How Many Grams Are in a Cup of Sugar?

How many grams are in 1 cup of each sugar type?

According to King Arthur Baking's ingredient weight chart, different sugars weigh different amounts per US cup. Granulated white sugar weighs 200 g per cup. Brown sugar (packed) weighs 213 g per cup. Powdered sugar (confectioners) weighs 113 g per cup. Coconut sugar weighs 145 g per cup. Turbinado sugar (raw sugar) weighs 191 g per cup. Demerara sugar weighs 192 g per cup. Date sugar weighs 100 g per cup. Maple sugar weighs 184 g per cup. Stevia powder weighs about 6 g per cup (much lighter than other sugars due to its concentration). These weights assume properly filled cups: granulated and crystalline sugars scooped and leveled, brown sugar firmly packed. Stevia and powdered sugar should be spooned in gently rather than scooped, since they compact significantly under pressure.

Why do sugar types weigh different amounts per cup?

The weight differences come down to crystal size, density, and moisture content. Granulated white sugar has a uniform crystal structure that packs evenly into a measuring cup. Powdered sugar is ground much finer, which traps more air between particles and results in lower density per cup. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture and weight while causing particles to cling together when packed. Coconut sugar and turbinado sugar have larger, less uniform crystals than granulated sugar, which traps more air. Date sugar is dried, ground dates rather than crystalline sugar, with a fibrous structure that weighs less per volume. Stevia powder is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so recipes use tiny fractional amounts.

How does sugar weight scale through tablespoons and teaspoons?

For granulated sugar: 1 tsp is 4 g, 1 tbsp is 12.5 g, 1/4 cup is 50 g, 1/2 cup is 100 g, 3/4 cup is 150 g, and 1 cup is 200 g. For brown sugar (packed): 1 tbsp is 13 g, 1/4 cup is 53 g, 1/2 cup is 106 g, and 1 cup is 213 g. For powdered sugar: 1 tbsp is 7.5 g, 1/4 cup is 28 g, 1/2 cup is 57 g, and 1 cup is 113 g. The scaling is linear, so any volume converts cleanly to grams by multiplying. These figures matter most in baking, where sugar quantity affects sweetness, texture, browning, and moisture retention. For non-baking applications like sweetening coffee or sprinkling on cereal, gram precision matters less.

When does sugar cup-to-gram math matter most?

Baking precision is the main case. Cookie spread, cake texture, and bread crust development all depend on accurate sugar quantity. Using volume measurements adds 10-15 percent variability based on how the sugar is scooped. Nutrition tracking apps use grams for sugar content; converting from cups gives more accurate calorie and carbohydrate counts. International baking recipes universally use grams, so converting from US cups requires the conversion. For health-conscious cooking, knowing the gram weight per cup helps with portion awareness; reducing sugar by even 50 g across a recipe can meaningfully reduce calorie content without dramatically changing texture. Diabetes management also uses grams; converting cup measurements to grams gives more reliable carbohydrate counting.