Cups to Milliliters
Convert US cups to milliliters with the exact factor (1 cup = 236.588 mL), a quick reference table, and common cooking and baking measures.
cup to ml formula
To convert US cups to milliliters (mL), multiply by 236.588. One US customary cup is defined as 236.588 mL (half of a US pint).
Quick reference: cup to ml
Common values
0.25 cup = 59.15 ml
0.5 cup = 118.3 ml
1 cup = 236.6 ml
2 cup = 473.2 ml
3 cup = 709.8 ml
4 cup = 946.4 ml
Worked example
Convert 1 cup to mL:
1 cup × 236.588 = 236.588 mL
So 1 US cup is 236.588 mL, often rounded to 237 mL.
Why convert cup to ml?
US recipes measure liquids in cups, while most of the world uses milliliters. This conversion makes international recipes work in a US kitchen.
You can also use our calculator or read the paired guide ml reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mL are in one cup?
1 US cup = 236.588 mL (about 237 mL).
Is a US cup the same as a metric cup?
No. A US cup is 236.588 mL; some metric cups are 250 mL. Use the US value for American recipes.
How many mL is half a cup?
0.5 cup × 236.588 = 118.294 mL.
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Quick Summary
cup to ml uses a single exact factor. Use the formula above or the reference table for quick, accurate results.
Related Guide
US Cups to ML: Complete Baking and Cooking Conversion Guide
Convert US cups to milliliters for baking and cooking. Master the cups to ml conversion for accurate recipe measurements in metric.
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mL to Cups: Convert Metric Volume to US Baking Measures
Convert mL to cups with the exact US formula (1 cup = 236.588 mL). Covers 100 mL, 250 mL, and recipe scaling for everyday American baking.
Read Full Guide →More in Cooking & Baking
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Convert fluid ounces to mL with the exact US formula (1 fl oz = 29.5735 mL). Covers drinks, recipes, and skincare for everyday American use.
8 oz to mL: What a Standard US Cup Really Holds
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Disclaimer
Unit conversions on this site use internationally recognized, fixed conversion factors (for example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg, 1 °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32). They are provided for general, informational, and educational use. For applications where accuracy is critical — such as medical dosing, engineering, scientific research, trade, or legal compliance — always verify results against authoritative sources such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the official International System of Units (SI) brochure, and follow any applicable local standards.
Exact Constants & Authoritative Sources
Every conversion on this page uses the fixed, internationally agreed constants below — drawn from NIST and the SI Brochure. No values are estimated or rounded as if exact. See the full list on our Sources & Standards page.
- EXACT1 US gallon (gal) = 3.785411784 litres (exact, 231 in³)
- EXACT1 US fluid ounce (fl oz) = 29.5735295625 mL (exact, 1/128 gal)
- EXACT1 US cup = 236.5882365 mL (exact, 8 fl oz)
- EXACT1 US pint (pt) = 473.176473 mL (exact, 16 fl oz)
- EXACT1 US quart (qt) = 946.352946 mL (exact, 32 fl oz)
- EXACT1 litre (L) = 1000 millilitres (definition)
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
US vs. Imperial (UK) cups
A US cup is 236.59 mL, but a UK/metric cup is 250 mL and an Imperial cup is ~284 mL. Recipes from different countries are not interchangeable drop-in.
Fluid ounce is volume, not mass
A US fl oz is 29.57 mL of volume. 1 fl oz of water ≈ 29.57 g, but 1 fl oz of honey or oil weighs more. Do not treat fluid ounces as grams.
Teaspoon/tablespoon sizes differ
1 US tbsp = 14.7868 mL; 1 US tsp = 4.92892 mL. Metric measuring spoons are 15 mL and 5 mL — close but not exact; for baking precision use weighed grams.
A unit-conversion reference site has no manufacturer-specific or device calibration parameters, so "layered tuning" does not apply here. The only real error-handling is input validation: the converter rejects non-numeric, empty, or out-of-range entries and shows a clear message, then falls back to exact constants above. No estimated or rounded figures are ever presented as exact.
Authoritative sources for this page
- NIST (U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) — NIST SP 330 — The International System of Units (SI), 2019 edition
- BIPM (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) — SI Brochure — The International System of Units (9th edition)
Last Updated 2026 | This article was reviewed for accuracy