Convert cups to milliliters without the headache.

Ever tried baking a cake and realized halfway through that the recipe uses milliliters while your measuring cups are labeled in fractions? You’re not alone. Whether you’re doubling a soup recipe or scaling down a cocktail, converting cups to milliliters is one of those kitchen tasks that seems simple—until it isn’t. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. This guide breaks down everything from the basic math to why the metric system hasn’t fully conquered American kitchens (yet).

Unit definitions

What is a cup (c)?

• Description: A cup is a common volume unit in cooking, primarily used in the United States.
• Symbol: c
• Common uses: Measuring dry ingredients like flour, sugar, or liquids like milk and water.
• Definition: 1 US cup equals 16 US tablespoons or 236.588 milliliters. Fun fact: There’s also a “legal” US cup defined as 240 mL for nutrition labels!

What is a milliliter (mL)?

• Description: A milliliter is a metric unit of volume equal to one-thousandth of a liter.
• Symbol: mL
• Common uses: Precasure liquid measurements in science, medicine, and most countries’ recipes.
• Definition: 1 milliliter = 0.001 liters or 1 cubic centimeter. It’s about the volume of a small sugar cube.

Conversion formula

To convert cups to milliliters:
Milliliters = Cups × 236.588

For those who prefer fractions, think of it as roughly 237 mL per cup. But if you’re using a metric cup (250 mL), adjust accordingly—this is where many international recipe swaps go sideways!

Example calculations

1. 2 cups to milliliters:
   2 × 236.588 = 473.18 mL (or 473 mL if rounding).
2. 0.5 cups to milliliters:
   0.5 × 236.588 = 118.29 mL (close enough to 120 mL for most purposes).

Conversion tables

Cups to milliliters

Milliliters to cups

Historical background

The cup as a cooking measurement dates back to medieval Europe, where rough volume estimates sufficed for recipes. The US standardized the cup in the 20th century, tying it to the gallon (which itself comes from old wine measurements). Milliliters, on the other hand, emerged from the metric system’s push for decimal-based units after the French Revolution. Interestingly, the US and Liberia are the only countries still clinging to cups and teaspoons while the rest of the world sips its coffee in milliliters.

Here’s a quirky tidbit: The “cup” measurement in some vintage cookbooks refers to whatever drinking vessel was handy—leading to chaos in kitchens until standardized measuring cups became widespread. Imagine your grandma’s teacup dictating your cake’s fate!

Interesting facts

1. Why 236.588? Blame the US gallon. One US liquid gallon = 3,785.41 mL, divided by 16 cups = 236.588 mL per cup.
2. A cup isn’t always a cup. Australian recipes use a 250 mL metric cup, while Japanese “cups” are 200 mL. Always check the recipe’s country of origin!
3. The “cup” in coffee shops. A Starbucks “Tall” is 12 oz (354 mL)—way more than a standard cup. No wonder we’re all overcaffeinated.
4. Milliliters rule medicine. Ever noticed your cough syrup uses mL? It’s because precise dosing matters more than in your muffin batter.
5. The teaspoon conspiracy. A US teaspoon is 4.92892 mL, but most people use 5 mL. Those 0.071 mL might explain why your cookies spread too much.

FAQ