Cups to mL Converter
Convert cups to milliliters, or milliliters to cups, using a US, US label, metric or UK cup, with liters, fluid ounces and tablespoons.
Results
| Item | Value |
|---|
Quick Answer
One US cup is 236.6 mL, so multiply cups by 236.59 to get milliliters: 1/4 cup is 59.1 mL, 1/2 cup is 118.3 mL and 2 cups are 473.2 mL. To turn mL into US cups, divide by 236.59: 100 mL is 0.423 cups and 500 mL is 2.113 cups. A metric cup is 250 mL.
Embed this calculator
Adjust the size if needed, then copy the code below into your page or blog. The calculator will load in an iframe and stay updated automatically.
Table of Contents
- Cups to mL Converter
- Quick Answer
- Related Calculators
- How This Cups to mL Converter Works
- How to Use the Cups to mL Converter
- Cups to mL Formulas
- Key Terms
- Worked Example
- Real-Life Examples
- US Cup vs Metric Cup
- Cups to mL Chart
- Which Cup Does Your Recipe Use?
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References & Sources
How This Cups to mL Converter Works
A cup is not the same size everywhere, which is why a recipe from another country can go wrong. Choose the direction and the cup your recipe uses, enter the amount and press Calculate. The converter gives milliliters to one decimal place (or cups to three), plus liters, US fluid ounces, tablespoons and the same amount in US and metric cups.
Quick explanation: a US cup is about 237 mL; a metric cup is 250 mL.
- US cups to mL: multiply by 236.59.
- mL to US cups: divide by 236.59.
- Metric cups: multiply or divide by 250.
How to Use the Cups to mL Converter
- Choose cups to milliliters or milliliters to cups.
- Choose the cup type your recipe uses.
- Enter the amount (decimals such as 0.75 work).
- Press Calculate.
- Read the converted amount, plus liters, fluid ounces, tablespoons and other cups.
Cups to mL Formulas
- US customary cup: 1 cup = 8 US fl oz = 236.5882365 mL
- US nutrition label cup: 1 cup = 240 mL
- Metric cup: 1 cup = 250 mL
- UK imperial cup: 1 cup = 10 UK fl oz = 284.130625 mL
- mL from cups: mL = cups × cup size; cups from mL: cups = mL ÷ cup size
Key Terms
- US cup: 8 US fluid ounces, 236.59 mL.
- Legal cup: 240 mL, used on US nutrition labels.
- Metric cup: 250 mL, used in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
- Milliliter (mL): one thousandth of a liter.
- Fluid ounce (fl oz): 1/8 of a US cup, 29.57 mL.
Worked Example
An Australian recipe asks for 2 cups of milk. How much is that in milliliters, and in US cups?
- Australia uses metric cups: 2 × 250 = 500 mL
- In US cups: 500 ÷ 236.59 = 2.113 cups, about 2 cups + 2 tbsp
- In US fluid ounces: 500 ÷ 29.57 = 16.91 fl oz
Going the other way, 3/4 US cup is 0.75 × 236.59 = 177.4 mL.
Real-Life Examples
- Baking: 1/3 US cup of oil is 78.9 mL.
- Drinks: a 355 mL can is 1.50 US cups.
- Baby formula: 120 mL is 0.507 US cups, about 1/2 cup.
- Imported recipes: 1 metric cup is 1.057 US cups.
US Cup vs Metric Cup
- US cup: 236.59 mL, 8 US fl oz, 16 tablespoons.
- Metric cup: 250 mL, about 1.057 US cups.
- Difference: a metric cup holds about 13.4 mL (just under 1 tbsp) more.
Cups to mL Chart
US cup 236.5882365 mL; metric cup 250 mL.
| Cups | US cup (mL) | Metric cup (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 29.6 mL | 31.2 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 59.1 mL | 62.5 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 78.9 mL | 83.3 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118.3 mL | 125.0 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 157.7 mL | 166.7 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177.4 mL | 187.5 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.6 mL | 250.0 mL |
| 1 1/2 cups | 354.9 mL | 375.0 mL |
| 2 cups | 473.2 mL | 500.0 mL |
| 3 cups | 709.8 mL | 750.0 mL |
| 4 cups | 946.4 mL | 1000.0 mL |
Which Cup Does Your Recipe Use?
US cookbooks and websites use the customary cup of 8 US fluid ounces (236.59 mL). US nutrition facts labels round it to 240 mL, so a drink label can say 1 cup (240 mL). Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa use the 250 mL metric cup, which is about 6% larger. Older British recipes sometimes use a cup of half an imperial pint, 284 mL, but modern UK recipes mostly give grams and milliliters instead.
The difference is small for a splash of milk but adds up in baking. Four metric cups of flour hold about a quarter cup more than four US cups. When a recipe comes from another country, pick its cup in the converter, then measure in mL with a jug or switch to grams with a kitchen scale.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a metric cup for a US recipe. It is about 6% bigger.
- Treating a coffee mug as a cup. Mugs often hold 300-350 mL.
- Packing dry ingredients. Spoon and level flour unless the recipe says packed.
- Reading the label cup as exact. 240 mL is a rounded labeling cup.
- Mixing cups and fluid ounces of weight. A cup is a volume, not 8 oz of weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
A US cup is 236.59 mL, a US label cup is 240 mL and a metric cup is 250 mL.
1/2 US cup is 118.3 mL; 1/2 metric cup is 125 mL.
1/4 US cup is 59.1 mL.
1/3 US cup is 78.9 mL.
250 mL is 1.057 US cups, or exactly 1 metric cup.
500 mL is 2.113 US cups.
1 liter is 4.227 US cups, or 4 metric cups.
240 mL is the US label cup; 250 mL is the metric cup; the US recipe cup is 236.59 mL.
3/4 US cup is 177.4 mL.
References & Sources
| Source | Used For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement | US customary cup of 8 fluid ounces and the fluid ounce in milliliters. | https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/nist-handbook-44-current-edition |
| 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii), Nutrition labeling of food | For nutrition labeling, a cup means 240 mL. | https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-101/subpart-A/section-101.9 |