If you are converting a recipe from cups to grams, start here: 1 tablespoon of ginger weighs 5.4 g. The cup weight is 86 g, and since there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, the division is 86 ÷ 16 = 5.4 g. Multiply that by the number of tablespoons in your recipe and you have the weight.
This page gives you the full tablespoon table, a cups table for cross-checking, and worked examples from real cooking. All figures are approximate and come from USDA, measured spooned and levelled; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
About Ginger
Dried, ground ginger root; hotter and more concentrated than fresh. Baking, curries, stir-fries and teas. 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 5.4 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Airtight jar, cool and dark, up to 1 year.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 1.8 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 5.4 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 10.8 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 16.1 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 21.5 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 26.9 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 32.2 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 37.6 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 43 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 48.4 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 53.8 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 59.1 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 64.5 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 69.9 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 75.2 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 80.6 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 86 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 86 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 | 21.5 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 28.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 43 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 57.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 64.5 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 86 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 129 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 172 g |
Worked examples
Seasoning a pot of soup
A pot of soup for six people takes about 1 tablespoon of ginger, 5.4 g, stirred in while the soup simmers. A single tablespoon seasons a whole pot, which shows why spoon weights matter for spices: the difference between one level spoon and one heaped spoon is the difference between balanced and overpowering. Add it early so the flavour has time to settle, then taste near the end and adjust the salt rather than adding more spice.
A spice rub for a roast
A spice rub for a whole chicken or a joint of meat uses 2 tablespoons of ginger, about 10.8 g, mixed with salt, oil and other spices. Two tablespoons spread over the surface gives an even coating that flavours the skin without overwhelming the meat. Rub it in at least half an hour before cooking, and pat the surface dry first so the rub sticks instead of sliding off.
A curry for four people
A curry for four people often starts with 1 tablespoon of ginger, 5.4 g, bloomed in hot oil with onion and garlic before the liquid goes in. Blooming the spice in oil wakes up its flavour in a way that adding it to water never does, and one tablespoon is enough to season a whole pot. Cook it for a minute until it smells fragrant, but do not let it catch, because burnt spice turns bitter and there is no fixing it.
How the figure is measured
Ginger 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 86 g comes from USDA. 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.
When precision matters most
Not every recipe needs weighing. A soup, a stew or a marinade will forgive a tablespoon of ginger more or less, because the balance of flavours is broad and you can adjust it at the end. Baking is different: a cake, a loaf or a batch of biscuits depends on the ratio of ingredients, and being out by a few tablespoons of ginger can change the texture, the rise or the sweetness.
Use the scale whenever the amount is large, whenever the recipe is one you have never made before, and whenever the ingredient is doing structural work rather than just adding flavour. For a single tablespoon in a savoury dish, a level spoon is accurate enough. For 43 g, which is 8 tablespoons, the spoon is a slow way to measure and a scale is both faster and more accurate. The habit to build is simple: weigh the ingredients that matter, spoon the ones that do not, and know which is which before you start cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of ginger?
One tablespoon of ginger weighs 5.4 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 86 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 1.8 g, and one cup is 86 g.
How do I measure ginger 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 ginger is 86 g. Count spoonfuls only for small amounts, since the error on each spoon adds up over sixteen of them.
How much does 21.5 g of ginger work out to in tablespoons?
That is 4 tablespoons, which weigh 21.5 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 5.4 to get tablespoons.
Why does a tablespoon of ginger weigh so little?
Because it is a light, finely ground spice, and a tablespoon of it is mostly air between the particles. A tablespoon of ginger weighs 5.4 g, while a tablespoon of a dense ingredient can weigh more than twice as much. That is why spoon weights have to be looked up per ingredient rather than guessed from a single rule.
How many grams is a tablespoon of ginger?
One tablespoon of ginger weighs 5.4 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 86 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 1.8 g, and one cup is 86 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 ginger 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.