Grams to Tablespoons Brown Sugar Conversion – Packed vs Unpacked
Brown sugar can be measured packed or unpacked. Packed tablespoons weigh more. Use the calculator below and see the table for both styles.
Brown Sugar Calculator
Assumptions: packed ≈13.3 g/tbsp (density ~0.9 g/mL); unpacked ≈11.0–12.0 g/tbsp.
What Are Grams and Tablespoons?
A gram (g) measures mass; a tablespoon (tbsp) measures volume (~14.7868 mL). To convert between them you need the ingredient’s density.1
Brown Sugar Density and Formula
Brown sugar’s density depends on whether it’s packed or unpacked. A reasonable assumption is packed ≈0.90 g/mL → 13.3 g/tbsp and unpacked ≈0.78 g/mL → ~11.5 g/tbsp.
tablespoons = grams ÷ (g/tbsp)
grams = tablespoons Ã (g/tbsp)
General formula: tablespoons = grams ÷ (14.7868 Ã density). Using the densities above yields the packed/unpacked values shown.2
Note: Humidity, brand, and how firmly you pack the spoon affect the actual grams per tablespoon. Weighing is most reliable.
Why Packed vs Unpacked Matters
Recipes often call for packed brown sugar because pressing removes air gaps, increasing mass per tablespoon. Unpacked spoons are lighter. Density varies by humidity and brand.
Brown Sugar Conversion Table
| Grams (g) | Packed tbsp | Unpacked tbsp |
|---|
Packed uses 13.3 g/tbsp; Unpacked uses 11.5 g/tbsp as a mid-range reference.
Sources
- Tablespoon ≈14.7868 mL; density connects mass and volume.2
- Common baking references; tablespoon values derived from grams and density for brown sugar.
External links omitted for performance; values reflect widely cited culinary references.
FAQs
How many tablespoons is 50 g of packed brown sugar?
About 3.76 tbsp (50 ÷ 13.3).
How many grams is 3 tablespoons unpacked?
About 34.5 g (3 Ã 11.5).
Light vs Dark brown sugar?
Both can be measured packed; dark has more molasses and can pack slightly more densely.