1 teaspoon of peanut butter weighs 5.62 g. A teaspoon is one forty-eighth of a cup, and a cup of peanut butter is 270 g scooped, so the maths is 270 ÷ 48 = 5.62 g. The same cup divided by 16 gives the tablespoon weight of 16.9 g, and there are 3 teaspoons in every tablespoon. If you cook from recipes written in cups and spoons, this page is the bridge between the two, and the worked examples show the conversion inside real dishes rather than in isolation.
Ground peanuts, usually with salt and a little oil. It is used for sandwiches, cookies, sauces and satay.
All figures on this page are approximate, and they come from King Arthur Baking, measured scooped. When a recipe has to work the first time, verify with a kitchen scale.
Conversion table
One teaspoon is one forty-eighth of a cup, so every figure in this table is the cup weight divided by 48, rounded to two decimal places. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
| Teaspoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 5.62 g |
| 2 tsp | 11.24 g |
| 3 tsp | 16.86 g |
| 4 tsp | 22.48 g |
| 5 tsp | 28.1 g |
| 6 tsp | 33.72 g |
| 7 tsp | 39.34 g |
| 8 tsp | 44.96 g |
| 9 tsp | 50.58 g |
| 10 tsp | 56.2 g |
| 11 tsp | 61.82 g |
| 12 tsp | 67.44 g |
The tablespoon figures are included too, because most recipes switch between teaspoons and tablespoons, and 3 teaspoons make 1 tablespoon.
| Tablespoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 16.9 g |
| 2 tbsp | 33.8 g |
| 3 tbsp | 50.6 g |
| 4 tbsp | 67.5 g |
| 5 tbsp | 84.4 g |
| 6 tbsp | 101.2 g |
| 7 tbsp | 118.1 g |
| 8 tbsp | 135 g |
| 9 tbsp | 151.9 g |
| 10 tbsp | 168.8 g |
| 11 tbsp | 185.6 g |
| 12 tbsp | 202.5 g |
| 13 tbsp | 219.4 g |
| 14 tbsp | 236.2 g |
| 15 tbsp | 253.1 g |
| 16 tbsp | 270 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every tablespoon figure is the cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place.
Cups to grams for reference
When a recipe jumps from spoons to cups, use this table instead of counting out 16 tablespoons. Every figure is the cup weight multiplied by the fraction, rounded to one decimal place, and all figures are approximate.
| Cups | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 67.5 g |
| 1/3 cup | 90 g |
| 1/2 cup | 135 g |
| 2/3 cup | 180 g |
| 3/4 cup | 202.5 g |
| 1 cup | 270 g |
One cup of peanut butter weighs 270 g, so a quarter cup is 67.5 g and half a cup is 135 g. Those two figures cover most everyday scaling, and the full table above covers the rest.
How the measurement works
The figure on this page comes from King Arthur Baking, measured scooped. Peanut butter is scooped rather than spooned and levelled, because it is a thick paste: press it into the measuring spoon so there are no air pockets, then level the top with the back of a knife. A cup of peanut butter weighs 270 g, which is where the teaspoon figure of 5.62 g comes from. The brand matters here, because natural peanut butter with oil on top weighs slightly less per spoon than a stabilised spread, and a cold jar scoops heavier than a warm one. Stir the jar well first, then scoop, and the number on this page will be close.
All results on this page are approximate. Ingredient weights vary with brand, humidity, temperature and how firmly you pack the spoon, so when a recipe has to work the first time, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale and use the numbers here as a guide. The method matters more than the number itself, because the same spoon of peanut butter measured two different ways can give two different weights, and the King Arthur Baking value assumes the scooped method every time.
Worked examples
Topping a bowl of porridge
A bowl of porridge for one takes 2 teaspoons (11.24 g) of peanut butter scattered over the top, which adds crunch and richness without turning breakfast into a heavy meal. Chop larger pieces roughly first so the topping spreads evenly, and level the spoon so the amount is the same each morning. If you top porridge for the whole family, weigh the topping rather than counting spoons, because pieces vary in size and a spoon of large pieces weighs less than a spoon of small ones.
A batch of cookies
A batch of cookies uses 6 teaspoons (33.72 g) of peanut butter folded into the dough, which is 2 tablespoons or 33.75 g, and the pieces should be spread evenly so every cookie gets some. Too many and the cookies fall apart; too few and the flavour disappears. Weigh the pieces for baking, because the recipe was written by weight even when it gives a spoon measure, and a scale removes the guesswork about piece size.
A trail mix for a walk
A small bag of trail mix for one person uses 4 teaspoons (22.48 g) of peanut butter mixed with dried fruit and seeds, which is enough for a snack without becoming a meal. Measure the mix by weight when you make a large batch, because a spoon measure of mixed pieces is unreliable: the small pieces settle to the bottom and the large ones sit on top. Store the mix in a sealed jar and it keeps for weeks, which makes it a useful thing to make in bulk.
Practical guidance
Measuring nuts and seeds by the spoon
Spoon the peanut butter into the measure and level it off with the back of a knife. How the pieces are cut decides how much fits: whole pieces leave air gaps, chopped pieces pack tighter, and ground pieces pack tighter still. The figures here assume the pieces as sold, spooned loosely and levelled, and if you chop them first, weigh them instead, because a spoon of chopped pieces is heavier than a spoon of whole ones.
Common mistakes with nuts and dried fruit
The most common mistake is measuring chopped pieces with a figure meant for whole ones, which over-measures by a noticeable amount. Another is using stale nuts straight from the back of the cupboard; taste one first, because rancid nuts ruin a whole batch. A third is adding dried fruit to a batter without tossing it in a little flour first, so it sinks to the bottom of the cake instead of staying spread through the crumb.
Scaling and when to weigh
Scaling with spoons is easy once you know the weight of one spoon. To measure 100 g of peanut butter, count out about 17.8 teaspoons, and for 50 g, about 8.9 teaspoons. Halving a recipe that calls for 4 teaspoons means using 2 teaspoons, or 11.24 g, and doubling it means 8 teaspoons, or 44.96 g. For anything over a few spoonfuls, weigh the ingredient on a scale, because pieces vary in size and a spoon of large pieces weighs less than a spoon of small ones.
Storage. Cool cupboard; stir natural peanut butter before use.
- Level every spoon with the back of a knife.
- Use spoons for small amounts, and a scale for large ones.
- Keep the same spoon for the whole recipe so errors stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 teaspoon of peanut butter?
One level teaspoon of peanut butter weighs approximately 5.62 g. That figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 270 g by 48, and it assumes the ingredient is measured scooped. All figures on this page are approximate, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
How many teaspoons of peanut butter make 100 g?
About 17.8 teaspoons of peanut butter weigh 100 g, and about 8.9 teaspoons weigh 50 g. Count out the spoons level, and switch to a scale for large amounts, since counting dozens of spoonfuls invites mistakes.
How many teaspoons of peanut butter are in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon, so 1 tablespoon of peanut butter weighs approximately 16.9 g, which is three times the teaspoon weight of 5.62 g. Use the tablespoon table on this page when a recipe switches between the two units.
Does a heaped teaspoon of peanut butter weigh more?
Yes, a heaped teaspoon weighs noticeably more than a level one, and the difference is biggest for light, fluffy ingredients. Always level the spoon with the back of a knife unless the recipe specifically says heaped, because recipes that give spoon measures assume a level spoon.
Do chopped peanut butter weigh the same per spoon as whole?
No. Chopped pieces pack tighter than whole ones, so a spoon of chopped peanut butter weighs more than a spoon of whole pieces. The figures on this page assume the pieces as sold, spooned loosely and levelled, so weigh the ingredient if you chop it first.
How should I store peanut butter?
Cool cupboard; stir natural peanut butter before use. Keeping it stored properly also keeps its weight consistent, since an ingredient that has absorbed moisture or dried out will not weigh the same per spoon as a fresh one.