What is the size of a Teaspoon?

From L to R - Coffee Spoons, Teaspoons, Dessert Spoons, Table Spoons (with a Basting Spoon above)

Apparently this is a very popular question on google! Now most people are probably looking for a cooking measurement (its volume in cooking is 4.93ml btw), but it is also a question that is often raised in describing a spoon...what is a teaspoon? A dessert spoon? A coffee spoon? A table spoon?

The answer to this is often different at different points of history, but below is a rough guide for the Georgian and Victorian periods.

Coffee Spoon
These are a more modern spoon, mainly dating from 1890 onwards. They are smaller than teaspoons, usually between 9cm (3.5in) and 11cm (4.3in).

Teaspoon
These come in a range of sizes...the smallest around 12cm (4.7in) long and the longest approximately 14cm (5.5in).

Dessert Spoon
Our modern day Tablespoons are really more traditional dessert spoon size. They range in size from around 17cm (6.7in) to 18cm (7in).

Tablespoon
Antique tablespoons are often described as Serving spoons because of their size. Indeed that is what they are usually used for today. They are normal around 22cm (8.6in) long.

Basting Spoon
These are the big spoons! The come in sizes between 30cm (11.8in) and 33cm (13in).

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