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:
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.
