How Much Is 3 Cups of Granulated Sugar in Ounces?
3 cups of granulated sugar weighs 21.16 oz. This is based on granulated sugar having a density of 200g per cup. Because cups measure volume and ounces measure weight, the result depends on the ingredient, and a different ingredient would give a different result for the same 3 cups.
Formula and Step-by-Step
- Start with 3 cups of granulated sugar
- 1 cup of granulated sugar = 200g
- 3 × 200 = 600g
- Convert grams to ounces: 600 ÷ 28.3495 = 21.16 oz
The same formula works for any amount. Multiply (or divide) by the density, then convert units as needed.
Measuring Tip
Sugar is one of the easier dry ingredients to measure by volume because the crystals pack relatively consistently compared to flour or cocoa powder.
Granulated Sugar at Different Amounts
How granulated sugar scales across common cups measurements. Your amount (3 cups) is highlighted.
For reference, 3 cups of granulated sugar (600g) is close in weight to a basketball (624g).
Other Amounts of Granulated Sugar
| Cups | US Ounces | Metric Cup | Imperial Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cups | 1.76 oz | 1.86 oz | 2.12 oz |
| 0.33 cups | 2.33 oz | 2.46 oz | 2.80 oz |
| 0.5 cups | 3.53 oz | 3.73 oz | 4.24 oz |
| 0.75 cups | 5.29 oz | 5.59 oz | 6.35 oz |
| 1 cup | 7.05 oz | 7.45 oz | 8.47 oz |
| 1.5 cups | 10.58 oz | 11.18 oz | 12.71 oz |
| 2 cups | 14.11 oz | 14.91 oz | 16.94 oz |
| 3 cups | 21.16 oz | 22.36 oz | 25.42 oz |
| 4 cups | 28.22 oz | 29.82 oz | 33.89 oz |
| 5 cups | 35.27 oz | 37.27 oz | 42.36 oz |
Understanding the Units
What is a Cup?
The US cup (236.588 ml) is slightly smaller than the metric cup used in Australia and some other countries (250 ml). When following recipes from different countries, check which cup standard is being used.
What is an Ounce?
Weight ounces and fluid ounces are different measurements. A fluid ounce measures volume (29.574 ml), while an ounce measures weight (28.35g). They only align for water, where 1 fl oz weighs approximately 1 oz.