1 tablespoon brown sugar = 13.75 grams
Volume is only half the story. Brown sugar weighs 220 g per US cup (packed), so we convert with a tested, ingredient-specific factor instead of a generic table.
Brown sugar cups to grams
Packed · rounded for kitchen use
| Cups | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 55 g | 1.94 oz |
| ⅓ cup | 73.33 g | 2.586 oz |
| ½ cup | 110 g | 3.88 oz |
| ⅔ cup | 146.67 g | 5.174 oz |
| ¾ cup | 165 g | 5.82 oz |
| 1 cup | 220 g | 7.76 oz |
| 1 ½ cups | 330 g | 11.64 oz |
| 2 cups | 440 g | 15.52 oz |
| 3 cups | 660 g | 23.28 oz |
Exact factor details
- Exact factor
- 1 cup = 220 g (packed)
- Significant digits
- 3 significant figures for table display
- Data source
- USDA FoodData Central (packed)
Why brown sugar conversions vary
Brown sugar is always measured packed: pressed firmly into the cup until it holds its shape. Packed, a US cup weighs about 220 g; unpacked it can be 40-50 g lighter, which is enough to turn chewy cookies cakey. Light and dark brown sugar weigh the same — the difference is molasses content, not density.
Our factor for brown sugar — 220 g per US cup — comes from USDA FoodData Central (packed). 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 brown sugar weigh?
One US cup of brown sugar weighs 220 g (packed). This comes from USDA FoodData Central (packed).
Why do some recipes list a different weight for brown 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 brown sugar by cups or by weight?
Weight, whenever the recipe allows. Pack the sugar into the cup with the back of a spoon; it should keep the cup's shape when turned out.