Cups to ML Converter | Free Kitchen Volume Calculator
My Kitchen Gadgets••4 min read
Cups to ML Converter
Convert cups to milliliters for US, Imperial, and Metric cup sizes. Bidirectional, instant, and free, with adjustable decimal precision and a full reference chart.
Not all cups are equal. A US cup = 236.59 mL, an Imperial (UK) cup = 284.13 mL, and a Metric cup (Australia/Canada) = 250 mL. Using the wrong cup size when following international recipes is a common source of baking errors. This converter supports all three and shows the difference clearly.
Select Cup Type
Quick amounts
cups
Decimal places:
Milliliters
-
mL
Tablespoons
-
tbsp
Fluid Ounces
-
fl oz
Cups to mL Reference Chart
Common cup measurements converted to mL for all three cup standards:
Cups
US mL
Imperial mL
Metric mL
fl oz (US)
¼
59.15
71.03
62.5
2
½
118.29
142.07
125
4
¾
177.44
213.1
187.5
6
1
236.59
284.13
250
8
1½
354.88
426.2
375
12
2
473.18
568.26
500
16
3
709.76
852.39
750
24
4
946.35
1136.52
1000
32
US vs Imperial vs Metric Cup: What's the Difference?
Cup sizes differ significantly by country, and using the wrong one can throw off a recipe, especially in baking:
US cup (236.59 mL): used in the United States and most US-published recipes. Slightly less than 240 mL.
Metric cup (250 mL): used in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Exactly 250 mL = ¼ liter.
Imperial cup (284.13 mL): now rarely used in the UK, which has mostly switched to metric. Still appears in older British recipes.
The difference between a US and Metric cup is 13.41 mL, about a tablespoon. For a recipe using 3 cups of liquid, that's a 40 mL difference, which can noticeably affect cookies, cakes, and sauces. Always check which country your recipe comes from.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mL is 1 cup?
It depends on the cup type: US cup = 236.59 mL, Metric cup (Australia/Canada) = 250 mL, Imperial cup (UK) = 284.13 mL. Most American recipes use 236.59 mL. Most recipes from Australia and Canada use 250 mL. When a recipe just says "1 cup," check the recipe's country of origin.
Is 250ml equal to 1 cup?
Only for the Metric cup used in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. For US recipes, 1 cup = 236.59 mL, not 250. Using 250 mL for a US recipe adds about 13.4 mL per cup, roughly a tablespoon, which can affect sensitive baked goods.
Does 2 cups equal 500 mL?
Only if you're using Metric cups (2 × 250 mL = 500 mL exactly). With US cups, 2 cups = 473.18 mL, not 500. With Imperial cups, 2 cups = 568.26 mL.
What is 1 cup of liquid in mL?
For water or any liquid: US cup = 236.59 mL, Metric cup = 250 mL, Imperial cup = 284.13 mL. Since water has a density of 1 g/mL, mL and grams are identical for water, so 1 US cup of water = 236.59 mL = 236.59g.
How do I convert cups to mL by hand?
Multiply the number of cups by your cup's mL value: US: cups × 236.59, Metric: cups × 250, Imperial: cups × 284.13. For example, 1.5 US cups = 1.5 × 236.59 = 354.89 mL.
How many cups is 500 mL?
500 mL = 2.113 US cups, 2.000 Metric cups, or 1.760 Imperial cups. The converter handles all three: switch to "mL to Cups" mode, enter 500, and select your cup type.
About This Converter
Cup sizes: US = 236.588 mL (NIST), Metric = 250 mL (international standard), Imperial = 284.131 mL (UK historical). Tablespoon = 14.787 mL (US). All calculations run in your browser with no data sent to any server.
