Grams measure weight, tablespoons measure volume
There is no single grams-to-tablespoons factor because every ingredient has a different density. One tablespoon of honey weighs 21 g, but one tablespoon of flour weighs only 7.8 g — nearly a threefold difference for the same spoon. Pick the ingredient, divide by its per-tablespoon weight.
Grams per US tablespoon, by ingredient
| Ingredient | g / tbsp | 10 g | 50 g | 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water / milk | ~15 | 0.68 | 3.38 | 6.76 |
| All-purpose flour | 7.8 | 1.28 | 6.41 | 12.82 |
| Granulated sugar | 12.5 | 0.80 | 4.00 | 8.00 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 13.8 | 0.72 | 3.62 | 7.25 |
| Butter | 14.2 | 0.70 | 3.52 | 7.04 |
| Honey | 21.0 | 0.48 | 2.38 | 4.76 |
| Vegetable / olive oil | 13.5 | 0.74 | 3.70 | 7.41 |
| Cocoa powder | 7.4 | 1.35 | 6.76 | 13.51 |
| Table salt | 18.0 | 0.56 | 2.78 | 5.56 |
| Cornstarch | 8.0 | 1.25 | 6.25 | 12.50 |
Results in US tablespoons (14.79 mL). A metric/UK tablespoon is 15 mL and an Australian one is 20 mL, about 35% larger — divide the US figure by 1.35 for Australian spoons.
Same spoon, very different weight
Density is why the conversion changes per ingredient. Honey is packed with dissolved sugar, so a level tablespoon of it weighs almost three times as much as the same spoon of flour.
One level tablespoon of each. The "15 g per tablespoon" rule only fits water — it overstates flour by nearly double and understates honey by a third.
Getting an accurate spoonful
- Salt is not one thing. A tablespoon of fine table salt is 18 g, but kosher salt is only about 9.6 g because its flakes pack loosely. Check which the recipe means.
- Level, not heaped. A heaped tablespoon holds roughly 50% more than a level one. Assume level unless a recipe says otherwise.
- Use a measuring spoon. Cutlery tablespoons range from 8 to 30 mL; a measuring spoon is a fixed 14.79 mL (US), which is what these figures assume.
Common questions
How many tablespoons is 100 grams of flour?
About 12.8 US tablespoons. All-purpose flour weighs roughly 7.8 grams per tablespoon because it is light and airy, so 100 divided by 7.8 gives 12.8.
Can I use "1 tablespoon = 15 grams" for everything?
No. 15 grams per tablespoon only holds for water and liquids near its density, like milk. Flour is about 7.8 grams and honey about 21 grams per tablespoon, so the wrong factor can be off by well over 100%.
How many tablespoons is 50 grams of butter?
About 3.5 US tablespoons, since butter runs close to 14.2 grams per tablespoon. That is roughly a quarter of a standard 225 gram block.
