One level tablespoon of dates weighs about 9.3 g. The word level matters, because a heaped spoon can hold far more than a level one, and the figure on this page assumes the spoon is filled spooned and levelled. The arithmetic behind it is 149 ÷ 16 = 9.3 g, since a cup of dates weighs 149 g and a tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup.
The source is King Arthur Baking, and every weight on this page is approximate. For baking and for any recipe where the balance of ingredients matters, weigh the ingredient rather than trusting the spoon alone.
About Dates
Chopped dried dates, intensely sweet. Sticky toffee pudding, energy bars, baking and tagines. 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 9.3 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 6 months.
Worked examples
A batch of muffins
A batch of twelve muffins uses 4 tablespoons of dates, about 37.2 g, folded into the batter. Four tablespoons spread across a dozen muffins means every muffin gets some fruit, and folding it in at the end stops the fruit from sinking to the bottom. Toss the fruit in a spoonful of flour first, which helps it stay suspended in the batter instead of sinking.
A bowl of morning oatmeal
A bowl of oatmeal for one person takes 2 tablespoons of dates, about 18.6 g, stirred in while the oats are still hot. Two tablespoons sweetens the bowl and adds texture without needing extra sugar. Add the fruit at the end of cooking so it softens slightly but keeps its shape, rather than boiling it into the porridge.
A trail mix for a walk
A bag of trail mix for two people uses 6 tablespoons of dates, 55.9 g, mixed with nuts and seeds. Six tablespoons across a whole bag gives a piece of fruit in most handfuls, which is the point of trail mix: a little sweetness alongside the savoury nuts. Keep the mix in a sealed bag or jar, because dried fruit picks up moisture from the air and turns sticky.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 3.1 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 9.3 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 18.6 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 27.9 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 37.2 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 46.6 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 55.9 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 65.2 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 74.5 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 83.8 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 93.1 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 102.4 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 111.8 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 121.1 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 130.4 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 139.7 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 149 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 149 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 | 37.2 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 49.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 74.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 99.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 111.8 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 149 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 223.5 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 298 g |
How the figure is measured
Dates 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 149 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.
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 dates needs 74.5 g, and doubling it to 16 tablespoons means 149 g, exactly one cup. Halving works the same way: 4 tablespoons is 37.2 g, and 2 tablespoons is 18.6 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 dates is about 10.7 tablespoons, and 50 g is about 5.4 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 dates?
One tablespoon of dates weighs 9.3 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 149 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 3.1 g, and one cup is 149 g.
Can I use a regular eating spoon instead of a measuring tablespoon?
It is not a good idea. Eating spoons vary widely in size and shape, and a tablespoon from a cutlery drawer can hold noticeably more or less than a standard measuring tablespoon. A set of measuring spoons costs very little and is the only way to make the figures on this page true in your kitchen.
Is 9.3 g per tablespoon exact or approximate?
It is approximate. The cup weight of 149 g comes from King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled, and the real weight of a tablespoon varies with brand, grind, humidity and how the spoon is filled. For most cooking the approximation is fine, and for baking or any recipe that has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
How do I measure dates 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 dates is 149 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 37.2 g of dates work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 37.2 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 9.3 to get tablespoons.
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 dates 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.