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Types of sugar can mean two things: the sugar molecules that FDA counts on the Nutrition Facts label, such as sucrose, glucose and fructose, and the sweeteners sold as foods, from granulated and brown sugar to syrups and honey. This guide to the different types of sugar covers both. It quotes the FDA labeling rule for total and added sugars, shows USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy values for five dry sugars per teaspoon and nine syrups per household portion, and lists which sugar molecules USDA reports in each. For one side-by-side pairing, see our honey vs sugar comparison.
Peptide Labs does not sell foods. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- FDA defines total sugars on the label as the sum of all free mono- and disaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, lactose and sucrose.
- FDA counts table sugar, syrups and honey as added sugars, with a Daily Value of 50 grams on the label.
- In USDA data, a teaspoon of granulated sugar lists about 4.2 grams of sugar, 8% of the FDA Daily Value for added sugars.
- Per 100 grams in USDA data, granulated sugar lists 99.8 grams of sucrose, while honey lists 40.9 grams of fructose and 35.8 grams of glucose.
Types of sugar on the FDA food label
The FDA labeling rule, 21 CFR 101.9, says “Total sugars shall be defined as the sum of all free mono- and disaccharides (such as glucose, fructose, lactose, and sucrose).” Glucose and fructose are single sugar units called monosaccharides, and sucrose, lactose and maltose are disaccharides, pairs of units. FDA says there is no Daily Value for total sugars.
Added sugars are a second FDA label line. Under 21 CFR 101.9, added sugars “are either added during the processing of foods, or are packaged as such,” and include “sugars from syrups and honey.” FDA’s consumer page lists foods packaged as sweeteners, such as table sugar, and says added sugars “do not include naturally occurring sugars that are found in milk, fruits, and vegetables.” The label prints the line as “Includes” a number of grams of Added Sugars, and the FDA Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams. FDA describes 5% DV or less as a low source of added sugars and 20% DV or more as a high source.
One FDA exception matters for this guide. Packages of single-ingredient sugars and syrups, such as table sugar or honey, list the percent Daily Value for added sugars, and FDA says this is done “so that it does not look like more sugars have been added to the product” and so that buyers see how a serving counts toward the Daily Value. The sugar in milk is lactose (see our guide to foods with lactose), and fruit sugars are covered in fructose foods and low sugar fruits.
Different types of sugar molecules in USDA data
USDA SR Legacy reports individual sugars for some sweeteners. The table lists them per 100 grams, ranked by total sugars; USDA does not list maltose for molasses.
| Sweetener (USDA FDC ID) | Amount | Sucrose | Glucose | Fructose | Maltose | Total sugars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granulated sugar (169655) | 100 g | 99.8 g | 0.0 g | 0.0 g | 0.0 g | 99.8 g |
| Turbinado sugar (170674) | 100 g | 99.2 g | 0.0 g | 0.0 g | 0.0 g | 99.2 g |
| Brown sugar (168833) | 100 g | 94.6 g | 1.4 g | 1.1 g | 0.0 g | 97.0 g |
| Honey (169640) | 100 g | 0.9 g | 35.8 g | 40.9 g | 1.4 g | 82.1 g |
| Molasses (168820) | 100 g | 29.4 g | 11.9 g | 12.8 g | not listed | 74.7 g |
| Agave syrup (170277) | 100 g | 0.0 g | 12.4 g | 55.6 g | 0.0 g | 68.0 g |
| Maple syrup (169661) | 100 g | 58.3 g | 1.6 g | 0.5 g | 0.0 g | 60.5 g |
In USDA data, granulated and turbinado sugar are almost all sucrose, at 99.8 and 99.2 grams per 100 grams, and brown sugar lists 94.6 grams of sucrose. Honey is the opposite pattern in USDA data, with 40.9 grams of fructose and 35.8 grams of glucose and 0.9 gram of sucrose. USDA lists 55.6 grams of fructose for the agave entry and 58.3 grams of sucrose for the maple entry. Molasses sits in between in USDA data, at 29.4 grams of sucrose, 12.8 grams of fructose and 11.9 grams of glucose. Our guides to agave, molasses and maple syrup cover each one.
Granulated, brown, powdered and turbinado sugar per teaspoon
FDA’s ingredient rule for sucrose, 21 CFR 184.1854, names it “sugar, cane sugar, or beet sugar” and says it “is obtained by crystallization from sugar cane or sugar beet juice that has been extracted by pressing or diffusion, then clarified and evaporated.” The table shows the dry sugars in USDA SR Legacy at the teaspoon weight USDA gives for each, ranked by sugar, with the percent Daily Value (%DV) against the FDA Daily Value of 50 grams for added sugars.
| Sugar (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Calories | Carbohydrate | Total sugars (% DV added sugars) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbinado sugar (170674) | 1 tsp (4.6 g) | 18 | 4.6 g | 4.6 g (9%) |
| Brown sugar, packed (168833) | 1 tsp (4.6 g) | 17 | 4.5 g | 4.5 g (9%) |
| Granulated sugar (169655) | 1 tsp (4.2 g) | 16 | 4.2 g | 4.2 g (8%) |
| Maple sugar (169658) | 1 tsp (3 g) | 11 | 2.7 g | 2.5 g (5%) |
| Powdered sugar (169656) | 1 tsp (2.5 g) | 10 | 2.5 g | 2.4 g (5%) |
Most of the gap in this table comes from the weight of a teaspoon. USDA gives 4.6 grams for packed brown sugar and for turbinado sugar, 4.2 grams for granulated sugar and 2.5 grams for powdered sugar. Per 100 grams in USDA data, the three crystal sugars list 97.0 to 99.8 grams of sugar. For how brown and white sugar differ, see brown sugar vs white sugar, and see our coconut sugar guide.
Syrups and honey per tablespoon
FDA has standards of identity for three of these syrups. Under FDA’s rule 21 CFR 168.130, cane sirup comes from “the juice of sugarcane” with “not less than 74 percent by weight of soluble solids”. Under FDA’s rule 21 CFR 168.140 the maple product comes from “the sap of the maple tree (Acer)” with not less than 66 percent, and under FDA’s rule 21 CFR 168.160 sorghum sirup comes from “the juice of sorghum cane” with not less than 74 percent. FDA adds that “the word “sirup” may be spelled “syrup”.” The table uses the USDA tablespoon weight, except the agave entry, which USDA SR Legacy lists only by the teaspoon.
| Syrup (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Calories | Carbohydrate | Total sugars (% DV added sugars) | Potassium (% DV) | Calcium (% DV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey (169640) | 1 tbsp (21 g) | 64 | 17.3 g | 17.2 g (34%) | 11 mg (0%) | 1 mg (0%) |
| Corn syrup, light (168837) | 1 tbsp (22 g) | 62 | 16.9 g | 16.9 g (34%) | 0 mg (0%) | 3 mg (0%) |
| Sorghum syrup (169662) | 1 tbsp (21 g) | 61 | 15.7 g | 15.7 g (31%) | 210 mg (4%) | 32 mg (2%) |
| Corn syrup, dark (168836) | 1 tbsp (20 g) | 57 | 15.5 g | 15.5 g (31%) | 9 mg (0%) | 4 mg (0%) |
| Malt syrup (169660) | 1 tbsp (21 g) | 67 | 15.0 g | 15.0 g (30%) | 67 mg (1%) | 13 mg (1%) |
| Molasses (168820) | 1 tbsp (20 g) | 58 | 14.9 g | 14.9 g (30%) | 293 mg (6%) | 41 mg (3%) |
| High-fructose corn syrup (169659) | 1 tbsp (19 g) | 53 | 14.4 g | 14.4 g (29%) | 0 mg (0%) | 0 mg (0%) |
| Maple syrup (169661) | 1 tbsp (20 g) | 52 | 13.4 g | 12.1 g (24%) | 42 mg (1%) | 20 mg (2%) |
| Agave syrup (170277) | 1 tsp (6.9 g) | 21 | 5.3 g | 4.7 g (9%) | 0 mg (0%) | 0 mg (0%) |
In USDA data, a tablespoon of honey lists about 17.2 grams of sugar, 34% of the FDA Daily Value for added sugars, and the maple entry lists 12.1 grams, or 24%. USDA lists 293 milligrams of potassium for a tablespoon of molasses, 6% of the FDA Daily Value, the most in the table. The corn syrup rows are USDA’s light and dark entries; the high-fructose type has its own guide, high fructose corn syrup. The agave row is a teaspoon, so its numbers are not comparable with the tablespoon rows.
Sweeteners outside the sugars line
FDA’s rule lists “Sugar alcohol” as a separate, voluntary line: under 21 CFR 101.9 the grams “may be declared voluntarily,” and the FDA total sugars definition quoted above names mono- and disaccharides only. See our guide to sugar alcohols, plus erythritol, stevia, monk fruit and allulose for the sweeteners that are not sugars in USDA’s sense.
Notes on reading these numbers
- Label first: the Nutrition Facts label on a package gives the figures for that product; USDA SR Legacy values are averages.
- Rounding: under 21 CFR 101.9, sugars under 0.5 gram in a serving may be shown as zero on the label.
- Where sugars turn up: our foods high in sugar list ranks foods by USDA sugar values, and the sibling guide to types of honey covers honey labels and USDA color grades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of sugar?
FDA’s labeling rule names glucose, fructose, lactose and sucrose as examples of the free mono- and disaccharides counted as total sugars; as foods, USDA lists granulated, brown, powdered, turbinado and maple sugar plus syrups and honey.
Does honey count as added sugar?
Yes. Under 21 CFR 101.9, added sugars include sugars from syrups and honey, and FDA says packages of single-ingredient sweeteners show the percent Daily Value for added sugars.
What is the FDA Daily Value for added sugars?
The FDA Daily Value for added sugars on the Nutrition Facts label is 50 grams; FDA has set no Daily Value for total sugars.
How much sugar is in a teaspoon of granulated sugar?
USDA SR Legacy lists a teaspoon of granulated sugar at 4.2 grams, almost all of it sucrose.
Is cane sugar different from beet sugar?
FDA’s ingredient rule for sucrose, 21 CFR 184.1854, names sugar, cane sugar and beet sugar as one chemical, obtained by crystallization from sugar cane or sugar beet juice.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Types of Honey: Floral Sources, USDA Colors and Labels, Honey vs Sugar: USDA Calories, Nutrition and What the Label Rules Say, Sugar Alcohols: Xylitol, Diarrhea, Blood Sugar and Labels, Foods High in Sugar: USDA Values, Added Sugars and Hidden Sources, Natural Sweeteners List: USDA Values and FDA Wording.