Powdered Sugar: Complete Cup to Gram Conversion

1 cup of powdered sugar weighs 120g (spooned, USDA standard) or varies by measuring technique. See the full 16-interval conversion table for all amounts below.

1/4 cup
30g
1/2 cup
60g
1 cup
120g

Powdered Sugar Conversion Table

1 cup powdered sugar = 120g (USDA FoodData Central basis. 1 cup = 240ml)

AmountGrams (g)Ounces (oz)Milliliters (ml)
1/8 cup15g0.53 oz30 ml
1/4 cup30g1.06 oz60 ml
1/3 cup40g1.41 oz80 ml
1/2 cup60g2.12 oz120 ml
2/3 cup80g2.82 oz160 ml
3/4 cup90g3.17 oz180 ml
1 cup1 cup120g4.23 oz240 ml
1 1/4 cups150g5.29 oz300 ml
1 1/2 cups180g6.35 oz360 ml
1 2/3 cups200g7.05 oz400 ml
2 cups240g8.47 oz480 ml
2 1/2 cups300g10.58 oz600 ml
3 cups360g12.7 oz720 ml
3 1/2 cups420g14.82 oz840 ml
4 cups480g16.93 oz960 ml

Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy. Values shown for spooned (not packed) measurement unless specified.

Powdered Sugar vs Other Sugar Types

Different types of sugar vary in weight per cup due to different densities.

Sugar Type1 Cup (g)Density (g/ml)
Powdered Sugarcurrent120g0.5
Granulated Sugar200g0.833
Brown Sugar (packed)220g0.917
Caster Sugar210g0.875

Why Does 1 Cup of Powdered Sugar Vary?

The weight of 1 cup depends on how you measure. USDA standard (spooned) = 120g.

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Spooned & Leveled

Spoon the ingredient into the measuring cup, then level off with a straight edge. This is the standard method used by USDA FoodData Central.

Reference weight
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Sifted

Sift the ingredient first, then spoon into the cup. Sifting aerates the ingredient, reducing weight by 10-20%.

~10-20% lighter
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Scooped (packed)

Dip the cup directly into the bag and pack. This is the most inaccurate method — can be 20-30% heavier than spooned.

~20-30% heavier

About Powdered Sugar Density

Powdered sugar (confectioners sugar, icing sugar) is much lighter than granulated. 1 cup unsifted = 120g. Sifted: ~100g. Always sift before using to remove lumps. Used for frosting, dusting, and recipes requiring smooth texture.

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Pro tip: For consistent baking results, use a kitchen scale. Weight measurements eliminate the variability of cup measurement entirely. USDA values shown are based on the spooned & leveled method.

Powdered Sugar: Grams to Cups Conversion

Convert powdered sugar from grams back to cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons.

GramsCupsTablespoonsTeaspoons
25g0.21 cups3.33 tbsp10 tsp
50g0.42 cups6.67 tbsp20 tsp
100g0.83 cups13.33 tbsp40 tsp
150g1.25 cups20 tbsp60 tsp
200g1.67 cups26.67 tbsp80 tsp
250g2.08 cups33.33 tbsp100 tsp
300g2.5 cups40 tbsp120 tsp
400g3.33 cups53.33 tbsp160 tsp
500g4.17 cups66.67 tbsp200 tsp

Based on 1 cup powdered sugar = 120g (USDA standard, spooned & leveled). 16 tablespoons = 1 cup. 48 teaspoons = 1 cup.

Related Ingredients

Data source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy (FDC ID: 19336). View original USDA record

Direct Conversion Pages for Powdered Sugar

Each page focuses on one conversion direction with a dedicated table.

More Conversion Charts