If you are converting a recipe from cups to grams, start here: 1 tablespoon of walnuts weighs 7.1 g. The cup weight is 113 g, and since there are 16 tablespoons in a cup, the division is 113 ÷ 16 = 7.1 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 King Arthur Baking, measured spooned and levelled; verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.
About Walnuts
Chopped walnut pieces with a rich, slightly bitter flavour. Brownies, salads, pesto and banana bread. 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 7.1 g lets you move between the spoon and the scale without stopping to work it out.
Storage. Refrigerate or freeze; walnut oils turn rancid quickly.
Tablespoon to grams table
| Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon | 2.4 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 7.1 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 14.1 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 21.2 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 28.2 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 35.3 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 42.4 g |
| 7 tablespoons | 49.4 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 56.5 g |
| 9 tablespoons | 63.6 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 70.6 g |
| 11 tablespoons | 77.7 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 84.8 g |
| 13 tablespoons | 91.8 g |
| 14 tablespoons | 98.9 g |
| 15 tablespoons | 105.9 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 113 g |
One tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup, so every figure above is the cup weight of 113 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 | 28.2 g |
| 1/3 cup | 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 37.7 g |
| 1/2 cup | 8 tablespoons | 56.5 g |
| 2/3 cup | 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons | 75.3 g |
| 3/4 cup | 12 tablespoons | 84.8 g |
| 1 cup | 16 tablespoons | 113 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 24 tablespoons | 169.5 g |
| 2 cups | 32 tablespoons | 226 g |
Worked examples
A smoothie or a breakfast bowl
A breakfast bowl or a smoothie for one person takes 2 tablespoons of walnuts, about 14.1 g, sprinkled on top or blended in. Two tablespoons is a sensible single serving: enough to add flavour and texture without overwhelming the bowl. If you are blending them in, add them last and pulse briefly, so they break up without turning the whole bowl gritty.
A batch of cookies
A batch of cookies for a dozen people uses 4 tablespoons of walnuts, about 28.2 g, folded into the dough at the end. Four tablespoons spread through a whole batch gives a nut in most bites without making the cookies crumbly. Chop them roughly rather than finely, so they keep some texture, and fold them in last so they do not get crushed by the mixing.
A salad topping for lunch
A lunch salad for two people takes 2 tablespoons of walnuts, about 14.1 g, scattered over the top just before serving. Two tablespoons adds crunch and richness without turning a light salad into a heavy one. Toast them in a dry pan for a minute first, because toasting deepens the flavour enormously, and let them cool before they go on the salad so they stay crisp.
How the figure is measured
Walnuts 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 113 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.
When precision matters most
Not every recipe needs weighing. A soup, a stew or a marinade will forgive a tablespoon of walnuts 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 walnuts 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 56.5 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 walnuts?
One tablespoon of walnuts weighs 7.1 g, approximately. The figure comes from dividing the cup weight of 113 g by 16, since one tablespoon is one sixteenth of a cup. One teaspoon is 2.4 g, and one cup is 113 g.
How many grams is a teaspoon of walnuts?
One teaspoon of walnuts weighs 2.4 g, approximately. A teaspoon is a third of a tablespoon, so the teaspoon weight is the tablespoon weight of 7.1 g divided by three. For very small amounts, the teaspoon is the better tool, because it is easier to level accurately than a tablespoon.
How many tablespoons of walnuts are in 100 g?
About 14.2 tablespoons. The calculation is 100 g divided by 7.1 g per tablespoon, which gives 14.2. In practice, measure 14.2 level tablespoons and accept that the result will be a gram or two off, or weigh the ingredient directly if the recipe needs to be exact.
How many tablespoons of walnuts are in a cup?
There are 16 tablespoons in one US cup, so one cup of walnuts is 16 tablespoons and weighs 113 g. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons (56.5 g), a quarter cup is 4 tablespoons (28.2 g), and three quarters of a cup is 12 tablespoons (84.8 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.
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 walnuts 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.