400 Grams of Powdered Sugar to Cups

400 grams of powdered sugar = 3.33 cups (3⅓ cups / 53.3 tbsp / 160.0 tsp)

How the 400g Figure Is Calculated

Powdered Sugar is lighter than water, which weighs about 236g per cup. That's why 400g of powdered sugar takes up more volume (789ml) than the same weight of water would (401ml). For a side-by-side look at how other ingredients compare, see the 400 grams to cups page.

If Your Recipe Uses Metric or Imperial Cups

The 3.33 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 400g, that's 3⅛ metric cups or 2¾ 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.

Scaling 400g Up or Down

Doubling a recipe that calls for 400g of powdered sugar means weighing 800g, or measuring 6.67 cups if you're working by volume instead of weight. Halving it means 200g, or 1.67 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.

Powdered Sugar vs. Other Sugars & Sweeteners

Within sugars & sweeteners, density still varies by ingredient. At 400g, granulated sugar (200g per cup) measures 2 cups, while brown sugar (220g per cup) measures 1⅞ cups, compared to 3⅓ cups for powdered sugar. Swapping ingredients in a recipe by cup measurement alone, without adjusting for this difference, changes the actual weight used.

Where 400g of Powdered Sugar Fits in a Recipe

• 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.

How to Measure It Accurately

• 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