A teaspoon measures volume, so grams depend on the ingredient
One US teaspoon is 4.93 mL (a metric teaspoon is exactly 5 mL). To get grams you multiply the volume by the ingredient's density. Water is 1.0 g/mL, so a teaspoon is about 5 g. Anything lighter than water — flour, dried herbs — weighs less; anything heavier — salt, honey — weighs more. There is no single conversion that works for everything.
Grams per teaspoon, common ingredients
| Ingredient | 1 tsp | 3 tsp (1 tbsp) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 4.9 g | 14.8 g |
| Honey | 7.0 g | 21.0 g |
| Table salt (fine) | 6.0 g | 18.0 g |
| Kosher salt (coarse) | 3.2 g | 9.6 g |
| Granulated sugar | 4.2 g | 12.6 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 4.6 g | 13.8 g |
| All-purpose flour | 2.6 g | 7.8 g |
| Baking powder / soda | 4.6 g | 13.8 g |
| Ground cinnamon | 2.6 g | 7.8 g |
| Dried oregano | 1.0 g | 3.0 g |
Values assume a lightly scooped, level teaspoon. Packing a dry ingredient down can add 10–20% by weight, which matters most for flour.
The mistakes that change a recipe
- Assuming 1 tsp = 5 g for everything. That only holds for water. It overstates flour by nearly double and understates honey.
- Swapping salt types by volume. Fine table salt (6 g/tsp) and coarse kosher salt (3.2 g/tsp) are almost a factor of two apart, so a straight swap changes the saltiness a lot.
- Using a cutlery spoon. Everyday spoons hold anywhere from 2 to 9 mL. A proper measuring teaspoon is 4.93 mL (US) or 5 mL (metric); the difference between those two systems is under 2%.
Common questions
How many grams is a teaspoon of salt?
About 6 grams for fine table salt. Coarse kosher salt is only about 3.2 grams per teaspoon because the flakes trap air, so swapping one for the other one-to-one makes a dish noticeably saltier or less salty.
How many grams is a teaspoon of water?
About 5 grams. Water has a density of 1 gram per millilitre, and a teaspoon is roughly 5 millilitres, so its grams and millilitres are the same. Water is the only common ingredient where "1 teaspoon equals 5 grams" is actually true.
Why does a teaspoon of flour weigh less than a teaspoon of sugar?
Flour is less dense. A teaspoon of all-purpose flour holds about 2.6 grams because it is fluffy and full of air, while a teaspoon of granulated sugar is denser at about 4.2 grams. Same spoon, different mass.
