Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing) — Cups to Grams & Grams to Cups Converter
Convert sugar (powdered) between grams, cups, and spoons — 1 US cup = 120 g (4.23 oz) · 1 Metric cup = 126.8 g.
Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing) Weight ↔ Volume Calculator
Convert grams ↔ US cups (236.59 mL), Metric cups (250 mL), tbsp, tsp, mL, and oz
Instant Equivalents for 1 US cup of Sugar (Powdered)
Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing) — Cups, Tablespoons & Teaspoons to Grams Chart (US & Metric Cups)
Calculated using published density 0.5072 g/mL (USDA FoodData Central). Includes side-by-side weights for both US Customary Cups (236.59 mL) and Metric Cups (250 mL). Values vary by brand, humidity and how you pack the cup.
| Volume Measure | US Volume (mL) | US Cup Grams (USDA Unsifted (120 g/cup)) | Ounces (oz wt) | Metric Cup (250 mL) Grams | Alt US Grams (King Arthur / Domino (113 g/cup)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Teaspoon (1 tsp) | 4.929 mL | 2.5 g | 0.0882 oz | 2.536 g (metric) | 2.354 g |
| 1 Tablespoon (1 tbsp) | 14.79 mL | 7.5 g | 0.2645 oz | 7.608 g (metric) | 7.062 g |
| 2 Tablespoons (1/8 cup) | 29.57 mL | 15 g | 0.5291 oz | 15.85 g | 14.12 g |
| 1/4 Cup (4 US tbsp) | 59.15 mL | 30 g | 1.058 oz | 31.7 g | 28.25 g |
| 1/3 Cup (5 tbsp + 1 tsp) | 78.86 mL | 40 g | 1.411 oz | 42.27 g | 37.66 g |
| 1/2 Cup (8 US tbsp) | 118.29 mL | 60 g | 2.116 oz | 63.4 g | 56.5 g |
| 2/3 Cup | 157.73 mL | 80 g | 2.822 oz | 84.53 g | 75.33 g |
| 3/4 Cup (12 US tbsp) | 177.44 mL | 90 g | 3.175 oz | 95.1 g | 84.75 g |
| 1 Cup (16 US tbsp / 8 fl oz) | 236.59 mL | 120 g | 4.233 oz | 126.8 g | 112.99 g |
| 1 ½ Cups | 354.88 mL | 180 g | 6.349 oz | 190.2 g | 169.49 g |
| 2 Cups (1 US Pint) | 473.18 mL | 240 g | 8.466 oz | 253.6 g | 225.99 g |
| 3 Cups | 709.76 mL | 359.99 g | 12.7 oz | 380.4 g | 338.98 g |
| 4 Cups (1 US Quart / 1 Liter Metric) | 946.35 mL | 479.99 g | 16.93 oz | 507.2 g | 451.98 g |
Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing) — Grams to US Cups, Metric Cups, Tbsp, Tsp & Ounces Chart
Quick lookup for converting metric recipe weights in grams into US Customary cups (236.59 mL), Metric cups (250 mL), tablespoons, teaspoons, milliliters, and weight ounces at ρ = 0.5072 g/mL.
| Weight (Grams) | US Cups (236.6 mL) | Metric Cups (250 mL) | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Teaspoons (tsp) | Milliliters (mL) | Ounces (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 g | 0.0833 US cups | 0.0789 metric cups | 1.333 tbsp | 4 tsp | 19.72 mL | 0.3527 oz |
| 25 g | 0.2083 US cups | 0.1972 metric cups | 3.333 tbsp | 10 tsp | 49.29 mL | 0.8818 oz |
| 50 g | 0.4167 US cups | 0.3943 metric cups | 6.667 tbsp | 20 tsp | 98.58 mL | 1.764 oz |
| 75 g | 0.625 US cups | 0.5915 metric cups | 10 tbsp | 30 tsp | 147.87 mL | 2.646 oz |
| 100 g | 0.8334 US cups | 0.7886 metric cups | 13.33 tbsp | 40 tsp | 197.16 mL | 3.527 oz |
| 125 g | 1.042 US cups | 0.9858 metric cups | 16.67 tbsp | 50 tsp | 246.45 mL | 4.409 oz |
| 150 g | 1.25 US cups | 1.183 metric cups | 20 tbsp | 60 tsp | 295.74 mL | 5.291 oz |
| 200 g | 1.667 US cups | 1.577 metric cups | 26.67 tbsp | 80 tsp | 394.32 mL | 7.055 oz |
| 250 g | 2.083 US cups | 1.972 metric cups | 33.33 tbsp | 100 tsp | 492.9 mL | 8.818 oz |
| 500 g | 4.167 US cups | 3.943 metric cups | 66.67 tbsp | 200 tsp | 985.8 mL | 17.64 oz |
| 1000 g | 8.334 US cups | 7.886 metric cups | 133.34 tbsp | 400.01 tsp | 1,971.61 mL | 35.27 oz |
How to Measure Powdered (Confectioners') Sugar Accurately
Powdered sugar—known as confectioners' sugar or 10X sugar in the United States and icing sugar in the UK, Australia, and Canada—is granulated sucrose milled into a superfine powder and blended with about 3% cornstarch to prevent caking. Because the particles are microscopic, powdered sugar behaves much like flour and traps substantial air.
According to USDA FoodData Central (FDC ID 169656), 1 US Customary cup (236.59 mL) of unsifted powdered sugar weighs 120 grams (4.23 oz) at a density of 0.5072 g/mL. King Arthur Baking and Domino Sugar use 113 grams (4.0 oz) per US cup. In a 250 mL Metric cup, 1 cup of icing sugar weighs 126.8 grams.
Step-by-Step Kitchen Measuring Technique
Always check whether your frosting or macaron recipe calls for 'unsifted powdered sugar, then sifted' or 'sifted powdered sugar'.
- Spoon lightly into the cup: Stir the powdered sugar in its bag or box, then spoon it gently into a dry measuring cup without tapping or pressing down.
- Level with a knife: Sweep a straight edge across the rim of the cup for an accurate 113–120 g unsifted cup.
- Sift after measuring for smooth frostings: Unless a recipe states '1 cup sifted powdered sugar' (~100 g), measure or weigh your powdered sugar first and pass it through a fine-mesh sieve into your mixing bowl to remove lumps.
Culinary & Baking Notes for Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing)
- 1-pound box rule of thumb: Domino and C&H formulate their 1 lb (454 g) boxes of 10X powdered sugar to equal approximately 3 ¾ to 4 spooned US cups.
- French macarons require a scale: Macaron shells depend on an exact almond flour-to-powdered sugar ratio by weight; even a 10-gram cup measurement error can cause hollow or cracked shells.
- Organic powdered sugar: Often uses tapioca starch instead of cornstarch and has a slightly coarser grind (~115–120 g per US cup).
US Cup vs. Metric Cup vs. UK Cup Weight for Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing)
If you are adapting an international recipe, remember that cup sizes vary by country. Here is how much 1 cup of powdered sugar (confectioners' / icing) weighs across all four global cup standards (at ρ = 0.5072 g/mL):
Step-by-Step Conversion Examples for Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing)
Convert 2 US Cups of Powdered Sugar to Grams for Buttercream
A vanilla buttercream frosting recipe requires 2 US cups of unsifted powdered sugar.
Convert 1 Metric Cup (250 mL) of Icing Sugar to Grams
A UK or Australian glaze recipe calls for 1 Metric cup (250 mL) of icing sugar.
Convert 454 Grams (1 lb Box) of Powdered Sugar to US Cups
A standard American 1-pound (16 oz / 454 g) box of confectioners' sugar is used for frosting.
Published Density References & Citations for Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central: Sugars, powdered (FDC ID 169656, SR Legacy) — 1 cup unsifted = 120 g, 1 tbsp = 8 g.
King Arthur Baking Company Ingredient Weight Chart & Domino 10X Confectioners Sugar Guide — 1 US cup = 113 g (4.0 oz).
Frequently Asked Questions About Powdered Sugar (Confectioners' / Icing) Conversions
How many grams are in 1 cup of powdered sugar?
1 US Customary cup (236.59 mL) of unsifted powdered (confectioners') sugar weighs 120 grams (4.23 oz) per USDA FoodData Central, or 113 grams (4.0 oz) per King Arthur Baking and Domino Sugar. If sifted before measuring, 1 US cup weighs about 100 grams.
How many cups of powdered sugar are in a 1 lb (16 oz) box?
A standard 1-pound (454 g) box of powdered sugar contains about 3 ¾ US cups using the USDA 120 g/cup standard, or 4 US cups using the 113 g/cup (4 oz/cup) manufacturer standard.
Are powdered sugar, confectioners' sugar, and icing sugar the same thing?
Yes. It is called powdered sugar or confectioners' sugar (10X) in the United States, and icing sugar in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
How many grams is 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar?
1 US tablespoon of unsifted powdered sugar weighs 7.5 grams (USDA) to 8 grams, and 1 US teaspoon weighs 2.5 grams.