Cups to Milliliters Converter (US, Legal & Metric)
Instantly convert cups to milliliters (mL) with our free bidirectional calculator. Supports US Customary, US Legal (240ml), and Metric (250ml) cups.
Conversion Inputs
Cup type
1 US Customary Cup = 236.5882365 mL
Select cups or milliliters above and click Calculate to refresh both fields with the exact conversion.
How to Use This Converter
The converter is bidirectional: enter the quantity of cups (you can optionally add a fractional amount) or milliliters and the other field will update automatically. Choose the correct cup definition for your region before calculating.
Methodology
Each cup type maps to an exact milliliter value defined by international standards. We multiply the cup total by the selected factor to yield milliliters, or divide the milliliter amount by the factor to recover cups. Inputs and assumptions stay visible so you can verify how the numbers are produced.
Common Cooking Conversions (US Customary)
Quick reference values for US recipes using the ~236.59 mL cup.
| US Customary Cups | Milliliters (mL) |
|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 29.57 mL |
| 1/4 cup | 59.15 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 78.86 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118.29 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 157.72 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177.44 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.59 mL |
| 2 cups | 473.18 mL |
Which Cup Are You Using?
The correct conversion factor depends on the measuring cup stamped on your tools or the recipe's provenance. Use the selector above before calculating so we apply the right multiplier.
- US Customary Cup (~236.59 mL): The most common cup in the United States; defined as half of a liquid US pint.
- US Legal Cup (240 mL): Defined by the FDA for nutrition labeling and commonly used on food packaging.
- Metric Cup (250 mL): Standardized as one quarter of a liter and used in Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.
Dynamic Conversion Chart
The chart below updates to show a span of nearby cup values and their milliliter equivalence.
| US Customary Cups | Milliliters (mL) |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1 cup in mL?
It depends on the cup you are using:
- 1 US Customary Cup = 236.588 mL
- 1 US Legal Cup = 240 mL
- 1 Metric Cup = 250 mL
Is 1 cup 240ml or 250ml?
Both answers are correct in their context. The US Legal Cup is exactly 240 mL for packaging. The Metric Cup is 250 mL and is used outside the US. Everyday US recipes use the ~236.59 mL cup, which is often rounded to 240 mL for convenience.
How many mL is half a US cup?
Half of a US Customary Cup is 118.294 mL, often rounded to 120 mL in many recipes.
How do I convert 1/3 cup to mL?
For a US Customary cup: 1/3 × 236.588 mL ≈ 78.86 mL. For a Metric cup: 1/3 × 250 mL ≈ 83.33 mL.