A packed cup of light or dark brown sugar is about 213 grams, or about 7½ ounces. Pack it firmly so the sugar holds the shape of the cup when you turn it out.
Quick conversion
| Packed brown sugar | Approx. weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 213 grams (about 7 1/2 oz) |
| 1/2 cup | 107 grams |
| 1/4 cup | 53 grams |
| 1 pound of packed brown sugar | about 2 1/8 cups |
The 213-gram figure comes from King Arthur Baking’s ingredient weight chart, which uses the same weight for light or dark brown sugar when it is packed. See how to convert grams to cups, grams in a pound and the kitchen measurement conversion chart.
How to pack the cup
Spoon brown sugar into the cup and press it down with the back of a spoon as you go. Level the top. If the recipe lists grams, weigh 213 grams and skip the packing step. Unpacked or “lightly filled” brown sugar can fall well short of 213 grams, which makes sauces and cookies less sweet and more wet.
Brown sugar vs. white sugar
A cup of packed brown sugar (213 g) weighs more than a cup of granulated white sugar (198 g). They are not a 1-for-1 swap by volume if you care about exact sweetness and moisture. For a scale, 213 grams of brown sugar is one packed cup.
If brown sugar has hardened in the bag, soften it before you pack a cup, or the measure will be lumpy and short. A few seconds of gentle warming, or a brief rest with a little bread or a damp towel in a sealed container, loosens it so you can pack an even 213-gram cup.
Frequently asked questions
How many grams are in a cup of brown sugar?
A packed cup of light or dark brown sugar is about 213 grams, or about 7 1/2 ounces, according to King Arthur Baking’s ingredient weight chart.
Do I have to pack the cup?
Yes, if the recipe says packed brown sugar. Press the sugar firmly into the cup so it holds the cup shape when you turn it out. A loosely filled cup weighs less.
Is light brown sugar the same weight as dark?
King Arthur lists the same 213 grams per packed cup for light or dark brown sugar. The flavor differs; the packed-cup weight is treated as the same.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Weighs in grams and ounces, with a tare (zero) button.
- OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons, 8-Piece Set — Dry cups (1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and 1 cup) and spoons with etched marks.
- Kitchen Conversion Chart Magnet (AKS Magnets) — An 11-by-8.5-inch fridge magnet for volume and weight conversions.
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — A 2-cup and a 4-cup liquid cup with U.S. and metric marks.
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