shift can be the line between balanced and bitter.
When you build 2/3 tsp from two scoops, keep your technique consistent on both scoops. Same fill, same sweep, same angle. Consistency beats “perfect” math that changes every time.
When Measuring 2/3 Tsp Needs Extra Care
Leaveners In Baking
Baking soda and baking powder change texture and flavor. Too much baking soda can taste harsh and turn baked goods dark. Too little can leave a dense crumb. If your recipe is small, measure closer.
Salt In Small Batches
Salt has a narrow window in eggs, dips, and single-serving sauces. In a big pot of soup you can adjust and simmer. In a small bowl, you feel every extra grain.
Potent Spices And Extracts
Clove, cayenne, cinnamon, and extracts can dominate. If 2/3 tsp is meant to sit in the background, measure tighter. If it’s meant to hit hard, being a hair over or under won’t wreck the dish.
Non-Food Uses
A kitchen teaspoon is not a dosing tool for medicine. Use the dosing device that comes with the product and follow the label. The FDA’s household-measure guidance explains how label measures map to metric values in its metric equivalents document.
Conversion Table For Teaspoon Fractions
These values use 1 tsp = 5 mL. That keeps the math tidy and matches the value used for U.S. label measures and many metric spoon sets.
| Teaspoon Amount | Decimal (tsp) | Milliliters (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 tsp | 0.125 | 0.63 |
| 1/4 tsp | 0.25 | 1.25 |
| 1/3 tsp | 0.33 | 1.67 |
| 1/2 tsp | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| 2/3 tsp | 0.67 | 3.33 |
| 3/4 tsp | 0.75 | 3.75 |
| 1 tsp | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 1.5 | 7.5 |
How To Measure 2/3 Tsp Without A 2/3 Spoon
Method 1: Two-Level 1/3 Scoops
Use 1/3 tsp twice. Level each scoop. Tip both into a small dish first if you’re measuring a strong spice, then add to the recipe. That way you can pull back if you overshoot.
Method 2: 3.3 mL With A Syringe Or Small Cup
Draw up 3.3 mL, then dispense it into your bowl. For thick liquids like honey, rinse the syringe with warm water after use so it doesn’t gum up.
Method 3: Recipe Scaling To Land On Friendlier Spoons
If you’re scaling a recipe and keep hitting odd fractions, scale to a number that clears them. Tripling 2/3 tsp turns it into 2 tsp, which is standard. Doubling turns it into 1 1/3 tsp, which still isn’t common, so tripling often works better when leftovers make sense.
Visual Cue If You Only Have A 1 Tsp Spoon
If all you have is a 1 tsp measure, you can still get close. Fill the spoon level, then split it into three equal-looking bands in your mind. Tip out about one band, leaving two bands behind, then level gently. This is not the best choice for baking soda or fine salt in a small batch, yet it works for soups, stews, and spice blends where you can taste and adjust.
If you’re seasoning something you can sample, add a bit under the target first, stir well, then taste. You can always add more. Pulling out extra salt or chili after it’s mixed in is a headache.
Dry Vs Liquid Measuring Tips For 2/3 Tsp
Two-thirds of a teaspoon can be a dry powder, a coarse crystal, a thick syrup, or a thin liquid. The measurement goal is the same, but the technique changes.
Dry Powders
- Spoon the ingredient into the measuring spoon instead of digging straight into the jar. Scooping can pack powders.
- Overfill slightly, then sweep the top flat with one smooth pass.
- If the powder is lumpy, break up the lumps first so the spoon fills evenly.
Granules And Crystals
- Salt and sugar can mound unevenly. Tap the spoon once on the counter, then level.
- If you switch between fine salt and flaky salt, don’t swap measures by eye. The same spoon volume can taste different.
Sticky Ingredients
- Wet the spoon with water for syrups, or lightly oil it for honey and nut butters. That helps the ingredient release cleanly.
- For thick liquids, milliliters are often easier than “leveling.” Measuring 3.3 mL avoids the mess.
Use A Scale To Build A Reliable 2/3 Tsp For Any Ingredient
If you want repeatable results and you have a scale that reads to 0.1 g, you can create your own weight conversion in a minute. This avoids guessing with “scant” scoops, and it adapts to whatever you’re measuring.
- Place a small bowl on the scale and tare to zero.
- Measure 1 level teaspoon of the ingredient into the bowl and note the grams.
- Multiply that gram number by 0.67 to get a two-thirds teaspoon weight, then weigh out that amount.
This method is also handy when you’re making the same recipe often. Once you know your go-to salt, yeast, or spice blend weights for 1 tsp and 2/3 tsp, you can write them on the jar lid and skip fraction math next time.
Second Table: Shortcuts When Your Spoon Set Is Limited
These are practical fallbacks. Some are exact, some are close. Match the option to the recipe and the ingredient.
| Tools On Hand | What To Do | Use It For |
|---|---|---|
| 1/3 tsp | 2 × 1/3 tsp, leveled | Any dry or wet ingredient |
| mL syringe | Measure 3.3 mL | Extracts, sauces, oils |
| Scale | Weigh an ingredient-specific gram amount | Salt, leaveners, powders |
| 1 tsp only | Fill to about two-thirds, then level gently | Low-stakes seasoning |
| 1/4 tsp + 1/8 tsp | Use 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/8, then stop | Most spices and blends |
| No spoons | Use 3.3 mL with any marked medicine cup | Liquids with clear markings |
Mistakes That Throw Off Small Spoon Measures
Packing When You Shouldn’t
Brown sugar is the classic “packed” ingredient. Flour and most spices are not packed unless the recipe says so. If you compress powder into the spoon, you’re measuring a larger dose than the recipe expects.
Measuring Over The Bowl
Leveling over the bowl invites accidental spills. Measure over a small dish, then pour it in. It’s a small habit that saves batches.
Using A Drawer Spoon
Dining teaspoons vary a lot. A real measuring spoon gives a repeatable volume. If the recipe is sensitive, use measuring spoons or milliliters.
Last Word On Measuring 2/3 Tsp
Two-thirds of a teaspoon is 0.67 tsp, near 3.3 mL when you use the 5 mL teaspoon value. For most cooking, two level 1/3 tsp scoops is the clean way to get there. When you’re working with liquids, 3.3 mL is a tidy backup. When the ingredient is strong and the batch is small, measure closer and level every scoop the same way.
References & Sources
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR).“21 CFR 101.9 — Nutrition labeling of food.”Defines household measures for labeling, including teaspoon as 5 mL.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).“Guidelines for determining metric equivalents of household measures.”Explains metric equivalents used on labels for common measures like teaspoon.
