Tablespoons to Kilograms Conversion Calculator

Enter the volume in tablespoons below to calculate the weight in kilograms.

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1 tbsp = 0.014786764782 kg

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How to Convert Tablespoons to Kilograms

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Since tablespoons are a unit of volume and kilograms are a unit of mass, which are different physical quantities, we need to know one more physical quantity of the ingredient or substance to convert between them. In this case, we need to account for the density of the substance whenever we do a conversion.

Therefore, to convert between tablespoons and kilograms of an ingredient or substance, we must either multiply or divide by its density, depending on which direction we are performing the conversion.

Tablespoons to Kilograms Formula

To convert a measurement in tablespoons to kilograms, multiply the volume by the density of the ingredient, substance, or material. Note that in order for this to work, the density must be in kilograms per tablespoon (kg/tbsp).

If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first divide the density by 67.628 to convert to kg/tbsp.

For a density given in g/mL, you can use this simple formula to convert:

kilograms = tablespoons × density67.628

Thus, the weight in kilograms is equal to the volume in tablespoons times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient or material divided by 67.628.

For example, here's how to convert 5 tablespoons to kilograms for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.
kilograms = 5 tbsp × 0.7 g/mL67.628 = 0.0518 kg

When to Convert Tablespoons to Kilograms

Tablespoons and kilograms are both commonly used to measure cooking ingredients.

For cooking applications, most chefs suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight rather than volume to improve accuracy in the measurements.[1] The density of dry ingredients can vary for a variety of reasons, such as compaction and clumping.

The best way to ensure an accurate conversion is to use a scale. When a scale is not available, a calculator like the one above is a good way to estimate the volume to weight conversion.

Another useful application of weight and volume conversions is chemistry. When performing chemical reactions by combining separate chemicals to produce a new chemical, one must know the exact amount of each chemical to add in order to maximize the yield of the reaction.

It is common to mix powdered chemicals with liquid, or aqueous, chemicals, and this is where it becomes very useful to convert between weights and volumes.[2]

A third application of weight and volume conversions is when shipping freight when calculating the volumetric weight for cargo and packages. Trucks, ships, and airplanes are limited in the amount of weight or volume they can transport, so if one of those quantities is known, but the limitation is on the other, then it becomes necessary to convert between the two so as not to overload the shipping vehicle.

Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

What is a Tablespoon?

The tablespoon is a unit of volume equal to three teaspoons or ½ fluid ounce.[3] One tablespoon is equal to 14.7868 milliliters, but in nutrition labeling, one tablespoon is rounded to 15 milliliters.[4]

The tablespoon is a US customary unit of volume. Tablespoons can be abbreviated as tbsp, and are also sometimes abbreviated as T, Tbls, or Tb. For example, 1 tablespoon can be written as 1 tbsp, 1 T, 1 Tbls, or 1 Tb.

Learn more about tablespoons.

What is a Kilogram?

One kilogram is equal to 1,000 grams, 2.204623 pounds, or 1/1,000 of a metric ton.

The formal definition of the kilogram changed in 2019. One kilogram was previously equal to the mass of the platinum-iridium bar, known as the International Prototype of the Kilogram, which was stored in Sèvres, France.

The 2019 SI brochure now defines the kilogram using the Planck constant, and it is defined using the meter and second.[5] It is equal to the mass of 1,000 cubic centimeters of water.

The kilogram, or kilogramme, is the SI base unit for mass and is also a multiple of the gram. In the metric system, "kilo" is the prefix for thousands, or 103. Kilograms can be abbreviated as kg; for example, 1 kilogram can be written as 1 kg.

A kilogram is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a kilogram is a measure of mass, and weight is actually a measure of force, the two are equivalent as long as we are performing our calculations on Earth.

For example, an object with a mass of 1 kilogram weighs 1 kilogram on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.

Learn more about kilograms.

Tablespoon to Kilogram Conversion Table

Tablespoon measurements converted to kilograms for commonly used cooking and baking ingredients.
Volume in Tablespoons: Weight in Kilograms of:
Water Milk Cooking Oil All Purpose Flour Granulated Sugar
1/8 tbsp 0.001848 kg 0.001904 kg 0.001627 kg 0.000978 kg 0.001563 kg
1/4 tbsp 0.003697 kg 0.003808 kg 0.003253 kg 0.001956 kg 0.003125 kg
1/3 tbsp 0.004929 kg 0.005077 kg 0.004337 kg 0.002607 kg 0.004167 kg
1/2 tbsp 0.007393 kg 0.007615 kg 0.006506 kg 0.003911 kg 0.00625 kg
2/3 tbsp 0.009858 kg 0.010154 kg 0.008675 kg 0.005215 kg 0.008333 kg
3/4 tbsp 0.01109 kg 0.011423 kg 0.009759 kg 0.005867 kg 0.009375 kg
1 tbsp 0.014787 kg 0.01523 kg 0.013012 kg 0.007822 kg 0.0125 kg

References

  1. National Institute of Standards & Technology, Metric Cooking Resources, https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-cooking-resources
  2. CK-12 Foundation, Introductory Chemistry (CK-12) - 12.6: Mass-Volume Stoichiometry, https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/12%3A_Stoichiometry/12.06%3A_Mass-Volume_Stoichiometry
  3. Merriam-Webster, tablespoon, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tablespoon
  4. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Guidance for Industry: Guidelines for Determining Metric Equivalents of Household Measures, https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-guidelines-determining-metric-equivalents-household-measures
  5. International Bureau of Weights and Measures, The International System of Units, 9th Edition, 2019, https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf

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