How Many Teaspoons of Sugar Is In A Gram?

Mary and Brenda Maher

By Brenda & Mary

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Teaspoons of Sugar Is In A Gram

Along with salt, sugar is present in almost every common recipe. As a senior baker, it is no wonder it has become a staple on my spice rack.

Given how important sugar is to both cooking performance and personal diets, it is necessary to measure this ingredient properly. My article will discuss about teaspoons of sugar in a gram. Keep scrolling to learn more!

How Many Teaspoons Are In A Gram of Sugar?

1 gram of white/brown sugar translates to 0.25 teaspoon – though it would be easier to remember if we say 4 grams equals 1 teaspoon instead. This formula slightly alters for powdered or raw sugar, though.

Teaspoon sizes

1. How to Convert

Let’s pick a brown or white sugar package and scan through its nutrition fact labels; the printing should clearly state one teaspoon is one serving size. Now, keep sliding over to the carbohydrate section, which reads “4 grams” or “4g” of sugar. 

What does this information tell you? Simple: 4 grams of sugar equals 1 teaspoon! That should be 4.2 grams, to be exact, but nutrition facts usually round it down to a neat 4 grams, and it’s also easier for our measurement, right?

Now, with this equation, it should be a breeze to determine the sugar level of a food product. All you need to do is find the number of grams listed (either per container or for 1-person serving), then divide it by 4 to convert this amount into teaspoons!

Ready for a sugar rush? Here are some of the sweetest cakes I’ve ever made. However, think twice before making these baked goods if you are watching your weight!

  • Cake Dobos Torte: 578.5g of sugar (~145 tsp)
  • Cake Tres Leche: 480g of sugar (120 tsp)
  • Pie Buttermilk: 466.7g of sugar (~112 tsp)
  • Pie Prune One Crust: 436.7g of sugar (~109 tsp)
  • Cheesecake Chocolate: 426.3g of sugar (~107 tsp)

2. Four Different Types of Sugar

Years of baking have taught me the difference in density between white/brown sugar and other sugar types like powdered or raw. Though this distinction does not matter much in most of my recipes, it admittedly has certain impacts on the textures and consistencies of some more complicated dishes. 

Therefore, I have compiled a more inclusive conversion table for four different types of sugar, ranging from 5 grams to 100 grams

GramsTeaspoons (Brown)Teaspoons (White)Teaspoons (Raw)Teaspoons (Powdered)
5 g1 ¼ tsp1 ¼ tsp¾ tsp1 ¾ tsp
10 g2 ⅓ tsp2 ⅓ tsp1 ¾ tsp3 ¾ tsp
15 g3 ⅔ tsp3 ⅔ tsp2 ¾ tsp5 ¾ tsp
20 g4 ¾ tsp4 ¾ tsp3 ¾ tsp7 ⅔ tsp
25 g6 tsp6 tsp4 ¾ tsp9 ⅔ tsp
30 g7 ¼ tsp7 ¼ tsp5 ¾ tsp11 ½ tsp
35 g8 ⅓ tsp8 ⅓ tsp6 ¾ tsp13 ½ tsp
40 g9 ⅔ tsp9 ⅔ tsp7 ⅔ tsp15 ⅓ tsp
45 g10 ¾ tsp10 ¾ tsp8 ⅔ tsp17 ¼ tsp
50 g12 tsp12 tsp9 ⅔ tsp19 ¼ tsp
55 g13 ¼ tsp13 ¼ tsp10 ½ tsp21 ⅛ tsp
60 g14 ⅓ tsp14 ⅓ tsp11 ½ tsp23 1/16 tsp
65 g15 ⅔ tsp15 ⅔ tsp12 ½ tsp24 ¾ tsp
70 g16 ¾ tsp16 ¾ tsp13 ½ tsp26 ¾ tsp
75 g18 tsp18 tsp14 ⅓ tsp28 ¾ tsp
80 g19 ¼ tsp19 ¼ tsp15 ⅓ tsp30 ¾ tsp
85 g20 ⅓ tsp20 ⅓ tsp16 ⅓ tsp32 ⅔ tsp
90 g21 ⅔  tsp21 ⅔ tsp17 ¼ tsp34 ½ tsp
95 g22 ¾ tsp22 ¾ tsp18 ¼ tsp36 ½ tsp
100 g24 tsp24 tsp19 ¼ tsp38 ⅓ tsp

Of course, you can easily rely on these estimations to convert any other number of grams not included in the chart. Let’s say you need to determine how many teaspoons are contained in 150 grams of powdered sugar. We have:

  • 150 g = 5g x 30

According to the table, 5g of powdered sugar translates to 1.75 teaspoons. That means:

  • 150 g = 5g x 30 = 1.75 x 30 = 52.5 teaspoons 

There Are Different Teaspoon Sizes For Different Countries

Teaspoon sizes vary between countries due to historical reasons and different choices of measurement systems. But here’s the great news: it barely matters at the end of the day. I bet most of you do not even notice the difference between 4.9 and 5 grams! 

In case you still want to look up the numbers, let me give you a quick conversion chart for several countries:

CountryMeasurement SystemTeaspoon Size (ml)Teaspoon Size (US fl oz)
United StatesUS Customary4.930.17
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South AfricaMetric5.00.18
IrelandMetric4.730.17

Why Must You Convert Sugar into Teaspoons?

Now that we have cleared all confusion regarding the teaspoon and gram equivalent, you must be wondering why we even need to convert them in the first place.

For Diets

Any beverage or food item you buy will have a list of nutrition facts stating the product’s serving size, calories, and main nutrients based on the typical 2,000-calorie intake. With this information, you can compare different items to choose healthier meals consistent with your dietary patterns and daily caloric limits.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to convert sugar to teaspoons; I myself find it much easier to visualize and track my sugar intake that way. Now, with portions under control, the risk of going overboard is reduced. Think of it as the secret to better weight management, blood sugar levels, and overall health!

For Cooking

Teaspoons are undoubtedly a more precise measurement unit than cups, especially for smaller ingredients like salt, sugar, and spice. The conversion ensures you stick as closely to the formula as possible for better, more consistent results during baking and cooking. This is all the more important for delicate recipes where every small ingredient matters! 

Should You Measure Sugar by Volume or Weight?

Can you afford to use a kitchen scale instead of cups or spoons? In that case, I suggest going for weight rather than volume, especially if the sugar is meant for baking recipes. 

And why is that? Well, aside from the common white and brown sugar we all know, there are also other types of sugar (e.g., raw, powdered, etc.) whose density varies slightly. Therefore, volume measurements lead to a pretty high risk of inaccurate readings!

Furthermore, when using spoons or cups, a portion of the sugar might be compressed under the graduation line, which further alters the correct number. These incidents have happened to me quite a lot during my beginner years, and I only belatedly realized where the issue came from when my customers sent their feedback afterward. 

How Much Sugar Should You Consume A Day?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, your daily sugar intake must be limited to below 10% of the total calories. Let’s say an adult consumes 2,000 calories; then the amount of sugar should not exceed 200 calories (48 grams or 12 teaspoons).

The AHA (American Heart Association) takes their suggestions further:

  • Less than 100 calories (24 grams or 6 teaspoons) a day for women
  • Less than 150 calories (36 grams or 9 teaspoons) a day for men

You should also be aware of “added sugar,” which is put into food/beverages during processing and differs from naturally occurring sugar in common fruits, vegetables, or dairy products. 

I suggest focusing on the “added sugar” section on the product package (if any) during your purchase. And remember that added sugar is not always labeled “sugar” in nutrition facts, so you must also look for its alternative names. Some examples: 

  • High-fructose corn syrup
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Cane juice
  • Honey
  • Agave nectar
  • Brown rice syrup
  • Syrups
  • Concentrates

How to Convert Sugar To Cups

measuring cup with sugar

I usually measure my sugar in cups when making large batches. 

With this measurement, the density differences among brown, powdered, raw, and granulated sugar are much less noticeable than with teaspoons. As a result, the unit conversion for all four sugar types is basically identical: 

Grams of SugarCups
5 grams1/16 c
10 grams1/16 c
15 grams1/16 c
20 grams1/8 c
25 grams1/8 c
30 grams1/8 c
35 grams1/8 c
40 grams1/4 c
45 grams1/4 c
50 grams1/4 c
55 grams1/4 c
60 grams1/3 c
65 grams1/3 c
70 grams1/3 c
75 grams1/3 c
80 grams1/3 c
85 grams1/2 c
90 grams1/2 c
95 grams1/2 c
100 grams1/2 c

Conclusion

I hope you have now understood how many tsp of sugar in a gram. Although teaspoons and cups are some of the most popular measurement units for volume, consider using a food scale instead (if you can afford one) when following more complex baking recipes. Its readings are precise down to the milligrams, ensuring smoother, more consistent textures for your outcomes!


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Mary and Brenda Maher

Mary & Brenda Maher

Mary & Brenda Maher, are the founders of Cake Girls, a Chicago-based online baking shop specializing in cake supplies, party decor, and DIY cake tutorials. They are known for their elaborate and artistic cake creations, which have been featured on the Food Network Challenge and in a reality show, Amazing Wedding Cakes.

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