Calculate grams of sugar to cups, compare sugar types, or convert cups, tablespoons, and mL back to grams for baking with US or metric cups.
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Grams of Sugar to Cups Formula
The calculator converts between weight and volume using the density of each sugar type. The base reference is grams per US cup.
- Cups: result in the chosen cup standard (US or metric).
- Grams: weight of sugar after converting from g, kg, oz, or lb.
- gPerUsCup: density of the sugar type in grams per US cup.
- CupVolume_mL: 236.5882365 mL for a US cup, 250 mL for a metric cup.
- Volume_mL: input volume converted to milliliters (1 US cup = 236.5882365 mL, 1 tbsp = US cup / 16, 1 tsp = US cup / 48).
The Grams to cups mode applies the first formula and also returns US tablespoons, milliliters and a kitchen fraction. Compare sugar types applies the reference estimates to all seven sugar types. Volume to grams estimates mass from cups, spoons or mL. Preset cup masses are editable; scooped volume cannot guarantee baking accuracy.
Sugar Density Reference
These approximate gram-per-US-cup estimates come from King Arthur’s ingredient chart (granulated, caster/superfine, packed brown, unsifted powdered and turbinado) and USDA SR28 food references (unpacked brown and sifted powdered). Different references, products and measuring methods can give different values. For the sifted preset, sift before measuring; pack brown sugar only for the packed preset.
| Sugar type | g per US cup | g per metric cup |
|---|---|---|
| Granulated white | 198 | 209 |
| Caster / superfine | 190 | 201 |
| Brown sugar, packed | 213 | 225 |
| Brown sugar, unpacked | 145 | 153 |
| Powdered / confectioners | 113 | 119 |
| Icing sugar, sifted | 100 | 106 |
| Raw / turbinado | 180 | 190 |
Common Gram Amounts in Cups
Quick lookup for granulated white sugar in US cups.
| Grams | US cups | Kitchen measure |
|---|---|---|
| 25 g | 0.1263 | 2 tbsp |
| 50 g | 0.2525 | 1/4 cup |
| 100 g | 0.5051 | 1/2 cup |
| 150 g | 0.7576 | 3/4 cup |
| 200 g | 1.0101 | 1 cup |
| 250 g | 1.2626 | 1 1/4 cups |
| 500 g | 2.5253 | 2 1/2 cups |
| 1000 g | 5.0505 | 5 1/16 cups |
Worked Examples
Example 1: 150 g of granulated sugar to US cups. The granulated reference is 198 g per US cup. Cups = 150 / 198 ≈ 0.7576 US cup, approximately 3/4 cup.
Example 2: 100 g of powdered sugar to metric cups. The unsifted powdered-sugar reference is 113 g per US cup, or 113 × (250 / 236.5882365) ≈ 119.4058 g per metric cup. Cups = 100 / 119.4058 ≈ 0.8375 metric cup; the nearest 1/16-cup kitchen estimate is 13/16 metric cup.
FAQ
Why does brown sugar have two values? Most recipes call for packed brown sugar, where you press it into the cup. Unpacked brown sugar is measured without pressing it down. The selected reference estimates are 213 g packed and 145 g unpacked per US cup; actual products and packing can differ.
Is a US cup the same as a metric cup? No. A US cup is 236.5882365 mL and a metric cup is 250 mL. The difference is small but matters for larger amounts.
Should I use cups or grams for baking? Grams. A digital scale removes the variation that comes from how tightly you scoop. Use cup conversions for quick reference, not precision work.
Why is sifted icing sugar lighter? Sifting breaks up clumps and adds air, so less sugar fits in the same cup. The sifted-before-measuring reference is 100 g per cup; the chosen unsifted King Arthur reference is 113 g per US cup. These are approximate reference values, and measuring before versus after sifting matters.
