Convert Pounds of Sugar to Cups

Enter the amount of sugar in pounds below to get the value converted to cups.

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1 lb = 2.267962 c
1 lb ≈ 2 1/4 c

Do you want to convert cups of sugar to pounds?


How to Convert Pounds of Sugar to Cups

To convert a measurement in pounds to a measurement in cups, multiply the sugar by the following conversion ratio: 2.267962 cups/pound.

Since one pound of sugar is equal to 2.267962 cups, you can use this simple formula to convert:

cups = pounds × 2.267962

The sugar in cups is equal to the sugar in pounds multiplied by 2.267962.

For example, here's how to convert 5 pounds to cups using the formula above.
cups = (5 lb × 2.267962) = 11.339809 c

How Many Cups Are in a Pound of Sugar?

There are 2.267962 cups in a pound of sugar, which is why we use this value in the formula above.

1 lb = 2.267962 c

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

Pound measurements and equivalent cups measurements for various types of sugar.
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.

Pounds and cups are both units used to measure sugar. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.

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.

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.

References

  1. 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

More Pound & Cup Conversions