How Much Is 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil in Grams?
3 tablespoons of olive oil weighs 40.50 g. This is based on olive oil having a density of 216g per cup. Because tablespoons measure volume and grams measure weight, the result depends on the ingredient, and a different ingredient would give a different result for the same 3 tablespoons.
Formula and Step-by-Step
- Start with 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil = 13.5g
- 3 × 13.5 = 40.5g
The same formula works for any amount. Multiply (or divide) by the density, then convert units as needed.
Measuring Tip
Liquid densities vary: oils weigh less per cup than water, while syrups and honey weigh more. This is why ingredient-specific conversions matter even for liquids.
Olive Oil at Different Amounts
How olive oil scales across common tablespoons measurements. Your amount (3 tablespoons) is highlighted.
For reference, 3 tablespoons of olive oil (40.5g) is close in weight to a golf ball (46g).
Other Amounts of Olive Oil
| Tablespoons | US Grams | Metric Tablespoon | Australian Tablespoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon | 13.50 g | 13.69 g | 18.26 g |
| 2 tablespoons | 27.00 g | 27.39 g | 36.52 g |
| 3 tablespoons | 40.50 g | 41.08 g | 54.78 g |
| 4 tablespoons | 54.00 g | 54.78 g | 73.04 g |
| 5 tablespoons | 67.50 g | 68.47 g | 91.30 g |
| 6 tablespoons | 81.00 g | 82.17 g | 109.56 g |
| 8 tablespoons | 108.00 g | 109.56 g | 146.07 g |
| 10 tablespoons | 135.00 g | 136.94 g | 182.59 g |
| 12 tablespoons | 162.00 g | 164.33 g | 219.11 g |
| 16 tablespoons | 216.00 g | 219.11 g | 292.15 g |
Understanding the Units
What is a Tablespoon?
Tablespoon sizes differ by country. A US tablespoon is 14.787 ml, close to the 15 ml metric standard used in most countries. An Australian tablespoon is 20 ml, about 35% larger than US. An imperial tablespoon is 17.758 ml. If your recipe comes from Australia, the larger tablespoon size can make a real difference.
What is a Gram?
Weighing ingredients in grams eliminates the variability of volume measurements. A cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120g to 160g depending on how it was scooped, but 120g of flour is always 120g of flour.