Brown Sugar Grams to Cups: 1/2 Cup Is 107 Grams

• 100 grams of packed brown sugar is 7 1/2 tablespoons, just under 1/2 cup.
• 1 tablespoon of packed brown sugar weighs about 13 grams.

Two trusted sources list a slightly different weight for a packed cup. King Arthur Baking uses 213 grams, while USDA FoodData Central lists 220 grams. Both are shown below, along with the USDA weight for loose, unpacked brown sugar.

The 7 gram gap between the two packed values is small, and either will work in a recipe. This site uses the King Arthur value of 213 grams so it matches our sugar converter and the main grams to cups converter.

3/4 Cup Brown Sugar in Grams

3/4 cup of packed brown sugar weighs 160 grams, or 165 grams by the USDA value. That is the same as 12 tablespoons. If your recipe uses 3/4 cup of loosely spooned brown sugar instead, it weighs about 109 grams, which is why the packed or loose detail changes a recipe so much.

Use this chart when a recipe lists brown sugar by weight. Every cup amount assumes the sugar is packed, at 213 grams per cup.

100g Brown Sugar in Cups

100 grams of packed brown sugar is 0.47 cup. The easiest way to measure it is 7 1/2 level tablespoons, or a 1/2 cup that is packed slightly short of the rim. For loose brown sugar, 100 grams fills about 2/3 cup.

How Many Cups in a Bag of Brown Sugar?

Brown sugar in US stores usually comes in 1 pound and 2 pound bags. Packed at 213 grams per cup, those bags hold:

Packed vs Loose Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is moist and sticky, so its crystals leave air gaps when you spoon it in. Pressing it down removes those gaps. USDA data shows a packed cup weighs 220 grams and a loose cup only 145 grams, a difference of about 50%. Unless a recipe says otherwise, US recipes mean packed brown sugar.

Light vs Dark Brown Sugar

The only difference is how much molasses is in the sugar. America's Test Kitchen reports that light brown sugar contains about 3.5% molasses and dark brown sugar about 6.5%. The weight per cup stays the same, and King Arthur Baking lists both at 213 grams per packed cup.

Brown Sugar vs Other Sugars by Cup

Brown sugar is a little heavier per cup than white sugar because it is packed. Coarse raw sugars sit on either side of it.

For white and powdered sugar in every cup size, see our sugar grams to cups chart.

A packed cup should hold its shape when you tip it out, a bit like a sandcastle. Follow these steps to get close to 213 grams every time.

1. Use a dry measuring cup. A flat rim lets you level the top. Liquid cups with spouts do not work well here.
2. Spoon in the sugar. Fill the cup about halfway.
3. Press down firmly. Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to push out the air.
4. Add more and press again. Keep going until the sugar is packed level with the rim.
5. Level the top. Scrape off any extra with a straight edge.
6. Check the shape. When you turn the cup over, the sugar should come out in one firm block.

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar in Grams

1/4 cup of packed brown sugar weighs 53 grams, which equals 4 tablespoons. Small amounts like this are easier to measure with a tablespoon, packing each spoonful level. Loose, 1/4 cup weighs only about 36 grams.

Common Measuring Mistakes

A kitchen scale avoids all of these, which is why many bakers prefer weighing. Our guide on why baking by weight is better explains more.

There are 16 tablespoons in a cup and 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon, so these spoon values come straight from the cup weight. For other spoon sizes, use our grams to tablespoons converter.

Out of brown sugar? You can mix granulated sugar and molasses. Two trusted test kitchens give slightly different amounts, so pick the one that suits your taste.

King Arthur Baking notes you can add the sugar and molasses to a recipe at the same time, with no need to mix them first. The weight of the swap is close enough to 213 grams that the rest of the recipe does not need to change.