A recipe asks for 15 grams of cocoa, and you have no scale, only a set of measuring spoons. How many tablespoons is that? It is a small amount, and in small amounts a little error shows.
This grams to tablespoons converter uses the density of each ingredient, since a tablespoon of honey weighs more than twice a tablespoon of flour. Choose the ingredient and the spoon size, and get an answer you can use at the counter.
How to use the Grams to Tablespoons Converter#
- Choose the direction. Pick grams to tablespoons, or tablespoons to grams.
- Enter the amount. Type the weight or the number of spoons.
- Pick the ingredient. This sets the density used.
- Pick the tablespoon size. US spoons are standard unless the recipe is metric.
- Read the result. You get the amount in tablespoons, the nearest spoon measure, teaspoons, millilitres, cups and ounces.
How to convert grams to tablespoons#
Grams measure weight, and a tablespoon measures volume, so you need the density of the ingredient. A US tablespoon is 14.79 millilitres, and the density comes from the weight of a cup, which is spread over 236.6 millilitres. Divide the grams by the weight of one tablespoon, and you have the number of tablespoons. For example, flour weighs about 125 grams a cup, so a tablespoon holds 7.8 grams, and 100 grams is 12.8 tablespoons.
Grams in a tablespoon by ingredient#
| Ingredient | Grams per tablespoon |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 7.8 |
| Granulated sugar | 12.5 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 13.3 |
| Powdered sugar | 7.5 |
| Butter | 14.2 |
| Honey | 21.3 |
| Vegetable oil | 13.6 |
| Cocoa powder | 5.3 |
| Table salt | 18.0 |
Figures are for a level US tablespoon, calculated from the cup weights in standard baking charts. Our grams to cups converter uses the same data.
Level, heaped and scooped#
A tablespoon measure always means a level one unless a recipe says otherwise. A heaped tablespoon can hold up to twice as much of a dry ingredient, and a rounded one about half as much again, so the variation is large. To level a spoon, sweep the back of a knife across the top. For flour and other powders, spoon the ingredient into the tablespoon instead of scooping, as scooping packs it down.
Why spoons are less accurate than a scale#
The smaller the quantity, the larger the error a spoon causes. A tablespoon of salt that is a little heaped can double the seasoning. A scale that reads to 0.1 gram, which costs little, removes the problem. If you only have spoons, level them carefully and use this converter to check that the volume matches the weight in the recipe.
Spoon sizes also differ. A US tablespoon is 14.79 millilitres and a metric one is 15. Australia uses a 20 millilitre tablespoon, so a recipe from there needs a different conversion for tablespoons, although its teaspoon is 5 millilitres.
Liquids and sticky ingredients#
Honey, syrup and oil are easier to measure by weight, since they cling to the spoon. Spray a spoon with oil before measuring honey and it slides off. Warm honey flows more easily and gives a more accurate measure. For oil, a tablespoon is about 13.6 grams, which is lighter than water, since oil is less dense.
Measuring a tablespoon accurately#
Use a proper measuring spoon, and not a spoon from the cutlery drawer, which can hold half as much or twice as much as a tablespoon. Dip the spoon into the ingredient, then sweep the back of a knife across the rim to level it. Do not tap or press the spoon unless you are measuring brown sugar, which is packed. For liquids, fill the spoon until it is full to the brim, and hold it over the bowl in case it spills. If you need a fraction, use the fractional spoons that come in most sets, such as half and quarter size, rather than judging half a spoon by eye. A spoon in a jar of sticky ingredient should be wiped clean before the next one, or the next measure will be too big.
Frequently asked questions#
About 7.8 grams for a level US tablespoon of all-purpose flour.
About 12.5 grams of granulated sugar.
About 14.2 grams.
It depends on the ingredient. For flour, one gram is about 0.13 tablespoons.
No. A US tablespoon is 14.79 millilitres, a metric tablespoon is 15, and in Australia a tablespoon is 20.
By weight when you can. It is faster and more accurate.
Sources and further reading#
- King Arthur Baking: Ingredient Weight Chart. Weights per cup for flour, sugar, butter, honey and more.
- USDA FoodData Central. Food composition and household measure weights.
- Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 101.9. The rounded household measures used on US nutrition labels.
- Wikipedia: Tablespoon. Regional spoon sizes.