How this calculator works
Brine strength here is salt as a percentage of the water’s weight. One US quart of water weighs about 946 g, so the calculator converts quarts to grams and multiplies by your percentage. Volume measures depend heavily on the salt’s crystal size, which is why each salt type has its own conversion.
Water (g) = Quarts × 946.35
Salt (g) = Water × Strength% ÷ 100
Tbsp = Salt (g) ÷ grams per tablespoon (by salt type)
Assumptions and tips
- Spoon conversions are approximate averages; a kitchen scale gives consistent results.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Water | 4 quarts |
| Salt strength | 5 % of water weight |
| Sugar (optional) | 0 % of water weight |
| Salt type | Diamond Crystal kosher (≈8.4 g/tbsp) |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Salt | 189 g |
| Salt, approx. volume | 22.5 tbsp (≈ 1.41 cups) |
| Water weight | 3,785 g |
Step by step:
- Water = 4 qt × 946.35 = 3,785 g
- Salt = 3,785 × 5% = 189.3 g
- Volume ≈ 189.3 ÷ 8.4 g/tbsp = 22.5 tbsp
Salt per gallon of water
One gallon (4 qt), Diamond Crystal kosher salt.
| Strength | Grams | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | 76 g | 9 tbsp (≈ 0.56 cups) |
| 3% | 114 g | 13.5 tbsp (≈ 0.84 cups) |
| 5% | 189 g | 22.5 tbsp (≈ 1.41 cups) |
| 6% | 227 g | 27 tbsp (≈ 1.69 cups) |
| 10% | 379 g | 45.1 tbsp (≈ 2.82 cups) |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Swapping table salt for kosher salt by volume — table salt is roughly twice as salty per spoon.
Frequently asked questions
How much salt for a turkey brine?
A 5% brine for 2 gallons (8 quarts) of water is about 379 g of salt — roughly 45 tbsp of Diamond Crystal kosher salt or 21 tbsp of table salt.
Why does salt brand matter?
Diamond Crystal’s flaky crystals take up far more space than table salt, so a tablespoon weighs about half as much.