1 tablespoon of soy sauce weighs 15.9 g. A tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, and a cup of soy sauce is 255 g poured, so the maths is 255 ÷ 16 = 15.9 g. One teaspoon, a third of a tablespoon, weighs 5.31 g. 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.
Salty, umami-rich fermented soybean sauce, and it is used for stir-fries, marinades, dressings and dipping.
All figures on this page are approximate, and they come from USDA, measured poured. 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 | 15.9 g |
| 2 tbsp | 31.9 g |
| 3 tbsp | 47.8 g |
| 4 tbsp | 63.8 g |
| 5 tbsp | 79.7 g |
| 6 tbsp | 95.6 g |
| 7 tbsp | 111.6 g |
| 8 tbsp | 127.5 g |
| 9 tbsp | 143.4 g |
| 10 tbsp | 159.4 g |
| 11 tbsp | 175.3 g |
| 12 tbsp | 191.2 g |
| 13 tbsp | 207.2 g |
| 14 tbsp | 223.1 g |
| 15 tbsp | 239.1 g |
| 16 tbsp | 255.0 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 | 5.31 g |
| 2 tsp | 10.62 g |
| 3 tsp (1 tbsp) | 15.9 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 | 63.8 g |
| 1/3 cup | 85.0 g |
| 1/2 cup | 127.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 170.0 g |
| 3/4 cup | 191.2 g |
| 1 cup | 255.0 g |
One cup of soy sauce weighs 255 g, so a quarter cup is 63.8 g and half a cup is 127.5 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 USDA, measured poured. Salty, umami-rich fermented soybean sauce, and it is used for stir-fries, marinades, dressings and dipping.
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 soy sauce measured two different ways can give two different weights, and the USDA value assumes the poured method every time.
Worked examples
A sandwich spread
A sandwich spread with 1 tablespoon (15.9 g) of soy sauce is enough for two slices of bread, and spreading it edge to edge keeps every bite seasoned. A level tablespoon is the portion most recipes assume when they say one tablespoon.
A dip for two
A dip for two people starts with 2 tablespoons (31.9 g) of soy sauce as its base, and tasting before adding more keeps the balance right, since it is easier to add another spoon than to take one away.
A marinade
A marinade for chicken pieces uses 3 tablespoons (47.8 g) of soy sauce whisked with the other marinade ingredients, and measuring the spoonfuls rather than pouring from the bottle keeps the marinade from turning too salty or too sharp.
Practical guidance
Level every spoon of soy sauce 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 soy sauce, 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 soy sauce 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 soy sauce, count out about 6.3 tablespoons, and for 50 g, about 3.1 tablespoons. Halving a recipe that calls for 4 tablespoons means using 2 tablespoons, or 31.9 g, and doubling it means 8 tablespoons, or 127.5 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 soy sauce 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 soy sauce 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. Cool cupboard; refrigerate after opening for best flavour.
- 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 soy sauce?
One level tablespoon of soy sauce weighs approximately 15.9 g. That figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 255 g by 16, and it assumes the ingredient is measured poured. All figures on this page are approximate, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
How many tablespoons of soy sauce make 100 g?
About 6.3 tablespoons of soy sauce weigh 100 g, and about 3.1 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 soy sauce 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 soy sauce are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 US cup, so a full cup of soy sauce weighs approximately 255 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 soy sauce?
Yes, and for anything where precision matters a scale is the better tool. Put the bowl on the scale, press tare, and add soy sauce 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 soy sauce?
Cool cupboard; refrigerate after opening for best flavour. 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.