Convert Cups of Sugar to Pounds
Enter the amount of sugar in cups below to get the value converted to pounds.
Do you want to convert pounds of sugar to cups?
How to Convert Cups of Sugar to Pounds
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To convert a measurement in cups to a measurement in pounds, multiply the sugar by the following conversion ratio: 0.440925 pounds/cup.
Since one cup of sugar is equal to 0.440925 pounds, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The sugar in pounds is equal to the sugar in cups multiplied by 0.440925.
How Many Pounds Are in a Cup of Sugar?
There are 0.440925 pounds in a cup of sugar, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
1 c = 0.440925 lb
While experts usually suggest measuring dry ingredients by weight since it's more accurate,[1] some recipes call for ingredients by volume and many of us don't have a scale when we need one. Because the density of different types of sugar vary, it may not be obvious how to convert between a weight and volume measurements.
This table shows the approximate volume measurement for various weights of sugar, by type to help with the conversion.
Sugar Weight to Volume Conversion Table
| Pounds | Cups (Granulated) | Cups (Brown) | Cups (Powdered) | Cups (Raw) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 lb | 1/2 c | 1/2 c | 3/4 c | 1/2 c |
| 0.5 lb | 1 1/8 c | 1 1/8 c | 1 3/4 c | 3/4 c |
| 0.75 lb | 1 2/3 c | 1 2/3 c | 2 3/4 c | 1 1/3 c |
| 1 lb | 2 1/4 c | 2 1/4 c | 3 2/3 c | 1 3/4 c |
| 1.25 lb | 2 3/4 c | 2 3/4 c | 4 1/2 c | 2 1/4 c |
| 1.5 lb | 3 1/3 c | 3 1/3 c | 5 1/2 c | 2 3/4 c |
| 1.75 lb | 3 3/4 c | 3 3/4 c | 6 1/3 c | 3 1/8 c |
| 2 lb | 4 1/2 c | 4 1/2 c | 7 1/4 c | 3 2/3 c |
| 2.25 lb | 5 1/8 c | 5 1/8 c | 8 1/8 c | 4 1/16 c |
| 2.5 lb | 5 2/3 c | 5 2/3 c | 9 1/16 c | 4 1/2 c |
| 2.75 lb | 6 1/4 c | 6 1/4 c | 9 3/4 c | 4 3/4 c |
| 3 lb | 6 3/4 c | 6 3/4 c | 10 3/4 c | 5 1/2 c |
| 3.25 lb | 7 1/3 c | 7 1/3 c | 11 3/4 c | 5 3/4 c |
| 3.5 lb | 7 3/4 c | 7 3/4 c | 12 2/3 c | 6 1/3 c |
| 3.75 lb | 8 1/2 c | 8 1/2 c | 13 2/3 c | 6 3/4 c |
| 4 lb | 9 1/16 c | 9 1/16 c | 14 1/2 c | 7 1/4 c |
| 4.25 lb | 9 2/3 c | 9 2/3 c | 15 1/2 c | 7 3/4 c |
| 4.5 lb | 10 1/4 c | 10 1/4 c | 16 1/3 c | 8 1/8 c |
| 4.75 lb | 10 3/4 c | 10 3/4 c | 17 1/4 c | 8 2/3 c |
| 5 lb | 11 1/3 c | 11 1/3 c | 18 1/8 c | 9 1/16 c |
Should I Measure Sugar by Weight or Volume?
Many experts are adamant that dry ingredients like sugar should be measured by weight instead of volume, especially when used for baking.
The reason is that the density of different sugars vary slightly, so volume measurements will likely yield an incorrect amount of ingredient. Additionally, when using a cup or tablespoon, the amount that the sugar is compressed and above or under the measurement line will alter the actual amount.
This is why most experts suggest using a food scale to measure sugar when cooking, rather than a cup, tablespoon, or other volume measuring devices.
Cups and pounds are both units used to measure sugar. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.
What is a Cup?
The cup is a commonly used unit to measure sugar volume. One cup of sugar is equal to 16 tablespoons.
The cup is a US customary unit of volume. Cups can be abbreviated as c, and are also sometimes abbreviated as C. For example, 1 cup can be written as 1 c or 1 C.
Learn more about cups.
What is a Pound?
A pound is a commonly used unit to measure sugar weight. A pound of sugar is equal to 16 ounces, and there are 0.453592 kilograms in one pound.
The pound is a US customary and imperial unit of weight. Pounds can be abbreviated as lb; for example, 1 pound can be written as 1 lb.
Learn more about pounds.
References
- Nila Jones, The Best and Most Accurate Way to Measure Wet and Dry Ingredients for Baking, Serious Eats, https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-measure-wet-dry-ingredients-for-baking-accurately-best-method