To convert cups to mL, multiply US customary cups by 236.5882365, the exact size of the US cup in milliliters. Formula: mL = US customary cups × 236.5882365; mL = metric cups × 250. For example, 1/2 cup ≈ 118.3 mL and 2 cups ≈ 473.2 mL.
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How to use the cups to mL converter
- Enter the amount in cups, using decimals for fractions: 3/4 cup = 0.75.
- Read the cups to ml converter result: 0.75 × 236.588 ≈ 177.4 mL.
- Check which cup your recipe uses; a metric recipe’s cup is 250 mL.
What is the cups to mL formula?
milliliters = US cups × 236.588
The reverse is US cups = milliliters × 0.0042267528 (approximately).
The US liquid gallon is exactly 231 cubic inches (3.785411784 L) and the US customary cup is 1/16 of a gallon (236.5882365 mL), so these factors are exact. The multiplier 236.588 is rounded to six significant digits; the cups to ml calculator uses the full-precision value.
What are US cups and milliliters?
Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space something occupies. The SI unit is the cubic meter; the liter is 1/1,000 of a cubic meter. A US liquid gallon is exactly 231 cubic inches (about 3.785 L), while an imperial gallon is exactly 4.54609 L.
- US cup (cup US): 1 cup US = 0.0002365882365 m³ (US Liquid unit).
- Milliliter (mL): 1 mL = 1 × 10−6 m³ (Metric unit).
Cups to ml worked examples
- One cup of water: 1 × 236.588 = 236.588 mL
- ¾ cup of sugar: 0.75 × 236.588 = 177.441 mL
- 2 cups of broth: 2 × 236.588 = 473.176 mL
Conversion chart
| cup US | mL | cup US | mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.125 | 29.5735 | 1.5 | 354.88 |
| 0.25 | 59.1471 | 2 | 473.18 |
| 0.333 | 78.7839 | 2.5 | 591.47 |
| 0.5 | 118.29 | 3 | 709.76 |
| 0.667 | 157.8 | 4 | 946.35 |
| 0.75 | 177.44 | 5 | 1,182.94 |
| 1 | 236.59 | 6 | 1,419.53 |
| 1.25 | 295.74 | 8 | 1,892.71 |
Values are rounded to four decimal places, or two for results of 100 or more.
Quick mental conversion
Multiply by 240 for a quick estimate: 1.5 cups ≈ 360 mL (exact 354.9 mL).
Cup fractions in tablespoons and mL
| US cup | Tablespoons | mL |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 2 | 29.6 |
| 1/4 | 4 | 59.1 |
| 1/3 | 5 1/3 | 78.9 |
| 1/2 | 8 | 118.3 |
| 2/3 | 10 2/3 | 157.7 |
| 3/4 | 12 | 177.4 |
| 1 | 16 | 236.6 |
A US cup is 8 US fluid ounces. Metric-cup recipes use 250 mL.
US cups from milliliters: reverse chart
Going the other way, US cups = milliliters × 0.0042267528. Common values:
| milliliters | US cups |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.004226753 |
| 2 | 0.008453506 |
| 5 | 0.02113376 |
| 10 | 0.04226753 |
| 20 | 0.08453506 |
| 50 | 0.2113376 |
| 100 | 0.4226753 |
| 500 | 2.113376 |
| 1,000 | 4.226753 |
US, label and metric cups
Several cups are in use:
| Cup | mL | Where used |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.588 | US recipes; 8 US fl oz |
| US legal cup | 240 | US nutrition labels (FDA) |
| Metric cup | 250 | Australia, New Zealand, Canada |
| Imperial cup (old UK) | 284.131 | older British recipes; 10 UK fl oz |
For most recipes the 1.5% gap between 236.6 mL and 240 mL does not matter, but the 250 mL metric cup is 5.7% larger.
Water, milk and liquid measures
One US cup of water weighs about 236.6 g, since 1 mL of water is close to 1 g at room temperature. Milk is slightly denser, about 243 g per cup. For dry ingredients, weight varies widely, so a scale gives better results. Use the mL to cups converter for the reverse and the gallons to liters converter for larger volumes.
Rice cookers and coffee makers
Not every “cup” in a kitchen is a US cup. The measuring cup that comes with a rice cooker holds about 180 ml, based on the Japanese gō. Three rice cooker cups are about 540 ml, or roughly 2.3 US cups. Using a US measuring cup instead gives more rice than the water lines expect.
Drip coffee makers mark their carafes in “cups” that are usually 5 to 6 fl oz, about 150 to 180 ml, not 240 ml. A 12 cup carafe holds about 1.8 to 2.1 liters rather than 2.8 liters. A cups to ml conversion based on the US cup will overstate the volume.
Butter in the US is sold in sticks of 1/2 cup, which weigh 113 g.
Measuring cups sold in Australia hold 250 ml, while US cups hold about 237 ml. The 13 ml gap is small for one cup but adds up in a recipe that uses four or five cups of liquid, so match the cup to the recipe’s country when you can. Nutrition labels in the US use a rounded 240 ml cup.
Related converters and calculators
Related conversions:
- mL to cups: mL to cups
- Gallons to liters: gal to L
- Liters to gallons: L to gal
- Volume converter: L, gal, m³
Sources
NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B; eCFR: 21 CFR 101.9 (nutrition labeling; 1 cup = 240 mL); NIST: US customary to metric conversions.
Questions about this calculator
How many mL are in a cup?
A US customary cup is 236.588 mL; a nutrition label cup is 240 mL; a metric cup is 250 mL.
How do I convert cups to mL?
Multiply by 236.588. For example, 1.5 cups ≈ 354.9 mL.
How many mL is 1/4 cup?
About 59.1 mL.
How many mL is 3/4 cup?
About 177.4 mL.
Is a cup 250 mL?
Only the metric cup used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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