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Vanilla extract — Teaspoons to Grams

One teaspoon of vanilla extract weighs about 4.33 grams, and one tablespoon is about 13 grams. Vanilla extract is mostly alcohol and water, so it weighs a little less than plain water. Use the converter below to switch vanilla extract between teaspoons, tablespoons, grams, ounces and more.

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Vanilla extract conversion chart

Vanilla extract conversion chart
Amount	Grams	Ounces
⅛ tsp	0.542 g	0.019 oz
¼ tsp	1.08 g	0.038 oz
½ tsp	2.17 g	0.076 oz
¾ tsp	3.25 g	0.115 oz
1 tsp	4.33 g	0.153 oz
1 tbsp	13 g	0.459 oz
2 tbsp	26 g	0.917 oz
¼ cup	52 g	1.83 oz

How to measure vanilla extract

Vanilla extract is mostly alcohol and water, so it weighs a little less than plain water.

Because a cup measures volume rather than weight, the most reliable way to measure vanilla extract is with a digital kitchen scale. If you are working from cups, keep your technique consistent every time so your results are repeatable. For more, see our guide on baking by weight versus volume.

No scale yet? You don't need a fancy one; any digital kitchen scale that reads in 1-gram steps does everything on this site. Well-rated kitchen scales on Amazon →

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Substitutes for vanilla extract

Equal vanilla bean paste, or ½ tsp vanilla powder per 1 tsp extract
Vanilla bean paste leaves visible seed flecks (nice in custards, ice cream, frostings). Vanilla powder is for recipes where additional liquid would change texture.
Equal maple syrup, dark rum, or bourbon
Last resort — flavor changes noticeably. Maple is the closest substitute in baked goods; rum or bourbon adds warmth that suits chocolate, caramel, and fruit desserts.

See all vanilla extract substitutes, ratios and sources →

Vanilla extract conversions: FAQ

Why doesn't a teaspoon of vanilla extract weigh the same as a teaspoon of water?

A teaspoon measures volume, not weight. Vanilla extract is less dense than water (about 4.33 g versus 4.9 g per teaspoon), so the same volume has a different weight. Weighing in grams is the most accurate way to measure it.

Common vanilla extract conversions

Quick-answer pages for the conversions people search for most.

¼ tsp to grams

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract ≈ 1.08 g

½ tsp to grams

½ teaspoon vanilla extract ≈ 2.17 g

1 tsp to grams

1 teaspoon vanilla extract ≈ 4.33 g

2 tsp to grams

2 teaspoons vanilla extract ≈ 8.67 g

½ tbsp to grams

½ tablespoon vanilla extract ≈ 6.5 g

1 tbsp to grams

1 tablespoon vanilla extract ≈ 13 g

2 tbsp to grams

2 tablespoons vanilla extract ≈ 26 g

3 tbsp to grams

3 tablespoons vanilla extract ≈ 39 g

Related converters

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* Conversion figures are typical average weights for one US customary cup (236.6 ml), based on the King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart and cross-referenced with the U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central database. Actual weight varies with packing, brand and humidity — see our methodology.