1 tablespoon sugar = 12.5 grams
Volume is only half the story. Granulated sugar weighs 200 g per US cup (granulated), so we convert with a tested, ingredient-specific factor instead of a generic table.
Granulated sugar cups to grams
Granulated · rounded for kitchen use
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 50 g | 1.764 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 66.66 g | 2.351 oz |
| ½ cup | 100 g | 3.527 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 133.34 g | 4.703 oz |
| ¾ cup | 150 g | 5.291 oz |
| 1 cup | 200 g | 7.055 oz |
| 1 ½ cups | 300 g | 10.58 oz |
| 2 cups | 400 g | 14.11 oz |
| 3 cups | 600 g | 21.16 oz |
Exact factor details
- Exact factor
- 1 cup = 200 g (granulated)
- Significant digits
- 3 significant figures for table display
- Data source
- USDA FoodData Central
Why sugar conversions vary
Granulated sugar pours consistently, so cup measurements are fairly dependable — 200 g per US cup. Because sugar crystals don't compress the way flour does, a scooped cup and a leveled cup differ by only a few grams. Still, weighing removes the guesswork entirely, especially when scaling a recipe up or down by an awkward factor.
Our factor for sugar — 200 g per US cup — comes from USDA FoodData Central. Weighing beats measuring cups for repeatability: a scale gives the same result every time regardless of how the ingredient settled, and it scales recipes cleanly. Note that a US cup (236.6 ml) and a metric cup (250 ml) are not the same; recipes from outside North America may assume the metric size, which shifts every weight by about five percent.
The table below lists the amounts bakers actually reach for — quarters, thirds, and halves of a cup through three full cups — computed directly from the factor above. The converter handles any other amount instantly and uses the exact same number, so the quick reference and the live result can never drift apart.
Frequently asked questions
How much does 1 cup of sugar weigh?
One US cup of granulated sugar weighs 200 g (granulated). This comes from USDA FoodData Central.
Why do some recipes list a different weight for sugar?
Measuring conventions and brands differ, and packing changes the weight. We state our convention openly; when a recipe names its own gram value, follow that one for best results.
Should I measure sugar by cups or by weight?
Weight, whenever the recipe allows. If a recipe gives both cups and grams, use the grams — sugar's margin of error is small but not zero.