The answer changes with every ingredient. 1 tbsp flour = 7.8 g, sugar = 12.5 g, butter = 14.2 g, salt = 17 g, honey = 21 g. Select your ingredient, enter tablespoons or grams, and get instant bidirectional results — including US, UK and metric tablespoon sizes.
A tablespoon measures volume (how much space something occupies). A gram measures mass. The link between the two is density — how tightly packed a substance is. Flour is fluffy and light; salt is dense and compact. That's why 1 tbsp of flour = 7.8 g while 1 tbsp of salt = 17 g — despite occupying the same volume.
Not all tablespoons are equal. A US tablespoon = 14.79 ml. A metric tablespoon = 15 ml (used in UK, Australia, NZ and most of Europe). An Imperial/UK tablespoon = 17.76 ml — about 20% bigger than a US one. This matters in baking: a UK recipe for 3 tbsp butter means ~50 g, not ~43 g. Always check which system your recipe uses.
Recipes always assume level tablespoons unless stated otherwise. A heaped tablespoon can hold up to 50% more by weight — especially for dense powders like cocoa or baking soda. To level: scoop generously, then drag a flat knife or ruler across the top of the spoon. For liquids, fill until the meniscus sits flat.
| Ingredient | Category | 1 tbsp (g) | 2 tbsp (g) | 3 tbsp (g) | ¼ cup / 4 tbsp (g) | Heaped 1 tbsp (g) |
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