20g Powdered Sugar to Cups
20 grams of powdered sugar is a small amount, best measured with a spoon rather than a full cup. At 120g per cup, it works out to 2.7 tablespoons.
- Cups (US Customary)
- 0.17 (⅛)
- Tablespoons
- 2.7
- Teaspoons
- 8.0
- Milliliters
- 39 ml
20 grams of powdered sugar = 0.17 cups (⅛ cup / 2.7 tbsp / 8.0 tsp)
Powdered Sugar has a density of approximately 120g per cup. Sifted: 100g. Unsifted and packed: up to 130g. Source: USDA FoodData Central. This is the figure used everywhere on this page, including the tablespoon and teaspoon values, so the numbers stay consistent whether you're reading the summary line, the table, or the FAQ answers below.
| Grams | Cups | Fraction | Tablespoons | Teaspoons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10g | 0.08 | ⅛ | 1.3 | 4.0 |
| 15g | 0.13 | ⅛ | 2.0 | 6.0 |
| 20g | 0.17 | ⅛ | 2.7 | 8.0 |
| 25g | 0.21 | ¼ | 3.3 | 10.0 |
| 30g | 0.25 | ¼ | 4.0 | 12.0 |
The Math for 20g of Powdered Sugar
20g divided by 120g (the weight of one cup of powdered sugar) equals 0.17 cups. Multiplying that by 16 gives 2.7 tablespoons, and by 48 gives 8.0 teaspoons, since one cup always equals 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons regardless of the ingredient.
Powdered Sugar is lighter than water, which weighs about 236g per cup. That's why 20g of powdered sugar takes up more volume (39ml) than the same weight of water would (20ml). For a side-by-side look at how other ingredients compare, see the 20 grams to cups page.
Metric and Imperial Cup Sizes
The 0.17 cup figure above uses the US Customary cup (236.588ml). Recipes written outside the US sometimes use a metric cup (250ml) or an imperial (uk) cup (284.131ml) instead. At 20g, that's ⅛ metric cups or ⅛ imperial cups of powdered sugar, close to the US figure but not identical. The cup standard switch in the converter above recalculates this instantly for any gram amount.
Making More or Less Than 20g
Doubling a recipe that calls for 20g of powdered sugar means weighing 40g, or measuring 0.33 cups if you're working by volume instead of weight. Halving it means 10g, or 0.08 cups. Weight scales exactly with simple multiplication; cup measurements compound any scooping error each time they're doubled or halved, so weighing is more reliable the more a recipe is scaled.
How Powdered Sugar Compares to Similar Ingredients
Within sugars & sweeteners, density still varies by ingredient. At 20g, granulated sugar (200g per cup) measures ⅛ cup, while brown sugar (220g per cup) measures ⅛ cup, compared to ⅛ cup for powdered sugar. Swapping ingredients in a recipe by cup measurement alone, without adjusting for this difference, changes the actual weight used.
Typical Uses for Powdered Sugar
- A basic buttercream frosting typically uses 400g to 500g of powdered sugar.
- Glazes for donuts or scones often call for 120g.
- Dusting a finished cake usually takes just 15g to 30g.
Getting an Accurate Spoon Measurement
Sugars & Sweeteners
Granulated sugar should be spooned and leveled. Brown sugar should be pressed firmly until it holds the cup's shape when turned out.
For exact results
Powdered sugar clumps easily during storage, so sifting it before measuring gives a more consistent, lump-free result. Liquid sweeteners like honey and maple syrup should be measured in a liquid cup and poured slowly to avoid trapping air bubbles.
For every gram amount at once, the powdered sugar conversion chart lists powdered sugar across the full range from 1g to 1000g in one table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 20 grams of powdered sugar in cups?+
20 grams of powdered sugar is 0.17 cups, or 2.7 tablespoons.
Should I use a spoon or a cup for 20g of powdered sugar?+
At 20g, a tablespoon or teaspoon measurement is usually more practical than a fractional cup. Use 2.7 tablespoons or 8.0 teaspoons.
Is 20 grams of powdered sugar the same as 20 milliliters?+
Only if it weighed the same as water. 20g of water is about 20ml, while 20g of powdered sugar is 39ml, because the two have different densities.
Does the answer change for a metric or imperial cup?+
Slightly. 20g of powdered sugar is ⅛ metric cups or ⅛ imperial cups, close to the US figure but not identical, since each standard defines the cup at a different volume.