1 tablespoon of pearled barley weighs 13.3 g. A tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, and a cup of pearled barley is 213 g spooned and levelled, so the maths is 213 ÷ 16 = 13.3 g. One teaspoon, a third of a tablespoon, weighs 4.44 g. This page is built around small amounts, so the teaspoon and tablespoon tables below are the ones to bookmark, and the cups table is there for the times a recipe jumps to a larger quantity.
Hulled barley with the bran polished off; cooks tender and chewy, and it is used for soups, stews, risotto-style dishes and salads.
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.
Conversion table
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure in this table is the cup weight divided by 16, rounded to one decimal place. All figures are approximate; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
| Tablespoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 13.3 g |
| 2 tbsp | 26.6 g |
| 3 tbsp | 39.9 g |
| 4 tbsp | 53.2 g |
| 5 tbsp | 66.6 g |
| 6 tbsp | 79.9 g |
| 7 tbsp | 93.2 g |
| 8 tbsp | 106.5 g |
| 9 tbsp | 119.8 g |
| 10 tbsp | 133.1 g |
| 11 tbsp | 146.4 g |
| 12 tbsp | 159.8 g |
| 13 tbsp | 173.1 g |
| 14 tbsp | 186.4 g |
| 15 tbsp | 199.7 g |
| 16 tbsp | 213.0 g |
The teaspoon row is included because many recipes season by the teaspoon, and 1 teaspoon is one third of a tablespoon.
| Teaspoons | Grams (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 4.44 g |
| 2 tsp | 8.88 g |
| 3 tsp (1 tbsp) | 13.3 g |
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 | 53.2 g |
| 1/3 cup | 71.0 g |
| 1/2 cup | 106.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 142.0 g |
| 3/4 cup | 159.8 g |
| 1 cup | 213.0 g |
One cup of pearled barley weighs 213 g, so a quarter cup is 53.2 g and half a cup is 106.5 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 spooned and levelled. Hulled barley with the bran polished off; cooks tender and chewy, and it is used for soups, stews, risotto-style dishes and salads.
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 pearled barley measured two different ways can give two different weights, and the King Arthur Baking value assumes the spooned and levelled method every time.
Worked examples
A weeknight dinner
A weeknight dinner that calls for 1 tablespoon (13.3 g) of pearled barley is the kind of recipe where the spoon is the natural unit, and levelling the spoon keeps the seasoning and texture the same every time you cook it.
Scaling a recipe up
Doubling a recipe that calls for 2 tablespoons (26.6 g) of pearled barley means using twice as much, and the easiest way to stay accurate is to weigh the doubled amount on a scale rather than counting out spoon after spoon.
A packed lunch
A packed lunch assembled the night before uses 3 tablespoons (39.9 g) of pearled barley, and measuring it the evening before saves fumbling with spoons and jars in the morning rush.
Practical guidance
Level every spoon of pearled barley with the back of a knife, and remember that a heaped spoon can weigh far more than the level figure on this page, which is enough to throw a dish out of balance. For pearled barley, the spoon is the natural unit in most recipes, so getting the level spoon right matters more here than it does for ingredients usually measured by the cup. If you cook with pearled barley often, a kitchen scale is the most reliable tool, because weighing removes the guesswork that comes from how firmly an ingredient packs into a spoon. Until then, use the same spoon for the whole recipe so any small error stays consistent.
Scaling with spoons is straightforward once you know the weight of one spoon. To measure 100 g of pearled barley, count out about 7.5 tablespoons, and for 50 g, about 3.8 tablespoons. Halving a recipe that calls for 4 tablespoons means using 2 tablespoons, or 26.6 g, and doubling it means 8 tablespoons, or 106.5 g. Scale every ingredient by the same factor, because changing one ingredient without changing the others throws the recipe out of balance. For large amounts, switch to a cup measure or a scale, since counting out spoon after spoon is slow and invites mistakes.
When should you weigh pearled barley instead of measuring it? Whenever the recipe has to work the first time, and whenever the amount decides the flavour or texture of the finished dish. A kitchen scale costs less than a single failed dinner, and it removes the biggest source of variation in home cooking, which is the way ingredients pack into a spoon. Put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and add the pearled barley until the display shows the number you need. For small amounts, a level spoon is accurate enough, and for anything where precision matters, the scale is the tool to reach for.
Storage. Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 1 year.
- 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 tablespoon of pearled barley?
One level tablespoon of pearled barley weighs approximately 13.3 g. That figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 213 g by 16, and it assumes the ingredient is measured spooned and levelled. All figures on this page are approximate, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
How many tablespoons of pearled barley make 100 g?
About 7.5 tablespoons of pearled barley weigh 100 g, and about 3.8 tablespoons weigh 50 g. Count out the spoons level, and switch to a scale for large amounts, since counting dozens of spoonfuls invites mistakes.
Does a heaped tablespoon of pearled barley weigh more?
Yes, a heaped tablespoon 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.
How many tablespoons of pearled barley are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup, so a full cup of pearled barley weighs approximately 213 g. The tablespoon table on this page lists every amount from 1 to 16 tablespoons, and 16 tablespoons is the same as 1 cup.
Can I use a kitchen scale instead of spoons for pearled barley?
Yes, and for anything where precision matters a scale is the better tool. Put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and add pearled barley until the display shows the grams you need, which removes the variation that comes from how firmly an ingredient packs into a spoon.
How should I store pearled barley?
Airtight container, cool and dry, up to 1 year. 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.