How much Protein Powder is REALLY in a tablespoon?

Let me guess, you’ve either lost your supplement scoop or your protein supplement brand doesn’t provide one in their packaging? The good news is we have all the answers you’re looking for plus we have a solution which ensures you can accurately scoop your supplements with no more guesswork.

How many grams is a tablespoon?

Did you know that tablespoons vary in size depending on where you are in the world and which brand of tablespoon you’re using?

Australia - 20mL
United States - 14.8mL
United Kingdom - 15mL

It can get quite tricky unless you know where your tablespoon was manufactured or which region it was intended for. You’ll notice a lot of supplement brands will have a recommended dosage of ‘approximately 2 or 3 tablespoons’ for this very reason. They aren’t able to guarantee an exact size due to the ambiguity of this unit of measurement.

How to convert mL’s to grams of Protein?

Although every protein powder has a slightly different density, the general conversion is 1 gram of protein for every 2 mL. So if we use an Australian tablespoon which has a 20mL capacity, this would equate to 10 grams of protein. Simply put, divide the mL’s by 2!

The technical answer:
Converting mL’s to grams is actually more complicated than you might think. Protein powder assumes a density of 0.5 grams per cubic milliliter. We’re converting volume (size) to density (weight) and assuming all dry protein powder is identical in density. The good news is the international standard for protein powder density is 0.5 grams per cubic milliliter. Typically disposable supplement scoops in protein packaging are either 60cc (60mL) or 80cc (80mL). So once divided in half this equates to a 30 gram or a 40 gram scoop.

Heaped or Flat tablespoon?

It’s very difficult to ensure your tablespoon is holding the same amount of protein every time - A flat tablespoon assumes you’re flattening off to the edge of the spoon, while a heaped tablespoon assumes any level above the edge of the spoon. Generally speaking if it isn’t mentioned, a flat tablespoon is the standard unit of measure.

Australian Tbsp (Flat) - 10 grams of Protein Powder
Australian Tbsp (Heaped) - Greater than 10 grams of Protein Powder

How can I accurately measure my Protein Powder?

At Pro Scoop we’ve designed the world’s first shaker bottle with a built-in, reusable supplement scoop! Accurately and conveniently scoop your supplements in second with our patented scoop system designed right here in Melbourne, Australia.

Our built-in scoop has a 30 gram capacity with embossed measurement lines at the 5, 10, 20 & 30 gram mark. You can scoop with confidence knowing exactly how much protein you’re scooping each and every time.