How many calories are in a teaspoon of sugar?

A level teaspoon of sugar (about 4 g) has around 16 kcal.

How many teaspoons of sugar are in a can of cola?

A 330 ml can of full-sugar cola has about 35 g of sugar, which is around 9 teaspoons and 140 kcal.

Calories in a teaspoon of sugar

A level teaspoon of granulated sugar weighs about 4 g and has 16 kcal. A heaped teaspoon is closer to 24.

By the Calori team · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Sugar calories by portion

Portion	Calories	Carbs
Sugar cube (3.5 g)	14 kcal	3.5 g
Level teaspoon (4 g)	16 kcal	4 g
Heaped teaspoon (6 g)	24 kcal	6 g
Level tablespoon (12.5 g)	50 kcal	12.5 g

Sugar nutrition per 100 g

Energy	400 kcal (1674 kJ)
Protein	0 g
Carbohydrate	100 g
of which sugars	100 g
Fat	0 g
Fibre	0 g

Typical values. Carbohydrate excludes fibre, as on UK food labels. Brands and varieties differ, so check the label where there is one.

Sugar in tea and coffee

Two heaped teaspoons in each of four cups of tea a day is around 190 kcal, or about 1,300 kcal a week. Cutting down gradually, or switching to a sweetener, is one of the simplest changes you can make.

How much sugar is too much?

The NHS advises adults to have no more than 30 g of free sugars a day, about 7 level teaspoons. That includes sugar added to food and drinks, honey, syrups and fruit juice.

Log it without looking it up

Calori recognises foods like this from a photo and estimates the portion, so you can log a whole plate in one go. Set your daily target with our calorie calculator.

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Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a teaspoon of sugar?: A level teaspoon of sugar (about 4 g) has around 16 kcal.
How many teaspoons of sugar are in a can of cola?: A 330 ml can of full-sugar cola has about 35 g of sugar, which is around 9 teaspoons and 140 kcal.