Powdered Sugar Measurements and Conversions
120 g
1 US cup of powdered sugar weighs about 120 grams (4.23 oz), according to USDA FoodData Central.
1 tbsp ≈ 7.5 g · 1 tsp ≈ 2.5 g
Powdered sugar: cups to grams and ounces
| Amount | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 15 g | 0.529 oz |
| 1/4 cup | 30 g | 1.06 oz |
| 1/3 cup | 40 g | 1.41 oz |
| 1/2 cup | 60 g | 2.12 oz |
| 2/3 cup | 80 g | 2.82 oz |
| 3/4 cup | 90 g | 3.17 oz |
| 1 cup | 120 g | 4.23 oz |
| 1 1/2 cups | 180 g | 6.35 oz |
| 2 cups | 240 g | 8.47 oz |
| 1 tablespoon | 7.5 g | 0.26 oz |
| 1 teaspoon | 2.5 g | 0.088 oz |
Other kinds of powdered sugar
| Kind | Grams per cup | FDC ID |
|---|---|---|
| sifted powdered sugar | 100 g | 169656 |
How to measure powdered sugar accurately
Powdered sugar, also called confectioners' sugar or icing sugar in the UK, packs down and forms lumps as it sits. Whisk it in the bag, or press the lumps through a sieve, before you measure. Then spoon it into a dry measuring cup and level the top without tapping or pressing.
The main figure on this page is for unsifted sugar, the way USDA measured it. Sifting fills the cup with air, so a cup of sifted powdered sugar weighs about a sixth less, as the table of other kinds above shows. Check where the word "sifted" sits in the recipe: "1 cup sifted powdered sugar" means sift, then measure, while "1 cup powdered sugar, sifted" means measure, then sift.
Weigh it for buttercream, glaze and royal icing, where the amount of sugar sets the thickness. A scale also ends the sifted-or-not question, because the weight stays the same either way. If a frosting turns out too thin, add sugar a spoonful at a time rather than guessing at a new cup.
How many calories are in a teaspoon of powdered sugar?
One teaspoon of powdered sugar (2.5 g) has about 10 calories, 0 g of protein, 0 g of fat and 2.5 g of carbohydrate, according to USDA FoodData Central.
| Measure | Grams | Calories | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Sugars (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 120 | 467 | 0 | 0 | 119.7 | 117.4 | 2 |
| 1 tablespoon | 7.5 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 0 |
| 1 teaspoon | 2.5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 0 |
| 1 ounce | 28 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 28.3 | 27.7 | 1 |
| 100 grams | 100 | 389 | 0 | 0 | 99.8 | 97.8 | 2 |
| Kind | Grams | Calories | Protein (g) | Fat (g) | Carbs (g) | Sugars (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sifted powdered sugar | 100 | 389 | 0 | 0 | 99.8 | 97.8 | 2 |
USDA’s values per 100 grams, scaled to each measure; a dash means USDA lists no value. Records: FDC 169656 (Sugars, powdered), checked .
Powdered sugar vs granulated sugar
A cup of powdered sugar weighs 120 grams, while a cup of granulated sugar weighs 200 grams. Both are sugar, but the fine powder traps far more air between its particles, so less of it fits in the same cup.
That gap is why the two are not interchangeable cup for cup. Granulated sugar in place of powdered makes a frosting gritty and sweeter than planned, and the reverse leaves a cake short of sugar.
If you grind granulated sugar in a blender to make your own powder, measure it by weight. The sugar weighs the same after grinding, but it takes up more room in the cup.
Powdered sugar: questions
Is powdered sugar the same as icing sugar?
Yes. Icing sugar is the UK name for powdered sugar, and confectioners' sugar is another US name for it. The names describe the same finely ground sugar, so the weights on this page apply to all three.
How many ounces are in a cup of powdered sugar?
About 4.2 ounces by weight, unsifted. The cup itself holds 8 fluid ounces of space, so powdered sugar weighs only about half as much as the same cup of water. Sifted, it weighs even less.
How many cups of powdered sugar are in a pound?
About 3.8 cups of unsifted sugar. A 2 lb bag holds about 7.6 cups. If you sift before measuring, the same bag gives you more cups, since each sifted cup is lighter.
How many cups are in 500 g of icing sugar?
About 4.2 US cups, unsifted, and a 1 kg bag holds about 8.3. Metric cups (250 ml) are larger and hold about 127 grams each, so the count in metric cups comes out a little lower.
How much does a tablespoon of powdered sugar weigh?
About 7.5 grams, scaled from USDA's unsifted cup, and a teaspoon about 2.5 grams. USDA also weighed a tablespoon on its own, listed in the source note below, and got a slightly heavier result. For dusting a cake, the difference does not matter.
Related
Source: USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 169656 (Sugars, powdered; portion “1 cup unsifted” = 120 g). USDA also lists 1 tbsp unsifted = 8 g and 1 tsp = 2.5 g.
Sources: Weights: USDA FoodData Central · Last reviewed · Report an error
https://howmanyounces.com/ingredients/powdered-sugar/