Cup to Milliliters Converter
Convert cups to milliliters for recipes, baking and meal prep. US cup = 240 mL, UK cup = 284 mL, metric cup = 250 mL — all three standards covered.
Last updated: May 2026
Enter a value to see the conversion instantly.
How to convert cups to milliliters
Enter a volume value in cups in the "From" field to instantly see the equivalent in milliliters. The conversion uses the formula: milliliters = cups × 236.588. You can use the preset buttons (1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 1, 2, 4 cups) to quickly test common recipe measurements, or swap the units to convert milliliters back to cups.
Common reference values
| Cups | Milliliters | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 59.15 mL | Small ingredient amount (baking) |
| 1/3 cup | 78.86 mL | Standard small recipe portion |
| 1/2 cup | 118.29 mL | Half-cup butter or flour measure |
| 1 cup | 236.59 mL | Standard recipe measurement |
| 2 cups | 473.18 mL | Pint-equivalent measure |
| 4 cups | 946.35 mL | One quart (large batch) |
Understanding Cups and Milliliters
Both cups and milliliters measure liquid and dry volume. A cup is a traditional imperial/US measurement unit, while milliliters are part of the metric system. In the kitchen, recipe sites, imported measuring sets and ingredient guides often mix cups and milliliters, which can cause annoying mistakes when scaling recipes or substituting ingredients.
When You'll Need This Conversion
Use this converter for: Reading imported recipes without guessing, scaling baking or cooking instructions, translating cup measures into a metric kitchen setup, comparing ingredient amounts between recipe sources, using metric measuring tools with imperial recipes.
Why it matters: A quarter-cup difference is significant in baking. Getting the volume wrong affects texture, rise, and results. Precision matters in the kitchen.
Real-World Context
- 1/4 cup (59 mL): Small ingredient amount, typically butter or extracts
- 1/3 cup (79 mL): Standard small recipe portion for dry ingredients
- 1/2 cup (118 mL): Common flour, sugar, or liquid measure
- 1 cup (237 mL): Standard full cup recipe measurement
- 2 cups (473 mL): Pint-equivalent, larger ingredient batch
- 4 cups (946 mL): One quart, large-batch or party recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters are in 1 cup?
One US cup equals 236.588 milliliters. This is a fixed conversion used in cooking and baking worldwide. The metric conversion is useful for recipe scaling and international cooking.
Why do recipes still use cups?
Many popular English-language recipe sources still use cups because the measurement system is traditional in North America. Metric conversion makes recipes more universal but doesn't change the fact that many printed cookbooks and websites use cups.
Does precision matter in baking?
Especially in baking, yes. Baking is chemistry. A quarter-cup difference in flour or liquid affects dough hydration, rise, and texture. Using this converter ensures your substitutions are accurate.
Are all cups identical?
Not always. This converter uses the standard US cup (236.588 mL). Some recipes may use metric cups (250 mL) or imperial cups (284 mL). If your recipe source specifies a different cup size, check the conversion first.
What's a practical tip for converting without this tool?
Remember that 1 cup ≈ 240 mL for quick estimation. For example, 2 cups ≈ 480 mL, and 0.5 cup ≈ 120 mL. For exact baking, use this converter to avoid rounding errors.