How many mL is 1 cup?
It depends. 1 US cup is 236.59 mL; 1 metric cup is exactly 250 mL.
Volume conversion
Cups to milliliters converter calculator
Last updated:
1 US cup equals 236.588 milliliters. 1 metric cup (used in Australia, NZ, and most cookbooks outside the US) equals exactly 250 mL. 1 UK cup is rarely used in modern recipes; weight is more common.
Featured cups to milliliters converter answer
Cups
1/4 US cup
milliliters converter
59.15 mL
Formula: 1 cup (US) = 236.588 milliliters. Open the live calculator to convert any value.
Formula
1 cup (US) = 236.588 milliliters
The US customary cup is defined as 8 US fluid ounces, which works out to 236.588 mL. The metric cup of 250 mL is simpler and is the standard in modern Australian and European baking.
Common values
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1/4 US cup | 59.15 mL |
| 1/3 US cup | 78.86 mL |
| 1/2 US cup | 118.29 mL |
| 2/3 US cup | 157.73 mL |
| 3/4 US cup | 177.44 mL |
| 1 US cup | 236.59 mL |
| 1 metric cup | 250 mL (exact) |
| 2 US cups | 473.18 mL |
| 3 US cups | 709.76 mL |
| 4 US cups (1 quart) | 946.35 mL |
Background
Cup measurements travel poorly because the unit isn't standardized internationally. For accurate baking across regions, weight (grams) is more reliable than volume, which is why most contemporary recipe sites publish both.
Common use cases
- Convert US recipe measurements into milliliters for metric kitchen tools.
- Translate ingredient quantities for food prep and batching.
- Check packaged liquid volumes when recipes and labels use different systems.
Frequently asked questions
Is a US cup the same as a metric cup?
No. A US cup is 236.588 mL; a metric cup is 250 mL. The 13 mL difference is enough to matter for baking ratios.
How many mL is 1/2 cup?
1/2 US cup is 118.29 mL; 1/2 metric cup is 125 mL.
Why don't UK recipes use cups?
Traditional British recipes measure dry ingredients by weight (grams, ounces) rather than volume. Cups never became the household standard in the UK the way they did in the US and (later) Australia.
Should I use US or metric cups when converting a recipe?
Match the recipe's country of origin: US recipes use US cups, Australian/NZ/UK recipes use metric cups when they use cups at all. For best accuracy across versions, convert to grams using a kitchen scale.
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