# Measuring 5ml **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189 "2003-11-19T21:42:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/1 "2003-11-19T21:42:14Z")
Seeing as I am sans burette I am stuck as to how I can (reasonably) accurately measure 5ml of a liquid. as to be using regular household stuff. Any thoughts appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/2 "2003-11-19T21:44:01Z")
That should of course have read “has to be done using …” ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/3 "2003-11-19T21:47:53Z")
A standard tea spoon is near enough 5mL. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/4 "2003-11-19T23:28:35Z")
5 ml = 1.01442068 US teaspoons Near enough, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/5 "2003-11-19T23:37:18Z")
Thanks for the info guys. I knew the dopers would have the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/6 "2003-11-20T00:33:28Z")
You can always have the answer yourself, using the Google calculator. I typed into the search engine “5 ml in tsp” and it returned the result I quoted. It’s a great feature for conversions. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/7 "2003-11-20T08:02:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moto \* > **5 ml = 1.01442068 US teaspoons** Dang. And I’ve just misplaced my 1.01442068 teaspoon measuring spoon. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/8 "2003-11-20T12:04:28Z")
You can also get medication syringes at most drugstores. They’re a few bucks each. They’re used to give liquid meds to babies and other people who can’t take pills. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/9 "2003-11-20T12:30:40Z")
You can also get plastic measuring spoons marked with a 5ml line. You get one free inside the box with some medicines that come in syrup form. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/10 "2003-11-20T12:57:53Z")
You could also measure 5 grams on a scale, if you have a reasonably accurate one. Slightly less if it’s an oil-based liquid. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/11 "2003-11-20T13:02:24Z")
But is that teaspoon calibrated “to contain” or “to deliver”? ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/12 "2003-11-20T13:27:15Z")
Well, **Pantellerite** , I reckon you have raised a very serious point there! Will nobody consider the meniscus? Are you all blind to the parallax error? The uncertainty in this experiment wil be so great as to render the results null and void. Call the Institute! Oh, he’s adding Radox to the bath? Well, why didn’t you say? Carry on with the teaspoon. ---
**Author:** ![Popup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/94ad74/32.png) [@Popup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Popup)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/13 "2003-11-20T14:24:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Moto \* > **5 ml = 1.01442068 US teaspoons** A metric teaspoon is exactly 5ml. (At least in Sweden.) ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/measuring-5ml/214189/14 "2003-11-20T15:34:30Z")
I never really trust the teaspoons in my house to measure exactly 1 tsp. They’re not precision-manufactured articles…I’d think the variations from one set of silverware to the next could be appreciable.