Packed, sifted and level ingredient measurements
Why measuring technique changes cup weights, with distinct source portions for brown sugar and powdered sugar.
Packing changes how much fits
The USDA brown-sugar record gives 220g for a packed cup and 145g for an unpacked cup. Use the method requested by your recipe. Pressing or shaking a cup changes its fill and should not be an unmentioned step.
Sifting changes the reference portion
USDA lists powdered sugar at 100g per sifted cup and 120g per unsifted cup. The order of measuring and sifting matters. If the recipe specifies a gram weight, weigh that amount before following its preparation instructions.
A reference is not a universal guarantee
The USDA all-purpose flour reference on this site uses 125g per cup, while King Arthur uses 120g for its flour chart. Choose the recipe’s source where possible. A consistent fill and level measure reduces method changes; a scale measures mass directly.
Sources and related tools
- Brown sugar: packed and unpacked
- Powdered sugar: sifted and unsifted
- All-purpose flour source comparison
Reviewed 12 October 2026. Measurement methodology.