A cup of sugar sounds simple, but the weight depends on which sugar you're using. Granulated white sugar weighs 200 grams per cup, packed brown sugar weighs 220 grams, and powdered sugar only 120 grams — nearly half the weight of granulated. Liquid sweeteners like honey (340 g/cup) and maple syrup (312 g/cup) are much heavier still.
This converter handles all common sugars and syrups. Pick your sweetener, enter the cups (or grams for reverse conversion), and get an instant, accurate result. Perfect for adapting recipes between volume and weight measurements.
For baking, getting sugar amounts right matters more than you might think — too much sugar changes texture, browning, and moisture. A kitchen scale and this converter keep your ratios exact.
How to Use
1. Granulated sugar is pre-selected — choose a different sweetener if needed
2. Enter cups or use the fraction quick-buttons
3. Read the gram result instantly
4. Switch to "Grams → Cups" for reverse conversion
5. Check the reference table for common sugar amounts
Formula
Grams of sugar = Cups × Grams per cup for that sugar type
Common sugar weights per cup:
Granulated sugar: 200 g/cup
Brown sugar (packed): 220 g/cup
Powdered sugar: 120 g/cup
Honey: 340 g/cup
Maple syrup: 312 g/cup
Molasses: 328 g/cup
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams in 1 cup of sugar?
One cup of granulated (white) sugar weighs 200 grams or 7.1 ounces. Sugar is denser than flour because the crystals pack together more tightly, leaving less air space.
How many grams in a cup of brown sugar?
One cup of packed brown sugar weighs 220 grams. The key word is 'packed' — press the brown sugar firmly into the measuring cup so there are no air pockets. Unpacked brown sugar weighs significantly less and will throw off your recipe.
What's the difference between packed and unpacked brown sugar?
Packed brown sugar is pressed firmly into the cup until level — this is the standard measurement used in recipes. Unpacked (loosely scooped) brown sugar weighs roughly 145-165 grams per cup. If a recipe says 'brown sugar,' it almost always means packed unless stated otherwise.
How many grams in a cup of powdered sugar?
One cup of powdered (confectioners') sugar weighs 120 grams. Powdered sugar is much lighter per cup than granulated because it's ground to a fine powder with added cornstarch, creating lots of air space. If a recipe calls for 'sifted powdered sugar,' sift first then measure — the result will weigh even less.
How much does a cup of honey weigh?
One cup of honey weighs 340 grams (12 oz). Honey is very dense compared to dry sugars. When measuring honey in cups, spray the cup with cooking oil first — the honey will slide right out instead of sticking. Or just weigh it on a scale.
Can I substitute sugar types by weight?
Not directly. While you can convert cups to grams for any sugar, substituting one sugar for another changes sweetness, moisture, and texture. Brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar (use about 75% as much). Powdered sugar contains cornstarch. Always follow a tested substitution ratio, not just equal weight.