Salt Conversion Calculator

Why the same spoon of salt is not the same salt

A teaspoon measures volume, but saltiness comes from mass. Morton says that different types of salt measure differently because of variations in crystal size and density. Thus a teaspoon of kosher salt holds fewer grams than a teaspoon of table salt. Diamond Crystal is the lightest of the three: 1 tsp weighs 2.8 g, and 1 tsp of table salt weighs 6.0 g. If you use Diamond Crystal spoon for spoon in a recipe that was written for table salt, the dish gets less than half of the salt (2.8 / 6.0 = 0.47).

This converter keeps the spoons and changes the number. A kitchen scale gives the most exact result.

The gram weights this calculator uses

The teaspoon values come from three USDA FoodData Central records. The cup value of table salt is the FDC value. The cup values of the two kosher salts are calculated (48 × the teaspoon value).

FDC 173468 gives 1 cup of table salt as 292.0 g. 48 tsp × 6.0 g is 288 g. This page uses the FDC value 292.0 g for a cup of table salt and does not mix the two values. FDC gives no cup value for the two kosher salts, so their cup values are calculated as 48 × the teaspoon value.

The two brand values are label values. FDC lists Morton coarse kosher salt as 1.2 g per 1/4 tsp and Diamond Crystal kosher salt as 0.7 g per 1/4 tsp. The FDA label rule 21 CFR 101.9(b)(7)(ii) states a serving below 2 g in 0.1 g steps. Thus 1/4 tsp of Morton can weigh 1.15 to 1.25 g (4.6 to 5.0 g per tsp, about 4 percent up or down). 1/4 tsp of Diamond Crystal can weigh 0.65 to 0.75 g (2.6 to 3.0 g per tsp, about 7 percent up or down). All values are label and reference values. A kitchen scale gives the most exact result.

Salt to salt conversion table

If a recipe calls for 1 unit of the salt in the left column, use this much of the salt across the top. The swap is by equal weight in grams. The cup row uses the FDC cup value of table salt, 292.0 g.

The Morton salt conversion chart gives these swaps: for 1 tablespoon of table salt, use 1 tablespoon plus 3/4 teaspoon of Morton kosher salt. For 1 cup of table salt, use 1 1/4 cups of Morton kosher salt. The teaspoon and tablespoon ratio from the FDC gram weights (1.25) agrees with this chart. For cups, the FDC cup value of table salt gives 1.27.

How to use the calculator

By volume: set "Salt in the recipe" to the salt that the recipe names. Type the amount from the recipe and select its unit. Set "Salt you will use" to the salt in your kitchen. The converter gives the same weight of your salt in the same unit.

By weight: if you have a kitchen scale, select grams and weigh the salt. Equal weight is not exactly equal sodium. FDC gives 38,758 mg sodium per 100 g for table salt and 40,000 mg per 100 g for both kosher salts, so the calculator shows the sodium of each amount.

Frequently asked questions

How much Diamond Crystal kosher salt equals 1 teaspoon of table salt?

About 2 1/8 teaspoons. Table salt weighs 6.0 g per teaspoon (FDC 173468) and Diamond Crystal weighs 2.8 g per teaspoon (FDC 2571981), so you need 6.0 / 2.8 = 2.14 times the volume.

What is the Morton kosher salt to table salt conversion?

Multiply a table salt amount by 1.25 to get Morton coarse kosher salt by volume, or multiply a Morton amount by 0.8 to get table salt. The Morton salt conversion chart also gives 1 1/4 teaspoons of kosher salt for 1 teaspoon of table salt.

Why does a teaspoon of kosher salt weigh less?

Morton says that different types of salt measure differently because of variations in crystal size and density. FDC gives 6.0 g per teaspoon for table salt, 4.8 g for Morton coarse kosher salt and 2.8 g for Diamond Crystal.

Does the same weight give the same sodium?

Almost, but not exactly. FDC gives 38,758 mg sodium per 100 g for table salt and 40,000 mg per 100 g for both kosher salts. The calculator shows the sodium of each amount separately.

Method and sources

Gram weights per teaspoon were taken from USDA FoodData Central entries and manufacturer-published label serving sizes, fetched October 29, 2026:

• Table salt: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy record "Salt, table", FDC ID 173468 (4/1/2019): 6.0 g per tsp, 18.0 g per tbsp, 292.0 g per cup, 38,758 mg sodium per 100 g (the FDC website rounds it to 38,800). USDA FoodData Central
• Morton coarse kosher salt: Branded record of Morton Salt, Inc., "KOSHER COARSE SALT, KOSHER", FDC ID 2617978 (published 8/31/2023): serving 1/4 tsp = 1.2 g, 480 mg sodium per serving. FDC calculates 40,000 mg sodium per 100 g from this rounded label serving. USDA FoodData Central
• Diamond Crystal kosher salt: Branded record of Cargill Incorporated/Salt Business Unit, "KOSHER SALT, KOSHER", FDC ID 2571981 (published 6/29/2023): serving 1/4 tsp = 0.7 g, 280 mg sodium per serving. FDC calculates 40,000 mg sodium per 100 g from this rounded label serving. USDA FoodData Central
• Morton conversion chart: Morton’s published salt conversion chart, used as a cross-check on the derived ratios. mortonsalt.com
• Volume units: NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B.8 (its mL factors give 1 tbsp = 3 tsp and 1 cup = 48 tsp). nist.gov

Derived figures: the cup values of the two kosher salts are the teaspoon weights × 48. The cup value of table salt is the FDC value 292.0 g. Sodium values are the grams of each amount × the FDC sodium per gram of that salt (387.58 mg for table salt, 400 mg for each kosher salt). Ratios in the conversion table are divisions of the gram weights, rounded for display only.

The calculations are arithmetic on the published values above. The sources above are the authority for the inputs.