How Many mL Are in a Cup?

Quick explanation

Use this cups to mL converter when a recipe gives a volume in cups and you want the equivalent in millilitres. For most US-style recipe conversions on this site, 1 US recipe cup is treated as a practical 240 mL kitchen measure. The calculator also lets you switch to the exact US customary reference when you need it. If your recipe specifically says metric cup, use 250 mL instead. That small difference usually does not matter for casual cooking, but it can matter in baking, scaling, custards, sauces, bread hydration, or recipes with several cups of liquid. For the reverse direction, use the mL to Cups Converter. If the recipe switches between liquid ounces and weight ounces, check Fluid Ounces vs Ounces: Why the Difference Matters before measuring.

Fast answer

1 US recipe cup = 240 mL This is the most useful practical kitchen value for most US-style recipe conversions.

1 Metric cup = 250 mL Use this when a recipe says metric cup or clearly comes from a metric-cup source.

Match the recipe source first Use about 236.6 mL for an American measuring set, and follow any mL amount the recipe gives.

What is 1 cup in mL?

For everyday recipe work, the practical US cup checkpoints are easy to remember: 1 cup = 240 mL, 1/2 cup = 120 mL, 1/3 cup = 80 mL, and 1/4 cup = 60 mL. Treat those as kitchen values, not a technical standards deep dive. Use the metric cup value of 250 mL when a recipe says metric cup or when the recipe source clearly expects metric cups. For a fuller explanation, read Metric vs US Cup: Why Results Differ.

US cup vs metric cup

Cup type	mL value	Common use
US recipe cup	240 mL	Most practical US-style recipe conversions on this site
US customary cup	about 236.6 mL	Technical measurement reference
Metric cup	250 mL	Metric-cup recipes, including many Canada, Australia, and New Zealand sources

For everyday recipe conversions, 240 mL is the most useful default for a US recipe cup. If a recipe clearly comes from a metric-cup source or says metric cup, use 250 mL.

Amount

cup to mL

Unit preset (cups) Metric cup, 250 mL US customary cup, 236.6 mL

Converted value

250 mL

~ 250 mL

Scale preview

Quick kitchen estimate. For precise nutrition or production work, verify standards and source measurements.

How CupsToML handles measurement standards

Last reviewed: April 18, 2026

CupsToML is independently run for home cooks and bakers. The site aims to be practical and transparent: it uses a clear kitchen default when one is needed, shows where a different standard changes the answer, and points you to a guide or chart when a quick number is not the whole story.

Who runs this site CupsToML is maintained as a small independent publishing project. It is built for practical kitchen use, not presented as a chef-led school, scientific lab, or appliance brand.

How assumptions are chosen Assumptions are chosen to match common home-cooking use. Cup-aware pages explain when the practical US recipe cup, exact US customary cup, or metric cup changes the answer. Where the standard matters, the page should say so plainly and keep the relevant option visible.

How pages are reviewed Priority pages are rechecked when templates, routing, or measurement rules change. When the answer depends on cup standard, ingredient state, or measuring method, the page should say so plainly and route you to the right supporting page.

CupsToML uses practical kitchen conversion values designed for recipe use. For most US-style cup guidance, 240 mL is the practical recipe value; where relevant, the site also explains metric cups and exact US customary values so you can choose the right standard for your recipe. For the full standards note, use Kitchen Measurement Standards, Metric vs US Cup, and About CupsToML.

Calculation steps

How to convert cups to mL manually

mL = cups × cup-size-in-mL

Use 240 mL for the practical US recipe cup, about 236.6 mL for the exact US customary cup, or 250 mL for a metric cup.

Practical kitchen rounding

1 US recipe cup = 240 mL; 1 Metric cup = 250 mL

The difference between 240 mL and 250 mL is 10 mL per cup. Across 4 cups, that becomes 40 mL, which can matter in baking, custards, sauces, bread hydration, and batch cooking.

Worked example

Input: 2

Practical US recipe value: 2 × 240 = 480 mL. Metric cup value: 2 × 250 = 500 mL.

For flexible soups, drinks, and casual sauces, either standard may work if you stay consistent. For baking and scaling, match the recipe standard.

About these units

Cup measurement for recipes

Cup is a recipe volume measure, but the value depends on the standard behind the recipe. For fast kitchen work, 240 mL is the practical US recipe-cup value. A metric cup is 250 mL, and the exact US customary cup is about 236.6 mL.

1/4 cup = 60 mL, 1/3 cup = 80 mL, and 1/2 cup = 120 mL using the practical 240 mL recipe cup.
The 240 mL to 250 mL difference is 10 mL per cup and 40 mL across 4 cups.
The difference matters more for baking, bread hydration, custards, sauces, scaling, and batch cooking than for flexible soups or drinks.

How to measure cups accurately

For liquids, use a liquid measuring cup and read the mL line at eye level. For dry ingredients, use dry measuring cups and level with a straight edge. Flour, sugar, brown sugar, and cocoa can vary by weight even when the cup volume looks the same, so use a kitchen scale when precision matters.

If a baking recipe gives both cups and grams or mL, follow the metric amount first when possible.
Cups to mL is a volume conversion, not a weight conversion for flour, sugar, or other dry ingredients.
Use the Ingredient Cups to Grams Chart when ingredient density matters more than liquid volume.

Tips

Many Canadian recipes assume 1 cup = 250 mL. Use the toggle if your recipe looks US-based.

If you’re comparing two recipes, standardize units first so you’re not mixing cup standards.

In many Metric recipes, 1 cup is 250 mL (common in Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand). In the US it's about 236.6 mL; that's why results can differ.

Quick Reference

Cups	US recipe cup, 240 mL	Metric cup, 250 mL
1/4	60 mL	62.5 mL
1/3	80 mL	83.3 mL
1/2	120 mL	125 mL
3/4	180 mL	187.5 mL
1	240 mL	250 mL
2	480 mL	500 mL
4	960 mL	1000 mL

Use the US recipe cup column for most US-style recipes. Use the Metric cup column when the recipe says “metric cup” or clearly uses 250 mL cup measurements.

FAQ

Is 1 cup 240 mL or 250 mL?

For most US-style recipe conversions, 1 cup is treated as 240 mL in practical kitchen use. A metric cup is 250 mL, so use 250 mL when the recipe specifically says metric cup or clearly expects a metric-cup standard.

Why do some recipes use 250 mL for a cup?

Some recipes use the metric cup standard, where 1 cup equals 250 mL. This is common in metric-focused recipe sources, but you should follow the recipe’s stated standard whenever it gives one.

Is 1 cup the same in Canada and the US?

Not always. Canadian and metric-focused recipes may use a 250 mL metric cup, while US-style recipes often use practical 240 mL kitchen values or the exact US customary cup of about 236.6 mL. Check the recipe source and any stated cup standard.

How many mL are in 1/2 cup?

Using the practical 240 mL recipe cup, 1/2 cup is 120 mL. Using a metric cup, 1/2 cup is 125 mL.

How many mL are in 1/3 cup?

Using the practical 240 mL recipe cup, 1/3 cup is 80 mL. Using a metric cup, 1/3 cup is about 83 mL.

Should I use cups or mL for baking?

Use mL for liquids when your jug is marked clearly, but use grams for flour, sugar, cocoa, and other dry ingredients when precision matters. Volume cups can vary depending on how the ingredient is scooped or packed.

Does cups to mL work for flour and sugar?

It works as a volume conversion, but it does not tell you the ingredient weight. One cup of flour and one cup of sugar can weigh different amounts, so use the cups-to-grams chart or a kitchen scale for baking accuracy.

Key guides and charts

Metric vs US Cup: Why Results Differ Use this when a recipe says cup but the source, measuring set, or metric-cup wording is unclear. Kitchen Measurement Standards: How CupsToML Handles Assumptions See how CupsToML handles recipe values, exact references, rounding, and ingredient assumptions. Ingredient Cups to Grams Chart + Calculator Use grams when the real issue is baking consistency or ingredient density, not just liquid volume. Kitchen Volume Conversions Browse cup, mL, tablespoon, teaspoon, litre, and fluid-ounce helpers from one volume hub.