mL to Cups Converter
Divide milliliters by 236.6 to get US cups. 250 mL is 1.06 US cups, 100 mL is about 0.42 cups and 500 mL is 2.11 cups. With a metric cup it's simpler: divide by 250, so 250 mL is exactly 1 cup.
How to use
- Type the milliliters.
- Pick the cup type you'll measure with.
- Read the cups, then the cup-and-spoon combination to measure with.
The formula and two worked examples
cups = mL ÷ 236.6 (US cup) and cups = mL ÷ 250 (metric cup)
200 mL of milk. 200 ÷ 236.6 = 0.845 US cups, which is 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp. In metric cups it's 0.8 cups.
A 500 mL carton of cream. 500 ÷ 236.6 = 2.11 US cups, so just over 2 cups.
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. 100 mL of flour and 100 mL of honey weigh very different amounts; use grams to mL with the ingredient for weight. Spoon-sized amounts under 30 mL are easier in tablespoons: 15 mL is 1 tablespoon.
Reference tables
| mL | US cups | Measure with (US) | Metric cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 0.127 | about 2 tbsp + a pinch | 0.12 |
| 50 | 0.211 | about 3 tbsp + 1 1/8 tsp | 0.2 |
| 60 | 0.254 | 1/4 cup + 1/4 tsp | 0.24 |
| 100 | 0.423 | 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp | 0.4 |
| 120 | 0.507 | 1/2 cup + 1/4 tsp | 0.48 |
| 150 | 0.634 | 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp + 1/2 tsp | 0.6 |
| 200 | 0.845 | 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp | 0.8 |
| 240 | 1.014 | 1 cup + 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp | 0.96 |
| 250 | 1.057 | 1 cup + 2 3/4 tsp | 1 |
| 300 | 1.268 | 1 1/4 cups + 1/2 tsp + 1/4 tsp | 1.2 |
| 500 | 2.113 | 2 cups + 1 tbsp + 2 1/2 tsp | 2 |
| 750 | 3.17 | 3 cups + 2 tbsp + 2 1/4 tsp | 3 |
| 1000 | 4.227 | 4 cups + 3 tbsp + 2 tsp | 4 |
| Cup | mL | vs US cup |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.6 | - |
| US nutrition label cup | 240 | +1.4% |
| Metric cup (UK, AU, NZ, CA) | 250 | +5.7% |
| Japanese cup | 200 | -15.5% |
Tips
- 15 mL is 1 US tablespoon and 5 mL is 1 teaspoon, close enough for any recipe.
- A 250 mL measuring cup from Australia or the UK holds about 1 tablespoon more than a US cup.
- For drinks and soups, 240 mL and 250 mL are interchangeable. For baking, use the cup your recipe was written for.
FAQ
How many cups is 250 mL?
How many cups is 100 mL?
How many cups is 500 mL?
How many cups is 200 mL of milk?
How many mL is a tablespoon?
How many cups are in a liter?
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44 Appendix C · accessed 2026-10-14
Values are averages for typical US products. Brands vary, so weigh with a kitchen scale when a recipe needs to be exact.