How many grams in a cup of sugar?
198 grams for granulated, but powdered weighs almost half.
A US cup of granulated white sugar weighs 198 grams. Confectioners' sugar weighs only 113 g and packed brown sugar 213 g: three sugars, three very different weights.
By sugar type
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| Sugar | 1 US cup (g) | 1 metric cup (g) | 1 tbsp (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granulated white sugar | 198 | 209 | 12.6 |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 213 | 225 | 13.5 |
| Confectioners' (icing) sugar | 113 | 119 | 7.2 |
| Demerara / turbinado | 220 | 232 | 14.0 |
| Coconut sugar | 154 | 163 | 9.8 |
| Honey | 336 | 355 | 21.3 |
| Maple syrup | 312 | 330 | 19.8 |
| Molasses | 322 | 340 | 20.4 |
Why powdered sugar weighs so much less
Confectioners' sugar is very finely milled, and that powder traps a great deal of air between particles. A cup holds far less actual sugar than a cup of granulated: 113 g against 198. Swapping one for the other cup for cup leaves a noticeably less sweet dessert.
Brown sugar goes in packed
It is the one kitchen ingredient measured by pressing. When a recipe says "1 cup packed brown sugar", it means pressing it into the cup until it holds its shape when turned out. Loose, it would weigh about 145 g instead of 213: 32 % less.
Common amounts of granulated sugar
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| Amount | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 50 g |
| 1/3 cup | 66 g |
| 1/2 cup | 99 g |
| 3/4 cup | 149 g |
| 1 cup | 198 g |
| 2 cups | 396 g |
Sugar is not only sweetness
In baking, sugar contributes structure, moisture and colour. Halving it does not just reduce sweetness: it changes texture, browning and shelf life. If you want to cut it, do so gradually and expect a different result, not merely a less sweet one.
Sources and methodology
Weights for solid ingredients come from the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart, consulted in September 2026, measured by the spoon-and-level method. Liquids use their documented physical density. Every value and its source is listed in the ingredient table.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 2 cups of sugar?
396 grams of granulated white sugar in US cups, or 418 g in metric cups.
How many cups is 200 g of sugar?
Just over one US cup: 1.01 cups. Effectively one level cup.
Does a cup of powdered sugar weigh the same?
Not remotely: 113 g against 198 g for granulated. Powdered sugar traps a lot of air between its particles.
How do you measure brown sugar?
Packed: press it into the cup until it holds its shape. That gives 213 g per cup; loose it would be about 145 g.
How many grams in a tablespoon of sugar?
12.6 g of granulated sugar in a level 15 ml tablespoon.