1 Clove of Garlic Equals How Much Garlic Powder?
McCormick's cooking guidance puts one medium clove at 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder, while McCormick's Gourmet Organic garlic powder page says 1/4 teaspoon, so the converter shows both.
Quick answers for common clove counts
Tap a count to load it into the converter. Amounts assume medium cloves.
Garlic and ginger converter
Garlic powder is concentrated, and McCormick suggests starting with the smaller amount and seasoning to taste. If you're unsure which standard to use, begin with the lighter amount. You can always add more.
Conversions are flavor guidance. Grinds and brands vary, so taste as you go.
On this page
Garlic clove conversion chart
| Fresh garlic | Garlic powder, lighter | Weight | Garlic powder, fuller | Weight | Granulated garlic | Dried minced garlic | Jarred minced garlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 clove | 1/8 tsp | 0.4 g | 1/4 tsp | 0.8 g | 1/4 tsp | 1/2 tsp | 1/2 tsp |
| 2 cloves | 1/4 tsp | 0.8 g | 1/2 tsp | 1.6 g | 1/2 tsp | 1 tsp | 1 tsp |
| 3 cloves | 3/8 tsp | 1.2 g | 3/4 tsp | 2.3 g | 3/4 tsp | 1 1/2 tsp | 1 1/2 tsp |
| 4 cloves | 1/2 tsp | 1.6 g | 1 tsp | 3.1 g | 1 tsp | 2 tsp | 2 tsp |
| 5 cloves | 5/8 tsp | 1.9 g | 1 1/4 tsp | 3.9 g | 1 1/4 tsp | 2 1/2 tsp | 2 1/2 tsp |
| 6 cloves | 3/4 tsp | 2.3 g | 1 1/2 tsp | 4.7 g | 1 1/2 tsp | 1 tbsp | 1 tbsp |
| 7 cloves | 7/8 tsp | 2.7 g | 1 3/4 tsp | 5.4 g | 1 3/4 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1/2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1/2 tsp |
| 8 cloves | 1 tsp | 3.1 g | 2 tsp | 6.2 g | 2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 tsp |
| 9 cloves | 1 1/8 tsp | 3.5 g | 2 1/4 tsp | 7.0 g | 2 1/4 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp |
| 10 cloves | 1 1/4 tsp | 3.9 g | 2 1/2 tsp | 7.8 g | 2 1/2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 2 tsp | 1 tbsp + 2 tsp |
Medium cloves. Garlic powder standards from McCormick's articles (lighter) and Gourmet Organic garlic powder page (fuller). Other forms from Julie Blanner's garlic conversion guide. Weights from USDA FoodData Central (garlic powder, 3.1 g per tsp).
Grams are only shown for garlic powder, the one form USDA FoodData Central lists.
Fresh ginger to ground ginger
The Spice House uses 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger for every 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger. Choose Ginger in the converter to run any amount in either direction.
Ratio from The Spice House. Ground ginger weight from USDA FoodData Central (1.8 g per tsp).
| Fresh grated ginger | Ground ginger | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tsp fresh | less than 1/8 tsp | 0.2 g |
| 1 tbsp fresh | 1/4 tsp | 0.5 g |
| 2 tbsp fresh | 1/2 tsp | 0.9 g |
How the conversion works
For fresh to dried, the converter multiplies the number of cloves by the amount of dried garlic one medium clove replaces. For dried to fresh, it divides your dried amount by that same figure and rounds to the nearest half clove.
Results under 3 teaspoons round to the nearest 1/8 teaspoon, and larger amounts round to the nearest 1/4 teaspoon and show in tablespoons. The exact figure appears under each result so you can see the rounding.
Worked example: 6 medium cloves
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Garlic powder, lighter | 6 x 1/8 tsp = 3/4 tsp (2.3 g) |
| Garlic powder, fuller | 6 x 1/4 tsp = 1 1/2 tsp (4.7 g) |
| Granulated garlic | 6 x 1/4 tsp = 1 1/2 tsp |
| Jarred minced garlic | 6 x 1/2 tsp = 1 tbsp |
Weights use USDA's 3.1 g per teaspoon for garlic powder.
Garlic powder substitute: what to use instead
The best garlic powder substitute is whichever form you already have, because every form on this page converts in both directions, so the converter answers this too: set Direction to Dried to fresh and pick the form you have. The table below is the short version.
| Use instead | How much | Ratio from |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh garlic | 1 clove per 1/8 tsp, or 1/2 clove per 1/8 tsp on the fuller standard | McCormick |
| Granulated garlic | Use twice as much: 1/4 tsp granulated for each 1/8 tsp of garlic powder | Julie Blanner |
| Dried minced garlic | Crush it to a powder first, then use an equal measure | McCormick |
| Jarred minced garlic | 4 times as much: 1/2 tsp jarred for each 1/8 tsp of garlic powder | Julie Blanner |
| Garlic salt | 4 times as much, and cut other salt in the recipe to match | Julie Blanner |
What to use in place of garlic powder, worked from the same published ratios as the converter above. Amounts are per 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder, McCormick's lighter standard.
Two things worth knowing. Jarred minced garlic carries water, so it will loosen a dry rub; use it in sauces and marinades rather than a spice blend. Garlic salt is mostly salt, so treat it as a salt swap as much as a garlic one, and check the salt equivalents table before adding more.
Why the sources disagree
McCormick's guide to garlic and its garlic powder flavor story both use 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder per medium clove. McCormick's Gourmet Organic garlic powder page uses 1/4 teaspoon per clove in its product description, even though a tip image on that same page shows 1/8 teaspoon.
Garlic powders differ by product, and cloves differ in size, so neither figure is wrong. The converter shows both so you can pick the strength that suits the dish.
How this was checked
Cedrick Reese built this converter for Ready Utilities. Each ratio comes from the McCormick, Julie Blanner, and The Spice House pages linked below, the math uses standard US kitchen measures, and gram weights come from USDA FoodData Central's SR Legacy data. The ratios are rechecked against those pages when the site's data is reviewed, and forms USDA doesn't cover show no gram weight rather than an estimate.
- McCormick: About Garlic
- McCormick: Flavor Story, Garlic Powder
- McCormick Gourmet Organic Garlic Powder
- Julie Blanner: Garlic Conversion Guide
- The Spice House: Ginger Substitute
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. FoodData Central.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use garlic powder instead of garlic cloves?
Yes. McCormick's cooking articles use 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder for each medium clove, and its Gourmet Organic garlic powder page uses 1/4 teaspoon. Start with the smaller amount and add more to taste.
Is granulated garlic the same as garlic powder?
Both are dried garlic, but they don't swap one for one by volume. Julie Blanner's conversion guide uses 1/4 teaspoon of granulated garlic per clove, compared with 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.
How much jarred minced garlic equals a clove?
Julie Blanner's conversion guide uses 1/2 teaspoon of jarred minced garlic for each clove.
Does garlic salt work as a substitute?
It can, but it adds salt as well as garlic. Julie Blanner's conversion guide uses 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt per clove, so cut back on other salt in the recipe.
How much ground ginger replaces fresh ginger?
The Spice House uses 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger for every 1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger.
What is a good garlic powder substitute?
Fresh garlic is the closest: one medium clove replaces 1/8 teaspoon, on McCormick's lighter standard. Granulated garlic takes twice the volume, jarred minced garlic four times, and dried minced garlic works in an equal measure once crushed to a powder.