Granulated Sugar vs Powdered sugar

A side-by-side guide to substituting Powdered sugar for Granulated Sugar (or vice versa).

Quick answer

Use 1.33 cup of Powdered sugar for every 1 cup of Granulated Sugar.

Side-by-side

Granulated Sugar

Base unit: cup

Read the full guide: Granulated Sugar

Powdered sugar

Conversion: Use 1.33× as much (1.33 cup per 1 cup)

Tags: common

Notes: Powdered sugar is finer; use 1⅓ cups per 1 cup granulated. May introduce cornstarch if using commercial brands.

Read the full guide: Powdered sugar

Calculate the exact swap for your recipe in seconds.

Open calculator →

When to use Powdered sugar instead of Granulated Sugar

Powdered sugar is finer; use 1⅓ cups per 1 cup granulated. May introduce cornstarch if using commercial brands. The conversion is use 1.33× as much (1.33 cup per 1 cup).

Common questions

Can I substitute Powdered sugar for Granulated Sugar?

Yes — Powdered sugar is finer; use 1⅓ cups per 1 cup granulated. May introduce cornstarch if using commercial brands. Ratio: Use 1.33× as much (1.33 cup per 1 cup).

What's the conversion ratio for Granulated Sugar to Powdered sugar?

Use 1.33× as much (1.33 cup per 1 cup). For other quantities, use the SubSwap calculator.

Are Granulated Sugar and Powdered sugar interchangeable?

They are similar in most uses, but Powdered sugar is finer; use 1⅓ cups per 1 cup granulated..

Is Powdered sugar a better substitute than other options for Granulated Sugar?

Powdered sugar is one of the options SubSwap lists for Granulated Sugar. The 'best' choice depends on your recipe — see the full list of Granulated Sugar substitutes.

Looking for more Granulated Sugar substitutes beyond Powdered sugar?

See all Granulated Sugar swaps →

Related ingredients

Granulated Sugar Powdered sugar Demerara Sugar Butter Egg Buttermilk Milk Flour Sugar Baking powder