A serving of nuts on most US labels is 1 oz, or 28 g. For almonds, the Almond Board of California puts that at about 23 almonds, so the grams in a serving of almonds stay at 28 g even if the count shifts a little with nut size. Spoon and cup amounts vary a lot more from nut to nut, as the chart below shows.
| Nut | 1/4 cup weighs | Tablespoons in 28 g |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds, whole | 35.5 g | 3.2 |
| Cashews, whole | 28.3 g | 4.0 |
| Walnuts, chopped | 28.3 g | 4.0 |
| Pecans, whole | 26.3 g | 4.3 |
| Peanuts, shelled | 35.5 g | 3.2 |
| Pistachios, shelled | 30 g | 3.7 |
| Hazelnuts, whole | 35.5 g | 3.2 |
| Macadamias, whole | 37.3 g | 3.0 |
What "a serving" means on a nut label
The FDA sets a reference amount for nuts, seeds and mixtures of 30 g, and labels list the serving in pieces, tablespoons or cups along with the gram weight. In practice, you'll see "1 oz (28 g)" on a lot of nut packages, and that's the figure the Almond Board uses too.
So when someone says "a serving of nuts," they almost always mean about 28 to 30 g. The easiest way to know for sure is to check the label on your bag and weigh that amount.
Why counts and cups don't line up
Look at the chart again. A 1/4 cup of cashews lands right on 28 g, but a 1/4 cup of almonds weighs 35.5 g, about 7.5 g more. Here's why the numbers wander:
- Shape. Round, dense nuts like almonds and hazelnuts pack tightly. Pecans and walnut pieces leave more air in the cup.
- Size. Almonds vary by variety and grade, so "about 23" is a handy guide, not a fixed count.
- Cut. Sliced and slivered almonds weigh very differently from whole ones. King Arthur Baking lists 1/2 cup of sliced almonds at 43 g and 1/2 cup of slivered almonds at 57 g.
- Shell on or off. All the weights here are for shelled nuts. Pistachios or peanuts still in their shells weigh more for the same amount of nut.
That's why weighing is the only way to get the same amount every time. Grams don't care about shape, size or cut.
How to weigh a serving of almonds
- Set a small bowl or snack bag on your scale and zero it.
- Add almonds until the display reads 28 g. If you're curious, count them. You'll likely land close to 23.
- Repeat for the next portion. Press tare between bags so each one starts at zero.
- Write the count down. If your almonds consistently come in at 22 or 24 per 28 g, you now know your brand.
Handy ways to use this
- Snack packs. Five bags at 28 g each takes 140 g of nuts.
- Bulk bags. A 1 lb bag, about 454 g, gives you about 16 portions of 28 g.
- Trail mix. Weigh each ingredient into the bowl so every batch has the same balance of nuts, seeds and dried fruit.
- Recipes. If a recipe says "1/4 cup almonds," you now know that's about 35.5 g, not 28 g.
For quick portions, a MeasureMate digital measuring spoon scoops and weighs in one step. Scoop almonds straight from the bag, watch the display climb in 0.1 g steps, and stop at 28 g. The tare button zeroes the reading, and it switches between grams and ounces, so you can check the 1 oz label serving directly.
Quick questions
How many almonds are in 28 g?
About 23, according to the Almond Board of California. Larger or smaller almonds will shift the count a little.
Is 1/4 cup of nuts one serving?
Not exactly. A 1/4 cup of cashews or chopped walnuts weighs about 28 g, but a 1/4 cup of whole almonds weighs about 35.5 g.
How many grams is a handful of nuts?
It depends on your hand and the nut, which is exactly why weighing beats grabbing. Weigh one of your usual handfuls once and you'll know.
Weights based on the Almond Board of California, FDA reference amounts (21 CFR 101.12), and the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart.