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Convert US cups to milliliters instantly with our free online calculator. Essential for cooking, baking, recipe scaling, and international recipe conversions.
236.588 mL
Per US Cup
250 mL
Metric Cup (AU/CA)
8 fl oz
US Fluid Ounces
Formula: mL = Cups × 236.588
| US Cups | Milliliters | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 29.6 mL | 1 fluid ounce, small measure |
| 1/4 | 59.1 mL | Quarter cup, small ingredient |
| 1/3 | 78.9 mL | Third cup, recipe fractions |
| 1/2 | 118.3 mL | Half cup, common measure |
| 2/3 | 157.7 mL | Two-thirds cup |
| 3/4 | 177.4 mL | Three-quarter cup |
| 1 | 236.6 mL | Standard cup, 8 fl oz |
| 1.5 | 355 mL | One and a half cups |
| 2 | 473 mL | Two cups, 1 US pint |
| 3 | 710 mL | Three cups |
| 4 | 946 mL | Four cups, 1 US quart |
| 8 | 1,893 mL | Eight cups, half gallon |
| 16 | 3,785 mL | One US gallon |
A US cup is a unit of volume used primarily in American cooking and baking. It is legally defined as exactly 236.588 milliliters (or 1/16 of a US gallon). The US cup is part of the US customary measurement system and equals 8 US fluid ounces. It is the most common volume measurement in American recipes, used for both liquid and dry ingredients. Measuring cups for dry ingredients are typically designed to be filled level with the rim, while liquid measuring cups have extra space above the cup line to prevent spillage.
A milliliter (mL) is a metric unit of volume equal to one-thousandth of a liter. The metric system is used worldwide and is the standard in scientific, medical, and most international cooking contexts. Milliliters provide precise, decimal-based measurements that are easier to scale and calculate than fractional cup measurements. One milliliter of water weighs exactly one gram at standard temperature and pressure, making metric measurements convenient for both volume and weight conversions.
Understanding cup-to-milliliter conversion is essential when following international recipes, scaling recipes up or down, or when working with kitchen equipment marked in different measurement systems. It is important to note that cup sizes vary by country: the US cup (236.588 mL) differs from the metric cup (250 mL) used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and the older imperial cup (284 mL) once used in the UK. Always verify which cup standard a recipe uses to ensure accuracy.
The formula to convert US cups to milliliters is: mL = Cups × 236.588. Simply multiply the number of cups by 236.588 to get the equivalent volume in milliliters.
Question: A cookie recipe calls for 1/2 cup of milk. How many milliliters is that?
Question: A smoothie recipe requires 2 cups of almond milk. Convert to milliliters.
Note: 2 cups equals exactly 1 US pint.
Question: You need 1/4 cup of olive oil. How many milliliters?
For quick estimates, multiply cups by 240 instead of 236.588. This gives you a result about 1.4% higher than the exact value, which is acceptable for most cooking. For example: 3 cups × 240 = 720 mL (exact: 710 mL). Another easy approximation: 1 cup ≈ 250 mL (the metric cup), though this is 5.7% high. Use this only for non-precision cooking like soups or beverages.
| Fraction | Cups (decimal) | Milliliters |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 0.125 | 29.6 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 0.25 | 59.1 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 0.333 | 78.9 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 0.5 | 118.3 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 0.667 | 157.7 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 0.75 | 177.4 mL |
| 1 cup | 1.0 | 236.6 mL |
| Cups | Milliliters | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 236.6 mL | 8 fl oz |
| 2 | 473.2 mL | 1 pint (16 fl oz) |
| 3 | 709.8 mL | 24 fl oz |
| 4 | 946.4 mL | 1 quart (32 fl oz) |
| 6 | 1,419.5 mL | 1.5 quarts |
| 8 | 1,892.7 mL | 2 quarts (half gallon) |
| 16 | 3,785.4 mL | 1 gallon (128 fl oz) |
| Cup Type | Milliliters | Used In |
|---|---|---|
| US Legal Cup | 240 mL | US nutrition labeling |
| US Customary Cup | 236.588 mL | US recipes (standard) |
| Metric Cup | 250 mL | Australia, New Zealand, Canada |
| Imperial Cup | 284.131 mL | UK (historical, pre-metric) |
| Japanese Cup | 200 mL | Japanese recipes |
Baking is chemistry. Accurate liquid-to-flour ratios determine whether bread rises properly, cakes are fluffy, or cookies spread correctly. Converting cups to mL ensures precision when scaling recipes or following European recipes that use metric measurements.
Most of the world uses metric measurements. When following recipes from European, Asian, or Australian cookbooks, converting US cups to milliliters ensures you use the correct ingredient amounts and achieve authentic flavors and textures.
Milliliters make it easier to scale recipes mathematically. Doubling or halving a recipe is simpler with decimal measurements (473 mL × 2 = 946 mL) than with fractions (1.5 cups × 2 = 3 cups). This is especially useful for commercial kitchens and meal prep.
Nutritional information is often given per 100 mL or per serving in milliliters. Converting your cup measurements to mL helps you accurately track calories, macros, and hydration, especially when using food tracking apps or following dietary plans.
US, metric, and imperial cups are different sizes. When sharing recipes or following international cookbooks, clarify the cup standard to avoid measurement errors.
In professional baking or large-scale production, use the exact factor. For everyday home cooking, rounding to 240 mL per cup is acceptable and easier to calculate.
When using a liquid measuring cup, place it on a flat surface and read the measurement at eye level to avoid parallax error, which can lead to inaccurate conversions.
This is a metric cup used in Australia and Canada, not a US cup. The 5.7% difference can significantly affect baking outcomes, especially in bread and pastry recipes.
Dry measuring cups are meant to be filled level with the rim. Using a liquid measuring cup for flour or sugar can lead to over-measurement and incorrect mL conversions.
1 cup of water weighs 236.6 grams, but 1 cup of flour weighs only about 120-130 grams. Always convert volume to volume (cups to mL), not volume to weight, unless you know the ingredient density.
One US cup equals exactly 236.588 milliliters. This is the legally defined standard for US cooking measurements. For practical purposes, it is often rounded to 237 mL or 240 mL in recipes, though the exact value is 236.588 mL.
No, cup measurements vary by country. A US cup is 236.588 mL, a metric cup (used in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada) is 250 mL, an imperial cup (UK, pre-metric) is 284 mL, and a Japanese cup is 200 mL. Always specify which cup system you're using when following international recipes.
Baking is chemistry where precise ratios of dry to wet ingredients determine texture, rise, and consistency. A 5-6% difference (like rounding 236.588 mL to 250 mL) can affect hydration ratios in bread dough, gluten development, and final product quality. Professional bakers often measure by weight for this reason.
For quick mental math, multiply cups by 240 (an easy approximation). For example, 2 cups × 240 = 480 mL. This gives you a result about 1.4% higher than the exact value, which is acceptable for most cooking. For even simpler math, use 1 cup ≈ 250 mL (metric cup), though this is 5.7% high.
One US fluid ounce equals 29.5735 mL. Since a US cup is 8 fluid ounces, 8 × 29.5735 = 236.588 mL per cup. This relationship helps you convert between cups, ounces, and milliliters in recipes that mix measurement systems.
It depends on the recipe. For forgiving dishes like soups or stews, the 5.7% difference won't matter. For precision baking (bread, pastries, cakes), this difference can affect texture and rise. If a recipe specifies US cups and you only have a metric cup, reduce liquids slightly or increase dry ingredients by about 6%.
500 mL equals approximately 2.11 US cups (500 ÷ 236.588 = 2.1134). For practical cooking, you can use 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons, since 2 cups = 473 mL and 2 tablespoons = 30 mL, totaling approximately 503 mL.
240 mL is an easier number to work with in mental math and is only 1.4% higher than the exact 236.588 mL. For everyday cooking, this small difference is negligible. However, professional bakers and food scientists use the exact value of 236.588 mL for precision.
This calculator uses the legally defined US cup measurement of exactly 236.588 milliliters. For nutrition labeling, the US FDA uses a legal cup of 240 mL. Always verify measurements for professional food production, scientific applications, or where precision is critical.