Cups to Milliliters
Convert cups to milliliters instantly. Free, fast, no signup.
How to use this tool
- Enter cups in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your milliliters and the full breakdown beneath it.
Convert cups to milliliters instantly. Free, fast, no signup.
Formula
Milliliters = Cups × 236.5882365
The US legal cup is defined as exactly 240 mL, but the US customary cup used here equals 8 US fluid ounces = 8 × 29.5735295625 mL = 236.5882365 mL.
How it works
Multiply the number of cups by 236.5882365 to get milliliters. This tool uses the US customary cup, defined as exactly 8 US fluid ounces (8 × 29.5735295625 mL). Measuring cups sold in the US are calibrated to this standard.
Common mistake: Treating all "cups" as interchangeable. The US customary cup (≈ 236.6 mL), the US legal cup (240 mL used in nutrition labeling), the metric cup (250 mL used in Australia and Canada), and the imperial cup (≈ 284 mL) all differ. A recipe specifying "1 cup" means different quantities depending on its country of origin.
Worked example
Convert 1 cup to milliliters
- Start with 1 US customary cup.
- Multiply by 236.5882365: 1 × 236.5882365.
- Round to four decimal places: 236.5882.
1 cup = 236.5882 mL
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming all cups are equal -- the US legal cup (240 mL) and the US customary cup (236.588 mL) differ by 3.4 mL, and the metric cup used in Australia and Canada is exactly 250 mL.
- Confusing volume cups with the US legal cup when following nutrition-label serving sizes -- US FDA labels use 240 mL per cup, not the 236.588 mL customary value.
- Not accounting for ingredient density -- 1 cup of flour (120 g) and 1 cup of water (237 g) occupy the same volume but weigh very differently; volume conversion does not equal mass conversion.
Key terms
- US customary cup
- A unit of volume equal to 8 US fluid ounces, or approximately 236.588 mL. The standard cup in most American recipes and measuring cup sets.
- US legal cup
- A unit of exactly 240 mL defined by US federal regulations for food labeling — slightly larger than the customary cup.
- Metric cup
- A unit of exactly 250 mL used in Australia, Canada, and other countries that follow metric cooking standards.
- Fluid ounce
- A unit of volume; 1 US fluid ounce = 29.5735295625 mL. A US cup equals exactly 8 fluid ounces.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert cups to milliliters?
- Multiply the number of cups by 236.588 to get milliliters.