Theory and experimental calibration of density dependent modified Drucker-Prager/Cap (DPC) model are presented by using a novel instrumented cubic die in powder compaction tests. The cubic die is designed for directly determining the loading and unloading forces and displacements of powder compact inside the die in compaction and transverse directions without any additional calibration. The cap surface parameters and elastic properties are characterized by fitting stress and strain curves recorded during loading and unloading at different green density values and the plastic material parameters for failure surface are obtained by additional radial and axial compressive tests. The experimental data is subsequently used in the simulation of cubic die compaction to verify the results from the density dependent modified DPC model. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.