Grams to Tablespoons Converter
Select an ingredient, enter a weight in grams, and get the equivalent number of tablespoons instantly. Because a tablespoon measures volume, the conversion depends on how dense the ingredient is. Flour and cocoa are light; honey and salt are heavy. This tool stores densities for 22 common baking and cooking ingredients, and lets you enter a custom density for anything else. You can also flip the direction to convert tablespoons back to grams, and choose between the US, imperial, or metric tablespoon standard.
Formula
Worked example
125 g of all-purpose flour at 7.5 g per US tablespoon: 125 / 7.5 = 16.67 tablespoons, or 50 teaspoons, 246.6 mL, 1.04 US cups. Reverse: 8 tablespoons x 7.5 g/tbsp = 60 g.
Why grams to tablespoons is not a fixed conversion
A tablespoon is a unit of volume, not weight. That means one tablespoon of honey (about 21 g) weighs more than three times as much as one tablespoon of rolled oats (about 5.6 g). To convert grams to tablespoons you need to know how dense the ingredient is, specifically how many grams fit in one tablespoon of that ingredient. This calculator stores that value for 22 common baking and cooking ingredients, derived from the King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart and USDA FoodData Central. For anything else, select "Custom" and enter your own grams-per-tablespoon figure.
US, imperial, and metric tablespoon standards
Not all tablespoons are the same size. The US tablespoon holds 14.79 mL (3 US teaspoons). The traditional UK or imperial tablespoon holds 17.76 mL. The metric tablespoon used in Australia and New Zealand holds exactly 20 mL. A recipe from an Australian food blog calls for a 20 mL tablespoon, while a US recipe calls for 14.79 mL, so the same number of tablespoons can mean roughly 35% more volume. Always check the origin of the recipe before converting, and use the tablespoon standard selector to match it.
How the conversion is calculated
The formula is simple once you have the ingredient density. Divide the weight in grams by the grams-per-tablespoon value for that ingredient: tablespoons = grams / (g per tbsp). For the reverse, multiply: grams = tablespoons x (g per tbsp). For example, 200 g of granulated sugar at 12.5 g per US tablespoon equals 200 / 12.5 = 16 tablespoons, which is exactly 1 US cup. Teaspoons and milliliters follow from the tablespoon count: 1 tbsp = 3 tsp = 14.79 mL.
When to weigh instead of measure by tablespoon
For most baking, weighing in grams is more accurate than measuring by tablespoon. The main problem with tablespoon measures is that technique matters. A tablespoon of flour that is scooped directly from the bag can weigh 20-30% more than the same tablespoon spooned in and leveled off. For everyday cooking such as salad dressings, sauces, and spice blends, tablespoon measures are quick and accurate enough. For bread dough, pastry, or any recipe where small differences matter, converting to grams and using a scale gives consistently better results.
Grams per tablespoon by ingredient
| Ingredient | g per US tbsp | g per imp. tbsp | g per metric tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 7.5 | 9 | 10.1 |
| Bread flour | 8.1 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
| Whole-wheat flour | 8.1 | 9.7 | 10.9 |
| Cake flour (sifted) | 6.3 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Cornstarch | 8 | 9.6 | 10.8 |
| Granulated sugar | 12.5 | 15 | 16.9 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 13.8 | 16.5 | 18.6 |
| Powdered sugar | 7.5 | 9 | 10.1 |
| Butter | 14.2 | 17 | 19.2 |
| Olive oil | 13.5 | 16.2 | 18.2 |
| Vegetable oil | 13.6 | 16.3 | 18.4 |
| Water | 14.8 | 17.7 | 20 |
| Milk (whole) | 15.3 | 18.3 | 20.6 |
| Heavy cream | 14.9 | 17.8 | 20.1 |
| Honey | 21.3 | 25.4 | 28.7 |
| Maple syrup | 20.1 | 24.1 | 27.2 |
| Rice (uncooked) | 11.6 | 13.9 | 15.6 |
| Rolled oats | 5.6 | 6.7 | 7.6 |
| Cocoa powder | 6.3 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Table salt | 18 | 21.6 | 24.3 |
| Whole almonds | 8.9 | 10.7 | 12.1 |
US tablespoon (14.79 mL). Values use the spooned-and-leveled measuring method. Sources: King Arthur Baking and USDA FoodData Central.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons is 100 grams of flour?
At 7.5 grams per US tablespoon, 100 grams of all-purpose flour is about 13.3 tablespoons, or roughly 13 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. Different flour types vary slightly: bread flour and whole-wheat flour are a little denser at about 8.1 g/tbsp, so 100 g is closer to 12.3 tablespoons.
How many tablespoons is 100 grams of sugar?
Granulated sugar weighs about 12.5 grams per US tablespoon, so 100 grams is 8 tablespoons exactly. Powdered sugar is less dense at about 7.5 g/tbsp, so 100 g is about 13.3 tablespoons. Brown sugar packed into the tablespoon sits at about 13.8 g/tbsp, giving roughly 7.3 tablespoons for 100 g.
How many tablespoons is 100 grams of butter?
Butter weighs about 14.2 grams per US tablespoon, so 100 grams is about 7 tablespoons. Standard American butter sticks are 113 g (4 oz) and labeled as 8 tablespoons, which confirms the 14.1-14.2 g per tablespoon figure used here.
How many tablespoons is 100 grams of honey?
Honey is dense at about 21.3 grams per US tablespoon, so 100 grams is about 4.7 tablespoons. Honey density varies a little with water content, but most commercial honeys fall between 21 and 22 g per US tablespoon.
Is a tablespoon the same in all countries?
No. The US tablespoon is 14.79 mL. The metric tablespoon used in Australia and New Zealand is 20 mL, which is about 35% larger. The UK imperial tablespoon is 17.76 mL. Always check which standard a recipe uses. If you are following an Australian recipe in the US, use 3/4 of the US tablespoon count, or switch this calculator to the metric standard.
Why does scooping flour give a heavier tablespoon than spooning it?
When you dip the measuring tablespoon directly into a flour bag or canister, the flour compresses and packs in more tightly than when you spoon it in gently and level it off. This can increase the actual weight by 20-30% compared to the spooned-and-leveled method. All densities in this calculator use the spooned-and-leveled standard, which is the most widely referenced method in baking ingredient weight charts.
How do I find the grams per tablespoon for an ingredient not on the list?
Check the nutrition label on the package. If the serving size is listed as 1 tablespoon, the weight in grams on that line is your grams-per-tablespoon value. Alternatively, USDA FoodData Central lists 100-gram densities for thousands of foods, from which you can derive the tablespoon weight. Select "Custom" in this calculator and enter that value.