How Many mL in a Cup
Convert cups to mL instantly. 1 US cup = 236.6 mL. Free cups to milliliters converter with table for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 cup and more. No signup needed.
How Many mL in a Cup
One US cup equals 236.588 milliliters (mL), typically rounded to 236.6 mL for everyday use. Knowing how many mL in a cup matters when following recipes from different countries, measuring liquid medications, or reading international nutrition labels. Use this cups to milliliters converter to get an instant result for any cup value. It covers both US and metric cup standards used around the world.
This tool handles both directions: convert cups to mL or mL to cups. It is useful for cooking measurements, baking, recipe conversion, and fluid measurement tasks where precision matters.
Cups to mL Formula
To convert cups to milliliters, multiply the number of cups by 236.588:
mL = cups x 236.588
Example: 2.5 cups x 236.588 = 591.47 mL
For quick estimates, multiply cups by 237. The rounding difference is less than 1 mL per cup, which is negligible for most cooking and baking tasks.
Cups to mL Conversion Table
| Cups | Milliliters (mL) |
|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 29.57 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 59.15 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 78.86 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118.29 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 157.72 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177.44 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.59 mL |
| 1 1/4 cups | 295.74 mL |
| 1 1/3 cups | 315.45 mL |
| 1 1/2 cups | 354.88 mL |
| 1 2/3 cups | 394.31 mL |
| 1 3/4 cups | 414.03 mL |
| 2 cups | 473.18 mL |
| 3 cups | 709.76 mL |
| 4 cups | 946.35 mL |
How Many mL is 1/4 Cup?
1/4 cup to ml equals 59.15 mL, commonly rounded to 59 mL. Multiply 0.25 by 236.588 to reach this value, or use 0.25 cup to ml directly in the converter above. A quarter cup is a standard small measure used in baking for butter, oil, sugar, and spices. On a kitchen scale measuring water, 59 mL weighs approximately 59 grams, since water has a density of 1 gram per mL at room temperature.
How Many mL is 1/3 Cup?
1/3 cup to ml equals 78.86 mL, rounded to 79 mL. Multiply 0.333 by 236.588 to reach this value. One-third cup is a common measurement in smaller portions of liquid ingredients such as broth, vinegar, oil, or cream. When scaling a recipe from 3 servings to 1 serving, a full cup becomes 1/3 cup, which equals 79 mL in metric.
How Many mL is 1/2 Cup?
1/2 cup in ml equals 118.29 mL, rounded to 118 mL. Searching for 1/2 cup to ml gives the same result: 118.29 mL. Half a cup is one of the most frequently searched cup-to-mL conversions because it appears in nearly every baking recipe globally. Half cup in ml is also written as 0.5 cup in ml, both referring to the same value: 118.29 mL. For practical use, 118 mL is just under 120 mL on a standard measuring jug. The 1/2 cup how many ml question is answered simply: 118 mL.
How Many mL is 3/4 Cup?
3/4 cup to ml equals 177.44 mL, rounded to 177 mL. Multiply 0.75 by 236.588 to reach this value. Three-quarters of a cup is a frequent measurement in sauces, dressings, and batter recipes. Note that 3/4 of a metric cup (250 mL) equals 187.5 mL, which is about 10 mL more than the US equivalent. When precision matters in baking, converting to mL removes this ambiguity.
How Many mL is 1 1/4 Cups?
1 1/4 cup in ml equals 295.74 mL, rounded to 296 mL. Multiply 1.25 by 236.588 to get this value. This measurement appears in bread, cake, and pancake recipes. If working with metric cups (250 mL each), 1 1/4 metric cups equals 312.5 mL, about 17 mL more than the US cup equivalent. In precision baking, this gap can affect the texture of muffins and cakes.
How Many mL is 1 1/3 Cups?
1 1/3 cup to ml equals 315.45 mL, rounded to 315 mL. Multiply 1.333 by 236.588. This measurement is common in pasta sauces, grain dishes, and batter recipes. When scaling up, 1 1/3 cups sits between 1 cup and 1 1/2 cups. Using a metric cup gives 333 mL for this amount, roughly 18 mL more. Converting to mL first ensures consistent results across different cup sizes.
How Many mL is 1 1/2 Cups?
1 1/2 cup in ml equals 354.88 mL, rounded to 355 mL. Multiply 1.5 by 236.588. One and a half cups is a widely used liquid measurement for soups, smoothies, sauces, and batters. In practical terms, 355 mL is close to the volume of a standard 330 mL beverage can plus an extra 25 mL. Filling a 350 mL or 375 mL measure gives a close enough approximation for most cooking purposes.
How Many mL is 2 Cups?
How many ml is 2 cups? 2 cups equals 473.18 mL, rounded to 473 mL. Two US cups also equals 1 US pint. When using a metric measuring jug, 2 cups sits just below the 500 mL mark. For most cooking tasks, filling to 475 mL is a practical approximation. Multiply 2 by 236.588 to confirm the precise value.
mL to Cups Formula
To convert mL back to cups, divide the mL value by 236.588:
cups = mL / 236.588
Example: 500 mL / 236.588 = 2.11 cups
| Milliliters (mL) | Cups |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 1000 mL | 4.23 cups |
For reverse calculations, use DigiCalc's mL to cups converter.
Cup Standards Around the World
Cup measurements vary by country. The ml cup equivalent differs depending on which country's standard the recipe uses. When following an international recipe, check which cup standard applies. The differences add up across multiple cups and can affect the outcome, especially in baking.
| Cup Type | Volume (mL) | Where It Is Used |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.59 mL | United States (cooking and baking) |
| US legal cup (FDA) | 240 mL | United States (nutrition labels) |
| Metric cup | 250 mL | Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa |
| Imperial cup (UK) | 284.13 mL | Pre-1970s UK recipes |
| Japanese cup | 200 mL | Japan |
The milliliter is an SI unit of volume defined by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). According to BIPM, 1 milliliter equals exactly 1 cubic centimeter (cm³). Countries that use the metric system account for over 95% of the world's population, making the milliliter the most widely used liquid measurement unit globally. Unlike the cup, which differs between countries, the milliliter is a universal standard within the metric system, used identically worldwide. Converting cup measurements to mL removes regional ambiguity from any recipe conversion.
Real-World Uses for Cups to mL Conversion
Cooking and baking with international recipes: A recipe from Australia or Canada that calls for 1 cup of milk means 250 mL, not 236.6 mL. Expressing cooking measurements in mL clarifies the exact amount and removes guesswork when using metric measuring jugs.
Measuring liquid medications: Over-the-counter syrups specify doses in mL, but dosage cups are sometimes marked in tablespoons or cups. Knowing that 1 cup in ml equals 236.6 mL helps verify dosage accuracy when a calibrated medicine syringe is not available.
Nutrition label reading: The FDA defines a legal cup as exactly 240 mL for nutrition labeling purposes. This differs from the 236.6 mL US customary cooking cup. Converting the listed serving size to mL confirms whether a measured portion matches the label exactly.
Scaling recipes for large batches: When multiplying a recipe, cup fractions become unwieldy. Converting all cooking measurements to mL first and then multiplying produces cleaner numbers for consistent results across larger quantities.
Limitations of Cup Measurements
Cup measurements are imprecise for dry ingredients. A cup of flour can vary by 20 to 30 grams depending on how tightly it is packed. Professional baking recipes use grams rather than cups for this reason. For fluid measurement of liquids, cups are reliable because volume is consistent regardless of how the cup is filled.
The cup is not a globally standardized unit. The same recipe can produce different results depending on which country's cup size the author intended. For precision cooking, converting cups to mL and using a calibrated measuring jug eliminates this uncertainty entirely.
DigiCalc's cups to milliliters converter uses the US customary cup (236.588 mL) as the default. If your recipe uses Australian, Canadian, or Japanese cup sizes, use the country comparison table above to apply the correct conversion factor. For additional volume conversions, see DigiCalc's cups to liters converter and ounces to mL converter.