Symbol: mL (milliliters), cup (cups)
What they are:
The milliliter is a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter, while the cup is a unit of volume used primarily in cooking. Note that cup sizes vary between countries.
Conversion Facts:
- 1 US cup = 236.588 milliliters
- 1 milliliter = 0.00422675 US cups
- 240 mL ≈ 1 cup
- 120 mL ≈ 0.5 cups
Milliliter to Cup (US) Converter
Quick Answer
1 mL = 0.00422675 cup
Formula: Cup (US) = Milliliter x 0.00422675
Quick values
What are Volume Measurements?
Volume measurements quantify the amount of space that a substance or object occupies. Milliliters and cups are two common units used for measuring volume, particularly in cooking and food preparation.
The relationship between milliliters and cups depends on the cup standard being used. In the United States, 1 cup equals exactly 236.588 milliliters, which means 1 milliliter equals 0.00422675 cups.
Learn more from NIST or Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM).
Common Milliliters to Cups Conversions
| Milliliters (mL) | Cups | Common Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 29.57 mL | 1/8 cup | Standard shot glass |
| 59.15 mL | 1/4 cup | Small yogurt container |
| 78.86 mL | 1/3 cup | Standard medicine cup |
| 118.29 mL | 1/2 cup | Small coffee cup |
| 157.73 mL | 2/3 cup | Small juice glass |
| 177.44 mL | 3/4 cup | Standard wine glass |
| 236.59 mL | 1 cup | Standard coffee mug |
| 473.18 mL | 2 cups (1 pint) | Standard water bottle |
Practical Use Cases
- International Cooking: Converting between metric recipes (using milliliters) and US recipes (using cups)
- Nutrition Tracking: Converting between different measurement systems for accurate tracking of liquid intake and ingredients
- Medication Administration: Converting between medical measurements (milliliters) and household measurements (cups) for proper dosing
- Beverage Preparation: Converting between different volume measurements for cocktails, coffees, and other drinks
- Food Manufacturing: Scaling recipes from metric measurements to household quantities
- Scientific Experiments: Converting between laboratory volumes and everyday measurements for home science projects
Educational Resource
This educational video explains how to convert between milliliters and cups with practical examples and applications in cooking and everyday life.
Conversion Tools
Download Conversion Chart (PDF)Get our comprehensive milliliters to cups conversion chart for quick reference when you're cooking or working on recipes.
Milliliters to Cups Conversion FAQs
Find answers to common questions about converting between milliliters and cups.
How do you convert milliliters to cups?
To convert milliliters to cups (US), multiply the milliliter value by 0.00422675. For example: 1) 240 mL = 1 cup, 2) 120 mL = 0.5 cups, 3) 480 mL = 2 cups. Our calculator handles this automatically.
What is 1 cup equal to in milliliters?
1 US cup equals exactly 236.588 milliliters. This is a standard conversion used worldwide in cooking measurements. For quick estimates, you can think of 1 cup as about 240 mL, or 1/2 cup as about 120 mL.
Why would I need to convert milliliters to cups?
Converting milliliters to cups is useful when: 1) Following recipes from different countries, 2) Converting between metric and US measurements, 3) Working with cooking ingredients, 4) Understanding liquid medicine dosages.
What's the difference between US and metric cups?
There are different cup measurements: 1) US Cup = 236.588 mL, 2) Metric Cup = 250 mL, 3) Imperial Cup = 284.131 mL. Our converter uses US cups by default, which is the standard in American recipes.