How do you convert tablespoons to grams?
Multiply the number of tablespoons by 14.8 to get milliliters, then by the ingredient's density. A spoon measures volume: the weight you get depends entirely on what fills it.
Example: 3 tablespoons of honey (density 1.42) → 3 × 14.8 × 1.42 ≈ 63 g.
Common tablespoon quantities
| Tablespoons | Water | Flour | Sugar | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 tbsp | 7 g | 4 g | 6 g | 7 g |
| 1 tbsp | 15 g | 8 g | 13 g | 14 g |
| 2 tbsp | 30 g | 16 g | 25 g | 27 g |
| 3 tbsp | 44 g | 24 g | 38 g | 41 g |
| 4 tbsp | 59 g | 33 g | 50 g | 54 g |
| 6 tbsp | 89 g | 49 g | 75 g | 82 g |
| 8 tbsp | 118 g | 65 g | 101 g | 109 g |
| 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 237 g | 130 g | 201 g | 218 g |
The US tablespoon is 14.7868 ml, half a fluid ounce. The metric spoon used across Europe is 15 ml and the Australian one 20 ml: the gap with the latter reaches 35 %. Methodology & sources.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tablespoon of flour weigh?
About 8 g at a density of 0.55. In practice the gesture matters as much as the unit: a level spoon and a heaped one can differ by half, and no conversion can make up for that.
Is a tablespoon the same everywhere?
No. The American one is 14.79 ml, the European metric spoon 15 ml, the Australian 20 ml. The gap between American and Australian exceeds a third, which shows as soon as you double a recipe.
How many tablespoons in a cup?
Exactly sixteen, since the cup is 8 fluid ounces and the spoon half an ounce. It is the one perfectly round ratio in the American system of kitchen measures.
Level or heaped spoon?
Level, unless stated otherwise. A heaped tablespoon holds one and a half to twice a level one, depending on the ingredient and the hand serving it. No conversion factor makes up for that, which is why careful recipes write level. For baking powder or salt, the gap changes the outcome entirely.
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
Three almost everywhere, and four in Australia. The teaspoon is 5 ml and the tablespoon 15, except in Australia where it is 20 ml. An Australian recipe calling for a tablespoon of baking powder therefore asks for four teaspoons, where the same American line wants only three.