Volume:
Table of Contents
The formula
Divide milliliters by the US cup definition:
cups = mL ÷ 236.5882
- cups — US customary cups (not metric or imperial).
- mL — milliliters, the SI unit for small liquid volumes.
- 236.5882 — exact US cup size (8 US fl oz × 29.5735 mL).
To reverse (cups to mL): mL = cups × 236.5882. Or use the cups to mL calculator.
Worked example
Default input: 250 mL.
- Apply the formula: 250 ÷ 236.5882 = 1.0567 US cups.
- In fractions: approximately 1 cup + 1 tablespoon.
Note: 250 mL is exactly 1 metric cup (Australia / NZ / Canada), so it looks “round” in metric systems but gives a fractional result in US cups.
mL to cups conversion table
| Milliliters (mL) | US Cups |
|---|---|
| 30 | 0.127 (2 tbsp) |
| 50 | 0.211 |
| 60 | 0.254 (¼ cup) |
| 100 | 0.423 |
| 120 | 0.507 (½ cup) |
| 150 | 0.634 |
| 200 | 0.845 |
| 240 | 1.014 (1 legal cup) |
| 250 | 1.057 (1 metric cup) |
| 300 | 1.268 |
| 400 | 1.691 |
| 500 | 2.113 |
| 750 | 3.170 |
| 1000 | 4.227 |
| 2000 | 8.454 |
History & standards
The milliliter is one thousandth of a litre. The litre was defined in France in 1795 as the volume of exactly 1 dm³ and remains so today per the BIPM. Since 1 mL = 1 cm³, milliliters map directly onto the metric solid grid — making them the universal language of liquid measurement in science and medicine.
The US cup (236.588 mL) is a creature of US customary measure. Different “cups” exist worldwide:
- US customary cup: 236.588 mL — standard in American recipe books (this calculator).
- US legal cup (FDA): 240 mL — used on US nutrition labels only.
- Metric cup (AU / NZ / CA): 250 mL exactly.
- Japanese cup (gou): 200 mL.
- Old imperial cup: ≈284 mL — obsolete in modern recipes.
Common applications
- Adapting metric recipes. European and Australian recipes list liquids in mL or liters. Converting to US cups lets you use standard American measuring cups.
- Medicine dosing. Liquid medicines come in mL. Converting to cups helps caregivers use kitchen measures in a pinch — though a proper syringe is always safer.
- Protein shakes & smoothies. Nutrition labels list serving sizes in mL; recipe cards often list cups. This calculator bridges the two.
- Beer & cider home-brewing. Australian-origin recipes use 250 mL metric cups; US home-brew books use US cups. Knowing the 5.7% difference prevents off-ratio batches.
Limitations & gotchas
- Metric vs US cups. 250 mL = 1 metric cup, but only 1.057 US cups. For most liquid recipes the 14 mL gap is trivial; for precise baking, use the calculator.
- Density matters for solids. 1 mL of flour is not 1 mL of sugar by weight. This calculator converts volume only — it cannot substitute for a kitchen scale when a recipe lists grams.
- Coffee maker “cups”. Coffee machine carafe markings often use 150 mL per “cup,” not 236.588 mL. Do not use this converter to measure water for a drip machine — use the carafe markings instead.
Sources & references
- NIST, “SI Units — Volume.” nist.gov.
- BIPM, “SI Units.” bipm.org.
FAQs
250 mL ÷ 236.588 = approximately 1.057 US cups. Coincidentally, 250 mL is exactly 1 metric cup (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, modern UK). So 250 mL is just over 1 US cup but exactly 1 metric cup.
No. A US cup is 236.588 mL; a metric cup is exactly 250 mL — about 5.7% larger. If you are converting for a metric-cup recipe, divide mL by 250 instead of 236.588.
100 ÷ 236.588 ≈ 0.423 US cups, which is just under half a cup. In tablespoons: 100 mL ≈ 6.76 US tablespoons.
1 liter = 1000 mL. 1000 ÷ 236.588 ≈ 4.227 US cups. In metric cups (250 mL each), 1 liter = exactly 4 metric cups.
Most drip coffee makers define one “cup” as 150–180 mL — based on a traditional European coffee serving — not the 236.588 mL US customary cup. A 12-cup coffee machine typically makes 1.8–2.0 liters, not 12 × 236 mL.
Only for water. 1 mL of water = 1 gram because water has a density of 1 g/cm³. Other ingredients differ: flour ≈ 0.5 g/mL, honey ≈ 1.4 g/mL, vegetable oil ≈ 0.92 g/mL. Use ingredient-specific density tables for accurate baking conversions.