Tablespoons to Grams

How to convert tablespoons to grams

A tablespoon measures volume, so its weight depends on the ingredient. Multiply the tablespoons by the grams one tablespoon of that ingredient weighs:

grams = tablespoons × grams per tablespoon

USDA lists the weight of a level cup of each ingredient; a U.S. cup holds 16 tablespoons, so a tablespoon of granulated sugar is 200 g ÷ 16 = 12.5 g, and 3 tablespoons are 37.5 g. The calculator does this for 25 ingredients and also shows teaspoons, cups, milliliters and ounces.

Grams in one tablespoon

The figures are USDA cup weights divided by 16. Where USDA also lists a tablespoon directly the two agree closely: butter 14.2 g, olive oil 13.5 g, cocoa 5.4 g, honey 21 g.

Level, heaped and packed spoons

Recipes mean a level tablespoon unless they say otherwise: fill the spoon and sweep the top flat with a knife. A heaped tablespoon of flour weighs noticeably more, which is enough to dry out a batter. Brown sugar is meant to be packed, which is why it weighs more than granulated sugar spoon for spoon. Sticky ingredients such as honey and peanut butter slide out more easily from a lightly oiled spoon, so you get the full measure.

Scaling a recipe

When you double or halve a recipe, tablespoons pile up fast: 6 tablespoons of butter is 85 g, and 12 tablespoons is 3/4 cup. Weighing the larger amounts is quicker and more accurate than counting spoons, so convert the spoon measures to grams once and use a scale. For the cups in the same recipe, cups to tablespoons gives the spoon count, and grams to ounces converts the weights for a scale that reads ounces.

Tablespoons, teaspoons and milliliters

A U.S. tablespoon is half a fluid ounce, or 14.79 mL; it holds 3 teaspoons, and 16 tablespoons make a cup. The Australian tablespoon is 20 mL — four teaspoons — so Australian recipes that give tablespoons use about a third more. For teaspoons, see teaspoons to grams; for larger amounts, grams to cups; and for tablespoons in fluid ounces, tablespoons to ounces.