Convert Cups to Milliliters (mL)
1 cup equals 236.588 milliliters.
Cup to Milliliter Converter
What Is a Cup?
The US customary cup (c) is a unit of volume equal to 8 fluid ounces, 16 tablespoons, or approximately 236.588 mL. It is the primary ingredient measure in American cooking and baking. The metric cup (250 mL) and imperial cup (284 mL) are different sizes.
What Is a Milliliter?
The milliliter (mL) is a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter (0.001 L) or 1 cubic centimeter (cm³). It is the international standard for precise liquid measurement in cooking, medicine, and science.
Cups to Milliliters Formula
The conversion factor is:
milliliters = US cups × 236.588
Derived from: 1 US cup = 8 fl oz = 8 × 29.5735 mL = 236.588 mL.
Worked Example
Convert 1.5 cups of flour to milliliters:
- Multiply: 1.5 × 236.588 = 354.9 mL
So 1.5 cups ≈ 355 mL — about the same as a standard US soda can (355 mL / 12 fl oz).
Quick Estimation
1 cup ≈ 240 mL is the standard kitchen shortcut used on US nutrition labels (overshoots by 1.4%). Multiply cups by 240 for quick estimates. Example: 3 cups × 240 = 720 mL (exact: 709.8 mL).
Common Cups to Milliliters Conversions
| US Cups | Milliliters | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ⅛ cup | 29.6 mL | 1 fluid ounce / 2 tablespoons |
| ¼ cup | 59.1 mL | 4 tablespoons |
| ⅓ cup | 78.9 mL | 5⅓ tablespoons |
| ½ cup | 118.3 mL | 4 fluid ounces |
| ⅔ cup | 157.7 mL | 10⅔ tablespoons |
| ¾ cup | 177.4 mL | 6 fluid ounces |
| 1 cup | 236.6 mL | 8 fluid ounces |
| 1½ cups | 354.9 mL | 12 fluid ounces (soda can) |
| 2 cups | 473.2 mL | 1 pint / 16 fluid ounces |
| 3 cups | 709.8 mL | Close to a wine bottle (750 mL) |
| 4 cups | 946.4 mL | 1 quart / 32 fluid ounces |
US Cup vs Metric Cup vs Imperial Cup
Three different "cups" exist worldwide, which causes confusion when following international recipes:
- US customary cup: 236.588 mL (8 US fl oz) — used in all American recipes
- Metric cup: 250 mL (exact) — used in Australia, New Zealand, Canada
- Imperial cup: 284.131 mL (10 UK fl oz) — historical UK measure, rarely used today
The 5.7% difference between the US cup and the metric cup rarely matters in cooking, but can affect baking ratios for sensitive recipes like macarons or soufflés.
When You Need This Conversion
- International baking: Converting US cup measurements to metric for digital kitchen scales. ½ cup butter = 118 mL ≈ 113 g.
- Nutrition labels: US labels use "240 mL" as a cup equivalent. This is a rounded approximation of the actual 236.6 mL.
- Metric recipes: European and Asian recipes list ingredients in mL. Converting back: 200 mL ≈ 0.85 US cups.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mL is 1 cup?
1 US cup = 236.588 mL. For kitchen estimates, use 240 mL. If using metric cups (Australia, Canada), 1 cup = exactly 250 mL.
Is a cup 250 mL?
A metric cup = 250 mL (Australia, Canada, NZ). A US cup = 236.6 mL — 5.7% smaller. Check which cup your recipe assumes.
How many mL in half a cup?
½ US cup = 118.3 mL (about 120 mL for kitchen purposes). ½ metric cup = 125 mL.
Why do US nutrition labels say 240 mL = 1 cup?
The FDA uses 240 mL as the "reference amount" for a cup on nutrition labels (21 CFR 101.12). This is a rounded value — the actual US cup is 236.588 mL. The 1.4% difference is considered negligible for labeling.
Cups to milliliters Conversion Table
Reference table with common cups to milliliters conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Cups to Milliliters Table
0.0001 to 12
Cups to Milliliters Table
1 to 100000
Milliliters to Cups Table
0.1 to 500
Milliliters to Cups Table
1000 to 1 × 108
Looking for the reverse? Convert Milliliter to Cup
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