How many ounces in a cup of sugar?
1 cup = 6.98 oz
by weight · 198 g · scooped and leveled · by volume it is still 8 fl oz
Brown sugar, packed: 7.51 oz · powdered: 3.99 oz
Converter
Other cup standards
US cups: 1 · nutrition-label cups (240 mL): 0.986 · metric cups (250 mL): 0.946 · UK fluid ounces: 8.33
Sugar weighs more per cup than flour, and the three common kinds differ a lot. From King Arthur Baking's ingredient weight chart: granulated sugar 198 g, about 7 oz by weight; brown sugar packed firmly into the cup 213 g, about 7.5 oz; powdered (confectioners') sugar spooned and leveled 113 g, about 4 oz.
Powdered sugar is light and fluffy, so a cup of it weighs a little over half of what a cup of granulated does. Swapping one for the other cup for cup changes a recipe's sweetness and texture. Brown sugar only reaches 213 g when pressed down until it holds the cup's shape.
To estimate a bag: a 4 lb bag of granulated sugar holds about 9 cups, and a 2 lb bag of powdered sugar about 8 cups.
| Cups | Granulated sugar | Brown sugar (packed) | Powdered (confectioners') sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 1.75 oz · 50 g | 1.88 oz · 53 g | 1 oz · 28 g |
| 1/3 cup | 2.33 oz · 66 g | 2.5 oz · 71 g | 1.33 oz · 38 g |
| 1/2 cup | 3.49 oz · 99 g | 3.76 oz · 107 g | 1.99 oz · 57 g |
| 2/3 cup | 4.66 oz · 132 g | 5.01 oz · 142 g | 2.66 oz · 75 g |
| 3/4 cup | 5.24 oz · 149 g | 5.64 oz · 160 g | 2.99 oz · 85 g |
| 1 cup | 6.98 oz · 198 g | 7.51 oz · 213 g | 3.99 oz · 113 g |
| 1 1/2 cups | 10.48 oz · 297 g | 11.27 oz · 320 g | 5.98 oz · 170 g |
| 2 cups | 13.97 oz · 396 g | 15.03 oz · 426 g | 7.97 oz · 226 g |
Source: King Arthur Baking — Ingredient Weight Chart (consulted 2026-10-28).
Questions
How many ounces in a cup of sugar?
About 7 oz by weight (198 g) for granulated sugar. In volume, a cup is always 8 fl oz.
How much does a cup of brown sugar weigh?
About 7.5 oz (213 g) when packed firmly.
How many ounces in a cup of powdered sugar?
About 4 oz (113 g), spooned and leveled.
Sources: US customary units: NIST Handbook 44 · ingredient weights: King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart. How we calculate.