How Many mL in a Cup
Convert cups to mL instantly. 1 US cup = 236.6 mL. Exact values for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 2 cups with conversion table and cooking examples.
If you have ever wondered how many ml in a cup, the short answer is 236.6 mL for the US customary cup. This cups to milliliters converter handles every fraction instantly. It covers the formula, every common cup fraction, and a full conversion table — no second search needed.
The cups to ml conversion comes up when scaling baking recipes, following metric cookbooks, or logging liquids for nutrition tracking. It is one of the most practical kitchen calculations worldwide.
How to Convert Cups to mL
To convert cups to ml, multiply by 236.588:
mL = cups x 236.588
One US customary cup contains exactly 236.588 milliliters, rounded to 236.6 mL or 237 mL for practical cooking use. 1 cup in ml = 236.6 mL. The cups to milliliters converter at the top of this page handles this calculation instantly. You can also divide mL by 236.588 to reverse the direction.
Examples of how to convert cups to ml:
- 1.5 cups of vegetable broth: 1.5 x 236.588 = 354.9 mL
- 2.5 cups of flour: 2.5 x 236.588 = 591.5 mL
- 0.75 cups of olive oil: 0.75 x 236.588 = 177.4 mL
What Is a Cup?
A cup is a unit of volume measurement used primarily in cooking and baking in the United States. One US customary cup equals 8 fluid ounces, 16 tablespoons, or 236.588 milliliters. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains official US measurement standards, including the US customary cup used in American recipes and food labeling. Because different countries define the cup differently, it is important to know which cup a recipe uses before converting to mL.
What Is a Milliliter?
A milliliter (mL) is a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter. It is part of the metric system — the International System of Units (SI). The metric system is used in 195 of 197 countries worldwide. This makes mL the universal standard for liquid volume in science, medicine, and cooking outside the US. A milliliter of water weighs approximately one gram. Over 95% of the world population uses metric measurements daily. Any ml cup measurement on a kitchen jug or milliliter measuring cup uses this same unit.
1/4 Cup to mL
One quarter cup equals 59.15 mL, rounded to 59 mL. Quarter cup in ml is a common question in baking for oils, extracts, and small liquid additions. The 1/4 cup in ml calculation is: 0.25 x 236.588 = 59.15 mL. 0.25 cup to ml = 59 mL.
1/4 cup water in ml equals 59 mL, which is also useful when a care instruction uses cup fractions for a measured dose.
Quick reference: 1/4 cup to ml = 59 mL
1/2 Cup to mL (Half Cup in mL)
One half cup equals 118.29 mL, rounded to 118 mL. Half cup in ml is one of the most commonly searched conversions because this fraction appears in almost every baking recipe. 1/2 cup in ml is the answer to "1/2 cup how many ml" — it is 118 mL.
Common half-cup examples:
- 1/2 cup milk in ml = 118 mL, used in standard pancake and waffle batters
- 1/2 cup of water = 118 mL, common in rice and grain cooking instructions
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream = 118 mL, used in pasta sauces and chowders
0.5 cup in ml = 118 mL. The formula: 0.5 x 236.588 = 118.29 mL, rounded to 118 mL.
Quick reference: 1/2 cup = 118 mL
3/4 Cup to mL
Three quarters of a cup equals 177.44 mL, rounded to 177 mL. 3/4 cup to ml appears frequently in cake, muffin, and quick bread recipes. A classic banana bread recipe calls for 3/4 cup of sugar, which equals 177 mL by volume.
Quick reference: 3/4 cup = 177 mL
2 Cups to mL
Two cups to ml equals 473.18 mL, close to half a liter. How many ml is 2 cups? The answer is 473 mL. This value appears in soups, stews, and grain dishes. If a European recipe specifies 500 mL, two US cups (473 mL) is a close substitute. The 27 mL gap matters in precision baking where liquid ratios affect rise.
Quick reference: 2 cups to ml = 473 mL
1 1/3 Cups to mL
One and one-third cups equals 315.45 mL, rounded to 315 mL. 1 1/3 cup to ml comes up when halving a recipe that calls for 2 2/3 cups, or when scaling servings.
Quick reference: 1 1/3 cup = 315 mL
Other Common Cup Fractions in mL
Here are the most frequently searched cup-to-ml conversions for quick reference:
- 1/8 cup to ml = 30 mL
- 1/3 cup to ml = 79 mL
- 1 1/4 cup in ml = 296 mL
- 1 1/2 cup in ml = 355 mL
Cups to mL Conversion Table
The table below covers the most common cup values used in cooking and baking. All values use the US customary cup of 236.588 mL. This is the standard cup measurement in ml used in US recipes.
| Cups | mL (rounded) |
|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 30 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 59 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 79 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 158 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177 mL |
| 1 cup | 237 mL |
| 1 1/4 cups | 296 mL |
| 1 1/3 cups | 315 mL |
| 1 1/2 cups | 355 mL |
| 1 2/3 cups | 395 mL |
| 1 3/4 cups | 414 mL |
| 2 cups | 473 mL |
| 2 1/2 cups | 591 mL |
| 3 cups | 710 mL |
| 4 cups | 946 mL |
| 5 cups | 1,183 mL |
| 8 cups | 1,893 mL |
| 10 cups | 2,366 mL |
US Cup vs Metric Cup vs Imperial Cup
Not every recipe uses the same cup definition. Cup measurement in ml varies by country, and using the wrong value can affect your results, especially in precision baking.
| Cup Type | Volume in mL | Where It Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.588 mL | United States cooking recipes |
| US legal cup (FDA) | 240 mL | US nutrition labels |
| Metric cup | 250 mL | Australia, Canada, New Zealand |
| Imperial cup | 284.13 mL | Historical UK recipes |
| Japanese cup (go) | 200.6 mL | Japan traditional rice measure |
The difference between a US cup (236.6 mL) and a metric cup (250 mL) is 13.4 mL per cup. For a single serving this gap is small, but for a recipe using 4 cups of liquid the difference grows to 53.6 mL. In baking where precise liquid ratios affect rise and texture, that gap can change the outcome.
Australian and Canadian cookbooks use the metric cup (250 mL). A recipe calling for 2 cups means 500 mL, not 473 mL as it would be with US cups. The US FDA defines the legal cup for nutrition labeling as exactly 240 mL. For cooking, use 236.6 mL per cup.
mL to Cups Conversion (Reverse)
To convert milliliters back to cups, divide by 236.588:
cups = mL / 236.588
For example, 500 mL / 236.588 = 2.11 cups. A 1 liter bottle of water is approximately 4.23 cups.
| mL | Cups (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 50 mL | 0.21 cups |
| 100 mL | 0.42 cups |
| 150 mL | 0.63 cups |
| 200 mL | 0.85 cups |
| 250 mL | 1.06 cups |
| 300 mL | 1.27 cups |
| 400 mL | 1.69 cups |
| 500 mL | 2.11 cups |
| 750 mL | 3.17 cups |
| 1,000 mL | 4.23 cups |
Common Uses for Cups-to-mL Conversion
Cooking measurements in both cups and milliliters appear in everyday situations:
- Metric measuring jugs: A liquid measuring cup or milliliter measuring cup sold outside the US shows only mL markings. Knowing that 1 cup = 237 mL lets you measure US recipes without buying new equipment.
- Recipe conversion: When scaling a recipe up or down, converting cups to mL first makes the arithmetic cleaner. Multiplying 237 mL by 1.5 is simpler than calculating 1.5 of a 3/4 cup measure.
- Fluid measurement: International cooking, scientific recipes, and medical instructions all use mL. A French recipe specifies 200 mL of white wine; a US reader converts to 0.85 cups, approximately 3/4 cup plus one tablespoon.
- Volume conversion for nutrition tracking: Health apps log liquids in mL. Volume conversion from cups to mL gives an accurate log entry when a food label uses cups as the serving size.
- Baby formula and medication: Liquid medications specify volumes in mL. Converting cup fractions to mL removes any ambiguity about the exact dose.
Limitations of Cup-to-mL Conversion
The cups to ml conversion is reliable for liquids, but less precise for dry ingredients. The cup is a volume measurement, not a weight measurement. One cup of water and one cup of all-purpose flour occupy the same volume but weigh very different amounts. One cup of water weighs 236.6 grams; one cup of flour weighs 120 to 130 grams depending on how it is packed.
For dry ingredients in precision baking, measure by weight in grams rather than volume. Volume measurements of dry ingredients vary based on how loosely or tightly the ingredient fills the cup. A scooped cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 110 to 160 grams depending on technique.
This converter uses the US customary cup (236.588 mL). Metric cup is 250 mL, imperial cup is 284 mL, and Japanese go is 200.6 mL. Apply the correct factor from the comparison table above.
For very small measurements below 1/4 cup, small rounding differences can have a proportionally larger impact. In these cases, measuring directly in mL using a graduated syringe or small measuring cylinder gives better precision.
Related Volume Conversions
For other common volume conversion tools, DigiCalc has dedicated pages for each unit and direction:
- mL to cups converter for the reverse conversion with a full reference table
- Tablespoons to cups converter for small quantity recipe scaling
- Cups to liters converter for larger batch cooking and storage volumes
- Volume converter covering all major units in one tool
You may also find DigiCalc's gallons to liters converter useful.