A level teaspoon of ground cinnamon weighs about 2.6 g, based on USDA FoodData Central household measures. So when you're working out the grams in a teaspoon of cinnamon for a recipe, use 2.6 g per teaspoon and 7.8 g per tablespoon as your starting point.
| Amount | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 0.7 g |
| 1/2 tsp | 1.3 g |
| 1 tsp | 2.6 g |
| 1 tbsp | 7.8 g |
| 1/4 cup | 31.2 g |
| 1/2 cup | 62 g |
| 1 cup | 125 g |
Why the grams in a teaspoon of cinnamon can vary
The USDA figure is a solid average, but the cinnamon in your cupboard might land a little above or below it. Here's why.
- Packing. Ground cinnamon is fine and a bit sticky, so it compresses easily. Scooping hard from a tight jar packs more into the spoon than sprinkling it in.
- Type of cinnamon. Cassia and Ceylon cinnamon come from related but different trees, and their bark breaks down differently when ground. The two powders don't always settle the same way in a spoon.
- Moisture. A jar kept above a steamy stove can clump over time. Clumps either trap air or pack tight, and both throw off the weight.
- Level vs heaped. A heaped teaspoon can hold a lot more than a level one. Recipes mean level unless they say otherwise.
How to measure cinnamon the same way every time
- Give the jar a shake or a stir to loosen the powder.
- Dip your spoon in and lift it out heaped, without pressing down.
- Sweep across the top with a straight edge so it's level with the rim.
- If you're weighing, zero the scale first and aim for 2.6 g per level teaspoon.
Here's a quick calibration trick. Measure one level teaspoon from your own jar and weigh it. If it reads a little higher or lower than 2.6 g, that's your cinnamon's real number, and you can use it for every recipe from that jar.
Common cinnamon measuring mistakes
- Shaking it from the jar lid. Those sprinkle holes make it nearly impossible to hit a set amount. Use a spoon or a scale.
- Using a heaped spoon. Recipes mean level, and a mound on top adds more than you'd think.
- Mixing up teaspoons and tablespoons. A tablespoon is three times a teaspoon, so one quick misread triples the cinnamon.
- Swapping in cinnamon sugar. It's a blend, so a spoonful won't weigh or taste the same as pure ground cinnamon.
Putting the numbers to work
Here's how the conversion plays out in everyday baking:
- Cinnamon roll filling that calls for 1 tbsp: about 7.8 g.
- Snickerdoodle coating with 2 tsp cinnamon: about 5.2 g.
- Apple pie filling with 1/2 tsp: about 1.3 g.
- Tripling a spice cake that uses 1 1/2 tsp: that's 4 1/2 tsp, or about 11.7 g.
Weighing really shines when you scale. Measuring out 11.7 g is a lot easier than counting four and a half teaspoons and hoping each one was level. For more on that idea, here's why measuring ingredients by weight can improve baking consistency.
One practical tip: a regular kitchen scale that moves in 1 g steps will show 2.6 g as 3 g. A MeasureMate digital measuring spoon scoops and weighs in one step and shows the reading in 0.1 g steps, so you can see exactly how much cinnamon goes in. Press the tare button between ingredients to zero the reading.
Quick questions
How many grams is a tablespoon of cinnamon?
About 7.8 g. That's three level teaspoons at 2.6 g each.
How many teaspoons is 1 g of cinnamon?
A little more than 1/3 tsp. Divide 1 g by 2.6 g per teaspoon and you get about 0.4 tsp.
Does Ceylon cinnamon weigh the same as regular cinnamon?
It's close, but not always identical. Weigh a level teaspoon from your own jar once and you'll know its number.
Weights based on USDA FoodData Central.