Tablespoons to Milligrams Converter

How to Convert Tablespoons to Milligrams

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Since tablespoons are a unit of volume and milligrams 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 milligrams 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 Milligrams Formula

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

If the density is given in grams per milliliter (g/mL), then first multiply the density by 14,786.765 to convert to mg/tbsp.

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

milligrams = tablespoons × 14,786.765 × density

Thus, the weight in milligrams is equal to the volume in tablespoons multiplied by 14,786.765 times the density (in g/mL) of the ingredient, substance, or material.

For example, here's how to convert 5 tablespoons to milligrams for an ingredient with a density of 0.7 g/mL.

milligrams = 5 tbsp × 14,786.765 × 0.7 g/mL = 51,753.677 mg

When to Convert Tablespoons to Milligrams

Tablespoons and milligrams 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]

Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

How Many Milligrams Are in a Tablespoon?

The actual weight of a tablespoon will vary depending on the density of the material. The table below shows how many milligrams of various wet and dry ingredients are in a tablespoon.

Tablespoon measurements converted to milligrams for commonly used cooking and baking ingredients.
Volume in Tablespoons:	Weight in Milligrams of:
Volume in Tablespoons:	Water	Milk	Cooking Oil	All Purpose Flour	Granulated Sugar
1/8 tbsp	1,848 mg	1,904 mg	1,627 mg	977.77 mg	1,563 mg
1/4 tbsp	3,697 mg	3,808 mg	3,253 mg	1,956 mg	3,125 mg
1/3 tbsp	4,929 mg	5,077 mg	4,337 mg	2,607 mg	4,167 mg
1/2 tbsp	7,393 mg	7,615 mg	6,506 mg	3,911 mg	6,250 mg
2/3 tbsp	9,858 mg	10,154 mg	8,675 mg	5,215 mg	8,333 mg
3/4 tbsp	11,090 mg	11,423 mg	9,759 mg	5,867 mg	9,375 mg
1 tbsp	14,787 mg	15,230 mg	13,012 mg	7,822 mg	12,500 mg

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 Milligram?

The milligram is a unit of mass equal to 1/1,000 of a gram, or 0.0154 grains.

The milligram, or milligramme, is an SI unit of mass in the metric system. In the metric system, "milli" is the prefix for thousandths, or 10^-3. Milligrams can be abbreviated as mg; for example, 1 milligram can be written as 1 mg.

A milligram is also frequently referred to as a unit of weight. While technically, a milligram 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 milligram weighs 1 milligram on Earth, but only weighs one-sixth of that on the moon, yet still has the same mass.

Learn more about milligrams.

Tablespoons to Milligrams Conversion Calculator