Cups to mL Calculator | Convert Cups to Milliliters
Free cups to mL calculator for cooking and baking. Convert US cups to milliliters instantly. 1 cup = 236.588 mL. Includes conversion chart and recipe examples.
Embed this calculator
Copy and paste this code into your website. The embed includes a "Powered by CalculatorSwitch.com" footer with a backlink.
Dimensions: 100% width, 650px height, fully responsive.
Attribution: Includes "Powered by CalculatorSwitch.com" footer with backlink (required for free use).
Styling: Clean minimal design with rounded border, optimized for embedding.
Understanding results
The calculator displays:
- Milliliters (mL): Your cup measurement converted to metric volume
- Decimal precision: Results shown to 2 decimal places
For practical cooking, round to the nearest whole number or 5 mL increment.
Purpose
Quick Answer: 1 US cup = 236.588 mL (round to 237 mL for cooking). Half cup = 118 mL. Quarter cup = 59 mL.
The cups to milliliters calculator converts US cup measurements to metric milliliters instantly. Essential for cooking and baking with international recipes, or when using measuring equipment marked in mL.
Note: This calculator uses the US legal cup (240 mL for nutrition labels) or US customary cup (236.588 mL). Most recipes use the customary cup measurement.
How to use
- Enter cups in the input field (decimals OK, e.g., 0.5 for half cup)
- See mL result instantly displayed
- Round for cooking - For practical cooking, round to the nearest 5 mL
Quick Conversion Table
| Cups | Milliliters |
|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 59 mL |
| ⅓ cup | 79 mL |
| ½ cup | 118 mL |
| ⅔ cup | 158 mL |
| ¾ cup | 177 mL |
| 1 cup | 237 mL |
| 1½ cups | 355 mL |
| 2 cups | 473 mL |
| 3 cups | 710 mL |
| 4 cups | 946 mL |
Examples
Example 1: Convert 1 cup (standard recipe amount)
1 cup × 236.588 = 236.59 mL ≈ 237 mL
Example 2: Convert ½ cup
0.5 cups × 236.588 = 118.29 mL ≈ 118 mL
Example 3: Convert 2 cups (common liquid amount)
2 cups × 236.588 = 473.18 mL ≈ 473 mL
Example 4: Convert ¼ cup
0.25 cups × 236.588 = 59.15 mL ≈ 59 mL
How it works
Formula: Milliliters = Cups × 236.588
The US customary cup is defined as exactly 236.5882365 mL. For practical purposes, 237 mL is commonly used.
Example Calculation:
1.5 cups × 236.588 = 354.882 mL ≈ 355 mL
Common Fractions:
½ cup = 0.5 × 236.588 = 118.29 mL ≈ 118 mL
¼ cup = 0.25 × 236.588 = 59.15 mL ≈ 59 mL
FAQ
How many mL in a cup?
1 US cup = 236.588 mL (approximately 237 mL). This is the standard US customary cup used in cooking.
How do I convert cups to mL?
Multiply cups by 236.588 (or 237 for easy math). Example: 2 cups × 237 = 474 mL.
How many mL is half a cup?
Half cup (½ cup) = 118 mL (0.5 × 236.588 = 118.29 mL).
How many mL is a quarter cup?
Quarter cup (¼ cup) = 59 mL (0.25 × 236.588 = 59.15 mL).
What is 2 cups in mL?
2 cups = 473 mL (2 × 236.588 = 473.18 mL).
Is a cup 250 mL or 236 mL?
The US cup is 236.588 mL. The metric cup (used in Australia/Canada) is 250 mL. Always check which standard your recipe uses.
How many mL is 1/3 cup?
One-third cup (⅓ cup) = 79 mL (0.333 × 236.588 = 78.86 mL).
How many mL is 3/4 cup?
Three-quarters cup (¾ cup) = 177 mL (0.75 × 236.588 = 177.44 mL).
How do I convert mL back to cups?
Divide mL by 236.588. Example: 500 mL ÷ 236.588 = 2.11 cups.
Why are US cups and metric cups different?
The US customary cup (236.588 mL) evolved from historical measurements, while the metric cup (250 mL) was designed for easy decimal conversion. Always check which your recipe uses.
Methodology
How This Calculator Works
This calculator uses the US customary cup measurement (236.588 mL), which is the standard for cooking and baking recipes in the United States.
Conversion Factor: 1 US cup = 236.5882365 mL (exact)
Note on Different Cup Standards:
- US customary cup: 236.588 mL (used here)
- US legal cup: 240 mL (nutrition labels)
- Metric cup: 250 mL (Australia, Canada)
- Imperial cup: 284 mL (UK)
Validation & Accuracy
Tested: Verified against NIST reference values and standard culinary conversions.
Accuracy: Results shown to 2 decimal places. For cooking, round to the nearest 5 mL.
Sources
The US cup measurement is defined by the US customary system. The exact conversion (236.5882365 mL) is based on the international inch agreement of 1959 and subsequent standardization.