How Many Cups in a Pound of Sugar? (Granulated, Powdered, Brown)
1 lb granulated ≈ 2.27 cups · powdered (icing) ≈ 3.78 cups · packed brown ≈ 2.06 cups.
A pound of granulated sugar is about 2¼ cups. Powdered sugar, also called icing or confectioners sugar, is light and airy, so a pound fills closer to 3¾ cups unsifted. Brown sugar is measured firmly packed and comes to a little over 2 cups per pound.
Pounds of sugar to cups
| Ingredient | 1 lb | 2 lb | 4 lb | 5 lb | 10 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granulated sugar | 2.27 cups (about 2¼ cups) | 4.54 cups (about 4½ cups) | 9.07 cups (about 9⅛ cups) | 11.3 cups (about 11⅓ cups) | 22.7 cups |
| Brown sugar | 2.06 cups | 4.12 cups (4⅛ cups) | 8.25 cups (about 8¼ cups) | 10.3 cups (about 10⅓ cups) | 20.6 cups |
| Powdered sugar | 3.78 cups (about 3¾ cups) | 7.56 cups (about 7½ cups) | 15.1 cups (about 15⅛ cups) | 18.9 cups (about 18⅞ cups) | 37.8 cups |
Cups of sugar to pounds
| Ingredient | 1 cup | 2 cups | 3 cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granulated sugar | 0.441 lb | 0.882 lb | 1.32 lb |
| Brown sugar | 0.485 lb | 0.97 lb | 1.46 lb |
| Powdered sugar | 0.265 lb | 0.529 lb | 0.794 lb |
Sifted powdered sugar
If a frosting recipe says "sifted", sift first and then measure: sifting adds air, so you will get about 4 or more cups per pound instead of 3¾.
Weights and volumes on this page use these grams-per-US-cup densities: granulated sugar 200 g; brown sugar 220 g; powdered sugar 120 g. Packing, sifting and brand can shift real results by 5–15%, so weigh when a recipe depends on precision.
Common questions
How many cups is 1 lb of powdered sugar?
1 lb of powdered sugar = 3.78 cups (about 3¾ cups).
How many cups is 2 lb of powdered sugar?
2 lb of powdered sugar = 7.56 cups (about 7½ cups).
How many cups is 1 lb of brown sugar?
1 lb of brown sugar = 2.06 cups.
How many cups is 4 lb of granulated sugar?
4 lb of granulated sugar = 9.07 cups (about 9⅛ cups).
How many cups is 5 lb of granulated sugar?
5 lb of granulated sugar = 11.3 cups (about 11⅓ cups).
How many lb are in 1 cup of granulated sugar?
1 cup of granulated sugar = 0.441 lb.