Cups to Milliliters Converter
Convert US cups to milliliters and back as you type, made for kitchen measurement conversion.
1 cup = 236.588 mL
Type in either box and the other updates automatically.
This converter runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.
How to use this tool
Type the amount you have into either field. Enter US cups on the left to see the equivalent in milliliters, or enter milliliters on the right to see how many cups that is. Both inputs are linked, so the moment you change one the other updates instantly. Use the Clear button to reset both fields and start over. This cups to ml converter is handy whenever a recipe lists US cups but your measuring jug only shows metric markings.
The formula and how it works
cups = milliliters ÷ 236.588
One US customary cup is defined as exactly 236.588 milliliters. To convert cups to milliliters you multiply the number of cups by 236.588. To go the other way and convert milliliters back to cups, you divide by the same number. Note that this is the US legal cup used in most American recipes; the metric cup (250 mL) and the UK imperial cup (about 284 mL) are different, so check which one your recipe assumes if you need exact baking liquid metrics.
A real example
Say a cookie recipe calls for 1.5 cups of milk and you want the metric amount. Multiply 1.5 by 236.588 to get 354.882 mL, which you can round to about 355 mL for everyday baking. Going the other direction, if a European recipe lists 500 mL of stock and you only have US cup measures, divide 500 by 236.588 to get roughly 2.11 cups, a little over two cups.
Common baking amounts reference table
These are the conversions cooks reach for most often. Values are rounded to one decimal place for everyday baking liquid metrics.
| US cups | Milliliters (mL) |
|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 29.6 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 59.1 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 78.9 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118.3 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 157.7 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177.4 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.6 mL |
| 1 1/2 cups | 354.9 mL |
| 2 cups | 473.2 mL |
| 3 cups | 709.8 mL |
| 4 cups | 946.4 mL |
Common questions
How many milliliters are in one US cup?
One US cup equals exactly 236.588 milliliters. Many cooks round this to 240 mL for quick mental math, but this tool uses the precise value for accuracy.
Is a US cup the same as a metric cup?
No. A US cup is 236.588 mL, while a metric cup is 250 mL and a UK imperial cup is about 284 mL. This converter uses the US cup, which is standard in American recipes.
Does this work for dry ingredients like flour?
Cups and milliliters both measure volume, so the conversion is the same regardless of ingredient. However, the weight of a cup of flour differs from a cup of sugar, so for weight you would need a separate gram conversion.
Can I convert milliliters back to cups here?
Yes. Just type your value into the milliliters box and the cups field updates automatically, since both inputs are linked for two-way kitchen measurement conversion.
Why does my answer have so many decimals?
The exact conversion produces long decimals. For baking you can safely round to the nearest whole milliliter or to one decimal place without affecting your results.