Honey Nutrition Facts: Calories in a Teaspoon and Tablespoon (USDA)

A tablespoon of honey (21 g) has about 64 calories and 17 g of sugars. A teaspoon has about 21 calories. Honey is mostly fructose and glucose, with about 17% water, which is one reason it keeps so well (see does honey go bad?). The figures here come from the USDA’s FoodData Central database.

Honey nutrition facts

Nutrient	Per 1 tsp (7 g)	Per 1 tbsp (21 g)	Per 100 g
Energy	21 kcal	64 kcal (267 kJ)	304 kcal (1,272 kJ)
Carbohydrate	5.8 g	17.3 g	82.4 g
Total sugars	5.7 g	17.2 g	82.1 g
of which fructose	2.9 g	8.6 g	40.9 g
of which glucose	2.5 g	7.5 g	35.8 g
Water	1.2 g	3.6 g	17.1 g
Protein	0.02 g	0.06 g	0.3 g
Fat	0 g	0 g	0 g
Potassium	3.6 mg	10.9 mg	52 mg
Sodium	0.3 mg	0.8 mg	4 mg

Calories in honey vs sugar

By weight, honey has fewer calories than table sugar because about 17% of honey is water. By the spoonful, it’s the other way round: honey is denser than granulated sugar, so a tablespoon of honey weighs more and carries more calories. USDA lists a tablespoon of honey at 21 g. Either way, honey is a sugar; our honey substitute guide compares honey with sugar and maple syrup in recipes. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans count honey as an added sugar, the same as table sugar and syrups.

What is in honey besides sugar?

Very little by weight. Honey contains small amounts of minerals, such as potassium, plus traces of amino acids, acids and aroma compounds that give each floral honey its character. In nutrition terms these amounts are tiny per spoonful. The difference between honeys that you notice is mainly taste, colour and texture. Thyme honey, for example, is prized for its floral, herbal aroma; see Greek thyme honey.

Does raw or creamed honey change the nutrition?

Not meaningfully. Creamed honey is honey that has been crystallised in a controlled way to make it spreadable; its sugars are the same. See creamed honey vs liquid honey and is creamed honey dairy free? “Raw” describes how a honey has been handled and is not a nutrition claim (see raw honey vs regular honey). The label on your jar is the authority for that product, such as our Kalymnos raw thyme honey, 450 g.

Who should not eat honey

Don’t give honey to babies under 12 months, because of the risk of infant botulism (CDC). If you manage blood sugar or follow a specific diet, count honey as sugar and ask your doctor or a registered dietitian for advice. We share nutrition data for information only; it isn’t medical advice.

Serve a little honey the Greek way with Greek yogurt and walnuts, or browse the Greek honey collection.

Sources

• USDA FoodData Central: Honey (FDC 169640)
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 (PDF)
• CDC: Foods and drinks to avoid or limit for infants

Honey nutrition: frequently asked questions