Cups to Grams Sugar Converter
Convert cups of sugar to grams, or grams to cups, using a stated ingredient preparation and approximate portion weight with US or 250 mL metric cups.
Convert a measured sugar volume to approximate grams using a clearly selected sugar form. White granulated, packed brown, unpacked brown and unsifted powdered sugar have different USDA household portion weights. A reverse mode estimates cups from grams using the same assumptions.
How to use this tool
- Choose the direction and enter cups or grams accordingly.
- Select the sugar type and whether the brown sugar is packed.
- Choose US customary or 250 mL metric cups.
- Read the result together with its stated mass per selected cup.
Formula
Grams = cups × reference mass × selected cup volume / 236.5882365; reverse cups = grams / mass per selected cup
USDA reference weights per household cup are 200 g granulated, 220 g packed brown, 145 g unpacked brown and 120 g unsifted powdered sugar. This calculator treats that reference as a US customary cup and scales metric estimates by volume.
Example
1.5 US customary cups of white granulated sugar gives 1.5 × 200 = 300 g. One US cup of packed brown sugar gives 220 g, while the unpacked reference gives 145 g. The preparation selection therefore changes the conversion substantially.
Frequently asked questions
Can I substitute one sugar for another using the same grams?
The conversion estimates mass only. Moisture, crystal size, added starch and flavor can affect a recipe differently. An equal mass is not a promise of equivalent sweetness, texture or baking performance.
Does packed brown sugar mean pressed into the cup?
Yes. The packed and unpacked references represent different amounts occupying a cup. Use the condition intended by your recipe, rather than selecting a figure simply because it is larger or smaller.
Why is powdered sugar different from granulated?
Its fine particles and air spaces give a different bulk portion weight. This model is specifically unsifted powdered sugar; sifting and settling may change the mass of a measured cup.
Does a metric cup always contain 250 g of sugar?
No. It specifies 250 mL of volume, not 250 g of mass. The model scales the reference sugar mass by the cup-volume ratio. A scale avoids uncertainty from packing and measuring technique.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-10-30