1 tablespoon of active dry yeast weighs 9 g. That is the short answer, and it comes from dividing the cup weight of 144 g by 16, because one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup: 144 ÷ 16 = 9 g. If you are standing in the kitchen with a spoon in one hand and a recipe in the other, that number is all you need, and the tables below cover every amount from one teaspoon to two cups.
All figures on this page are approximate, and they come from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled. When a recipe has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
About Active Dry Yeast
Dormant yeast granules that must be dissolved in warm water before use. Breads, pizza dough, rolls and brioche. That is why it shows up in recipes measured by the tablespoon: it is used in amounts too small for a cup measure to be practical, yet large enough that guessing the weight can throw a dish off. Knowing that one tablespoon weighs 9 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Cool, dry place; refrigerate after opening and check the expiry date.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 3 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 9 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 18 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 27 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 36 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 45 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 54 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 63 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 72 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 81 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 90 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 99 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 108 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 117 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 126 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 135 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 144 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 144 g divided by 16 and rounded to one decimal place. Sixteen tablespoons make one cup, which is why the last row of the table matches the cup weight exactly. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
Cups to grams for reference
Most recipes switch between cups and tablespoons, so here is the same ingredient measured in cups. Use this table when a recipe gives a cup amount and you want to weigh it, or when you have already measured in tablespoons and want to check the total.
| Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 4 tablespoons | 36 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 48 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 72 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 96 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 108 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 144 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 216 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 288 g |
Worked examples
A loaf of bread for the weekend
A standard loaf of bread uses 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast, 9 g, dissolved or mixed in according to the recipe. One tablespoon is a full dose for a loaf, so do not round it up: more leavening does not mean a better rise, it means a loaf that rises too fast, collapses, and tastes of yeast or chemicals. Measure it level, and check the date on the packet, because old leavening loses its strength.
A batch of pancakes for breakfast
A batch of pancakes for four people uses 2 tablespoons of active dry yeast, about 18 g, whisked into the dry ingredients. Two tablespoons spread across a whole batch is a small amount per pancake, yet it is what makes them puff instead of lying flat. Mix the batter gently once the wet and dry ingredients meet, because overmixing knocks the air out and no amount of leavening can put it back.
A cake that needs a lift
A single layer cake uses 1 tablespoon of active dry yeast, 9 g, sifted with the flour so it is evenly distributed. Sifting matters more than the exact spoon count here, because a pocket of leavening leaves a bitter spot and a hole in the crumb. Get the oven hot before the batter goes in, since leavening starts working the moment it meets moisture and heat.
How the figure is measured
Active Dry Yeast is measured spooned and levelled: spoon it loosely into the tablespoon, then sweep the top flat with the back of a knife. Do not scoop directly from the bag or jar, because scooping packs the ingredient down and a scooped spoon can weigh far more than a spooned one. The spoon-and-level method is the one the source data assumes, so it is the method that makes the numbers on this page true.
The cup weight of 144 g comes from King Arthur Baking. The tablespoon figure is that cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place, which is why the table is consistent from one row to the next. All results are approximate: brand, grind, humidity and temperature all move the real weight a little, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use these numbers as a guide.
A note on disputed figures. King Arthur lists instant yeast at 144 g per cup; active dry yeast is sold in 7 g packets and has a similar density. We use 144 g with medium confidence.
Scaling the recipe up and down
Tablespoons scale cleanly once you know the weight of one spoon. A recipe that calls for 8 tablespoons of active dry yeast needs 72 g, and doubling it to 16 tablespoons means 144 g, exactly one cup. Halving works the same way: 4 tablespoons is 36 g, and 2 tablespoons is 18 g. The rule that matters is to scale every ingredient by the same factor, because changing one ingredient without changing the others throws the recipe out of balance.
When a recipe gives a weight instead of spoonfuls, work backwards: 100 g of active dry yeast is about 11.1 tablespoons, and 50 g is about 5.6 tablespoons. Round to the nearest half tablespoon when you are measuring by hand, and accept that the result will be a gram or two off, which is fine for most cooking. For large amounts, stop counting spoons and switch to a cup measure or a scale: counting out 16 tablespoons is slow and error-prone, and a cup is faster and more accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of active dry yeast?
One tablespoon of active dry yeast weighs 9 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 144 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 3 g, and one cup is 144 g.
How do I measure active dry yeast without a scale?
Fill a measuring tablespoon spooned and levelled and level it off with a straight edge. For amounts up to a few tablespoons, that is accurate enough. For larger amounts, use a cup measure: one cup of active dry yeast is 144 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 36 g of active dry yeast work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 36 g. Four tablespoons is a quarter of a cup, so it is a convenient amount to measure with a quarter-cup measure if you have one. The same arithmetic works for any amount: divide the grams by 9 to get tablespoons.
How many grams is a packet of active dry yeast?
A standard packet of active dry yeast is 7 g. At 9 g per tablespoon, a packet is a little under a tablespoon, about three quarters of a tablespoon. Most bread recipes call for one packet, so if you are measuring from a jar, use 7 g on the scale rather than trying to judge three quarters of a spoon by eye.
How many grams is a tablespoon of active dry yeast?
One tablespoon of active dry yeast weighs 9 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 144 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 3 g, and one cup is 144 g.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Scooping directly from the bag, which packs the ingredient down and makes a spoonful weigh far more than a spooned one.
- Leaving the spoon heaped instead of levelling it, which adds an unpredictable extra amount every time.
- Measuring a damp or clumped ingredient without breaking it up first, which leaves air pockets and a short measure.
- Using a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon, since eating spoons vary widely in size.
The thread running through all of these is the same: a tablespoon is only a standard measure when it is filled in the standard way. Measure active dry yeast spooned and levelled, level it off, and check the weight on a scale when the recipe has to be right, and the numbers on this page will serve you well.