MeasuredCup

Cups to mL Converter

1 US cup is 236.6 mL, so multiply cups by 236.6 to get milliliters. 1/2 cup is 118.3 mL and 1/4 cup is 59.1 mL. If your recipe is from the UK, Australia or Canada it probably uses a 250 mL metric cup, so 1 cup there is 250 mL.

Fractions like 2/3 or 1 1/2 work

Switch to mL to cups

236.6mL

= 16 tbsp · 8 fl oz (US)

Same amount in other cups: 240.0 mL (label cup) · 250.0 mL (metric cup)

How to use

  1. Type the cup amount. Fractions like 2/3 or 1 1/2 work.
  2. Pick the cup type. Leave it on US cup for American recipes.
  3. Read the milliliters, plus tablespoons and fluid ounces.

The formula and two worked examples

mL = cups × 236.6 (US cup) and mL = cups × 250 (metric cup)

3/4 cup of milk. 0.75 × 236.6 = 177.4 mL. With an Australian 250 mL cup it would be 187.5 mL.

2 1/2 cups of stock. 2.5 × 236.6 = 591.5 mL, a little over half a liter.

Which cup does your recipe use?

A US cup in a recipe is 236.6 mL, defined in US customary units. US nutrition labels round it to 240 mL. UK, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian recipes usually mean a metric cup of 250 mL, about 6% more than a US cup. Older Japanese recipes may use a 200 mL cup. If a recipe comes from outside the US, switch the cup type above.

What this tool doesn't cover

It converts volume only. A cup of flour and a cup of honey are both 236.6 mL but weigh very different amounts; use cups to grams for weight. It doesn't cover UK imperial cups from old British cookbooks (about 284 mL).

Reference tables

Cups to mL chart
CupsUS cup (mL)Label cup (mL)Metric cup (mL)
1/829.630.031.3
1/459.160.062.5
1/378.980.083.3
1/2118.3120.0125.0
2/3157.7160.0166.7
3/4177.4180.0187.5
1236.6240.0250.0
1 1/2354.9360.0375.0
2473.2480.0500.0
3709.8720.0750.0
4946.4960.01,000
Cup sizes compared
CupmLvs US cup
US customary cup236.6-
US nutrition label cup240+1.4%
Metric cup (UK, AU, NZ, CA)250+5.7%
Japanese cup200-15.5%
Four measuring cups with wooden handles in a row on a white table
Photo: Mae Mu / Unsplash

Tips

  • For liquids, a jug marked in mL is more accurate than filling a cup to the brim.
  • 4 US cups is 946 mL, a little under a liter. 4 metric cups is exactly 1 liter.
  • When a recipe gives both cups and grams, trust the grams.

FAQ

How many mL is 1 cup?
236.6 mL for a US cup. A US nutrition label cup is 240 mL, and a metric cup used in the UK, Australia and Canada is 250 mL.
How many mL is 1/2 cup?
118.3 mL in US cups, or 125 mL with a metric cup.
How many mL is 1/4 cup?
59.1 mL in US cups, or 62.5 mL with a metric cup.
Is a cup 250 mL or 240 mL?
Neither, in a US recipe: a US cup is 236.6 mL. 240 mL is the rounded cup on US nutrition labels, and 250 mL is the metric cup used in the UK, Australia and Canada.
How many mL is 1 cup of water?
236.6 mL in a US cup, which weighs about 237 g.
How many cups is 1 liter?
About 4.23 US cups, or exactly 4 metric cups.

Sources

Sikander Malik

Founder, builds MeasuredCup's converters

Last updated October 21, 2026

Editorial policy

Values are averages for typical US products. Brands vary, so weigh with a kitchen scale when a recipe needs to be exact.