How Many mL in a Cup? Exact Conversions for US, UK & Metric Cups

How many mL in a cup is one of the most searched cooking questions in the US. And the answer changes depending on which cup you are using.

This guide gives you exact numbers, easy charts, and real kitchen examples — all in one place.

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How Many mL Is in a Cup? (Quick Answer)

1 US customary cup = 236.588 mL (exact scientific value).

Most recipes and kitchen tools in the US round this to 236.6 mL. But there is also a legal US cup used in nutrition labeling. That one equals exactly 240 mL.

How Many mL in a Cup? Exact Conversions for US, UK & Metric Cups are available in this blog.

Here is a fast reference:

Cup Type	mL Value
US Customary Cup	236.6 mL
Legal US Cup	240 mL
Metric Cup (Canada/Australia)	250 mL
Imperial UK Cup	284.13 mL

So what is 1 cup in mL? The answer depends on where you live and what recipe you are following. For most US home cooks, the answer is 236.6 mL.

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Why Cup Sizes Are Different Around the World

Most people assume a cup is a cup. It is not.

The United States customary system and the metric system define cup sizes differently. The US is one of only three countries — along with Myanmar and Liberia — that does not officially use the metric system for everyday measurement, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Here is what that means in real terms:

US customary cup is used in American recipes, baking conversions, and everyday cooking. It holds 236.6 mL or 8 US fluid ounces.

Legal US cup is the standard used in nutrition labeling in the United States. It equals 240 mL. You will see this on food packaging.

Metric cup is used in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth countries. It equals 250 mL — slightly larger than a US cup. If you follow a Canadian or Australian recipe and use a US measuring cup, your amounts will be slightly off.

Imperial UK cup equals 284.13 mL. This size appears in older British recipes published before 1970, when the UK shifted away from the imperial system. If you are cooking from a pre-1970s UK cookbook, this is the cup size being referenced.

Why does this matter? For a single cup measurement, the difference is small. But when a recipe calls for 4 or 6 cups, the difference between a US cup and a metric cup adds up fast. That is how small measurement errors lead to baking failures.

Must Visit: How Many Milliliters Are in a Litre? Complete Conversion Guide 2026

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Cups to mL Conversion Chart (US, Metric & Imperial)

This is the chart that competitors do not show. Most sites only list the US cup. This chart covers all three cup types side by side so you can convert accurately no matter which recipe you are using.

Cups to mL — All Cup Types

Cup Amount	US Cup (mL)	Metric Cup (mL)	Imperial Cup (mL)
¼ cup	59.1 mL	62.5 mL	71 mL
⅓ cup	78.9 mL	83.3 mL	94.7 mL
½ cup	118.3 mL	125 mL	142.1 mL
⅔ cup	157.7 mL	166.7 mL	189.4 mL
¾ cup	177.4 mL	187.5 mL	213.1 mL
1 cup	236.6 mL	250 mL	284.1 mL
1½ cups	354.9 mL	375 mL	426.2 mL
2 cups	473.2 mL	500 mL	568.3 mL

How to convert cups to mL — use this simple formula

mL = cups × 236.6 (for US cups)
mL = cups × 250 (for metric cups)

How to convert mL back to cups

Cups = mL ÷ 236.6 (for US cups)

mL to US Cups — Quick Reference

Milliliters	US Cups
100 mL	0.42 cups
150 mL	0.63 cups
200 mL	0.85 cups
250 mL	1.06 cups
300 mL	1.27 cups
400 mL	1.69 cups
500 mL	2.11 cups
750 mL	3.17 cups

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How Many mL in a Cup of Common Liquids

This is where most conversion guides fall short. They tell you the math but not how it applies in your actual kitchen.

Your measuring cup and your drinking cup are not the same thing. A standard US measuring cup holds 236.6 mL. But a typical coffee mug holds anywhere from 240 mL to 350 mL. Using your mug as a measuring cup will throw off your recipe.

Here are the real-world numbers:

Cup of water — When a recipe says 1 cup of water, it means 236.6 mL using a standard US measuring cup.

Cup of coffee — A standard coffee serving is 5.07 fluid ounces, which equals about 149.9 mL — not a full measuring cup. This is why coffee makers use a different “cup” scale on their carafes.

Cup of milk — Exactly the same as water. 1 cup of milk = 236.6 mL by US measuring cup standards.

Standard water bottle — A typical 16.9 oz water bottle holds 500 mL, which equals approximately 2.11 US cups.

Carton of milk (single serve) — An 8 oz milk carton holds 236.59 mL — essentially one full US measuring cup.

Always use a standardized measuring cup for cooking and baking. Actual drinking cups vary too much in size to be reliable as a volume measurement tool.

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How Many mL in a Cup — Related Cooking Conversions

Understanding cups to mL is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are all the related liquid measurement conversions that matter most in the kitchen.

1 cup = 236.6 mL
1 cup = 8 US fluid ounces (fl oz)
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
1 cup = 48 teaspoons
1 cup = ½ pint
1 cup = ¼ quart
1 cup = 1/16 gallon
1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter (cc or cm

1 mL equals 1 cubic centimeter (cc). This is important if you use graduated cylinders, medical syringes, or scientific beakers where both units appear on the same device.

The fluid ounce comparison is worth noting. The US fluid ounce and the UK (imperial) fluid ounce are not identical. 1 US fluid ounce = 29.57 mL. 1 UK fluid ounce = 28.41 mL. Small difference — but relevant in precise baking.

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FAQs

Is 250ml the same as 1 cup?

Not for US recipes. 250 mL equals 1 metric cup, used in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The standard US cup is 236.6 mL — about 13 mL less. For most casual cooking this difference is negligible. For precise baking, it matters.

Is 1 cup 200 or 250ml?

Neither, for US measurements. 1 US cup = 236.6 mL. The 250 mL value is the metric cup used in Commonwealth countries. The 200 mL value does not correspond to any standard cup size — it is approximately 0.85 of a US cup.

What is 1 cup in mL?

1 US customary cup = 236.588 mL (exact). Rounded for everyday use: 236.6 mL. The legal US cup used in food labeling = 240 mL. The metric cup = 250 mL.

Is 100 mL equal to 1 cup?

No. 100 mL is less than half a US cup. It equals approximately 0.42 US cups, or just under half a cup. To get 1 full US cup, you need 236.6 mL.

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Conclusion

How many mL in a cup comes down to which cup you mean. For US cooking, use 236.6 mL. For metric recipes, use 250 mL. For old UK recipes, use 284.13 mL.

Always use a standardized measuring cup — never a drinking glass. And when baking, precision with liquid measurement is what separates a good result from a failed one.