Powdered sugar cups to grams
These weights are for powdered sugar spooned straight from the bag into the cup and leveled, without sifting. Frosting recipes often call for several cups at once, so the chart goes up to a full box.
| Cups | Grams | Ounces | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 14 g | 0.5 oz | 2 |
| ¼ cup | 28 g | 1 oz | 4 |
| ⅓ cup | 38 g | 1.33 oz | 5.3 |
| ½ cup | 57 g | 1.99 oz | 8 |
| ⅔ cup | 75 g | 2.66 oz | 10.7 |
| ¾ cup | 85 g | 2.99 oz | 12 |
| 1 cup | 113 g | 3.99 oz | 16 |
| 1 ½ cups | 170 g | 5.98 oz | 24 |
| 2 cups | 226 g | 7.97 oz | 32 |
| 3 cups | 339 g | 11.96 oz | 48 |
| 4 cups | 452 g | 15.94 oz | 64 |
Grams of powdered sugar to cups
| Grams | Cups (decimal) | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| 50 g | 0.44 | ⅓ cup + 1 tbsp + 2 tsp |
| 60 g | 0.53 | ½ cup + 1 ½ tsp |
| 100 g | 0.88 | ¾ cup + 2 tbsp + ½ tsp |
| 150 g | 1.33 | 1 ¼ cups + 1 tbsp + ½ tsp |
| 200 g | 1.77 | 1 ¾ cups + 1 tsp |
| 250 g | 2.21 | 2 cups + 3 tbsp + 1 tsp |
| 300 g | 2.65 | 2 ½ cups + 2 tbsp + 1 ½ tsp |
| 450 g | 3.98 | 3 ¾ cups + 3 tbsp + 2 tsp |
| 500 g | 4.42 | 4 ⅓ cups + 1 tbsp + 1 ½ tsp |
Powdered, confectioners' or icing sugar?
They're the same thing. Americans say powdered sugar or confectioners' sugar, and you'll sometimes see "10X" on older packaging, a nod to how finely it's ground. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand it's called icing sugar. Every number on this page applies to all of them.
The one real difference is what's mixed in. Most American powdered sugar contains a little cornstarch, around 3%, to stop it clumping. Some icing sugar sold elsewhere is pure sugar. For frostings and glazes this makes no practical difference, but it's why you'll occasionally see "pure icing sugar" called for in British recipes.
Sifted or unsifted makes a big difference
Powdered sugar settles in the bag and is full of tiny clumps. Sift it and you add a lot of air, so a cup of sifted powdered sugar weighs noticeably less than a cup of unsifted. When a recipe says "1 cup powdered sugar, sifted", measure first and sift afterwards. When it says "1 cup sifted powdered sugar", sift first and then spoon it into the cup.
If you're weighing, you can skip the guesswork: weigh 113 g per cup of unsifted sugar, then sift it if you want a smoother frosting.
How many cups in a pound of powdered sugar?
A standard 1-pound (454 g) box holds roughly 3¾ to 4 cups. By our 113 g-per-cup figure it's 4 cups; Domino lists 3¾ cups unsifted. If a frosting recipe calls for "one box," that's 454 g regardless of how many cups it comes out to.
A handy ratio for American buttercream
Classic American buttercream is mostly butter and powdered sugar. A common starting point is 1 cup of butter (227 g) to 3 or 4 cups of powdered sugar (339 to 452 g), plus a splash of milk and vanilla. Use the lower amount for a softer, less sweet frosting and the higher one when you need it stiff enough to pipe.
Don't swap it for granulated sugar
A cup of powdered sugar weighs a little over half as much as a cup of granulated (113 g vs 198 g), so swapping by the cup leaves you short on sugar. It also dissolves instantly and brings cornstarch with it, which changes how cookies and cakes set. It shines in frostings, glazes, whipped cream and shortbread; for everything else, stick with what the recipe calls for.
Need powdered sugar in a pinch? Blend 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a dry blender for a minute or two, until it's fine and fluffy. Let the dust settle before you open the lid.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams is 1 cup of powdered sugar?
One cup of unsifted powdered sugar weighs about 113 grams. The same goes for confectioners' sugar and icing sugar.
How many grams is ½ cup of powdered sugar?
Half a cup of powdered sugar is about 57 grams. A quarter cup is about 28 grams and three quarters of a cup about 85 grams.
How many grams is 2 cups of powdered sugar?
Two cups of powdered sugar weigh about 226 grams. Three cups are about 339 grams and four cups about 452 grams.
How many cups is 100 grams of powdered sugar?
100 grams of powdered sugar is about 0.88 cups, which is ¾ cup + 2 tbsp + ½ tsp.
How many cups are in a 1 lb box of powdered sugar?
About 3¾ to 4 cups. A pound is 454 grams; at 113 grams per cup that's 4 cups, and Domino lists 3¾ cups unsifted.
Is icing sugar the same as powdered sugar?
Yes. Icing sugar is the British and Australian name for powdered (confectioners') sugar, and the conversions are the same. Some icing sugar is pure sugar while most American powdered sugar contains a little cornstarch.