A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Pints Converter — cup to pt
Convert Cup (cup) to Pint (pt) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 0.5 pint). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, unit comparison, history, and common uses.
Cups to Pints converter
Converter
Cooking Converter
Convert cooking volume and mass units used in recipes and nutrition workflows.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
A US liquid pint is one eighth of a US gallon.
Result = input x 0.0002365882365 / 0.000473176473.
Volume units are compatible.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Cups to Pints
Cup and Pint both show up in recipes, and converting between them matters whenever a recipe from one country's cookbook needs to be followed with another country's measuring tools. Cup is typically associated with united States (recipes and cooking measurement), while Pint is typically associated with united States (beer serving, cooking, dairy).
Formula
pints = cups × 0.5
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, and 1 pint equals 0.000473176473 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-pint factor of 0.5.
Simple example
1 cup × 0.5 = 0.5 pt
1 cup = 0.5 pints.
Real-world example
2 cup × 0.5 = 1 pt
2 cups = 1 pint.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Pint (pt) |
|---|---|
| 0.25 cup | 0.125 pt |
| 0.5 cup | 0.25 pt |
| 1 cup | 0.5 pt |
| 2 cup | 1 pt |
| 4 cup | 2 pt |
| 8 cup | 4 pt |
Reverse conversion: Pint to Cup
0.5 pt × 2 = 1 cup
0.5 pints = 1 cup.
cups = pints × 2
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Pint to Cup.
Cup vs. Pint
| Aspect | Cup | Pint |
|---|---|---|
| Family | US customary unit (culinary) | US customary unit |
| Typical use | US recipe and cooking measurement | US beer and beverage serving sizes |
| Where it's used | United States (recipes and cooking measurement) | United States (beer serving, cooking, dairy) |
Understanding the Cup
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
Where it's used: United States (recipes and cooking measurement)
Cooking cup vs. legal US cup. US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.
Uses of the Cup today
- US recipe and cooking measurement
- Nutrition labeling serving sizes
- Baking, where volume-based flour/sugar measurement is still common in the US
History of the Cup
The cup as a cooking measure grew out of household and community cookbook conventions in 19th-century America, standardizing what had been ad hoc measurements ('a teacup of flour') into a fixed volume.
The US FDA uses a rounded 240 mL 'metric cup' for nutrition labeling purposes, distinct from the slightly smaller legal/customary cup (236.588 mL, exactly 1/16 of a US gallon) used elsewhere.
Historical origin. Cup was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Understanding the Pint
Pint (pt) measures volume. The US liquid pint is one-eighth of a US gallon: exactly 0.473176473 liters. It is classified as a US customary unit.
Where it's used: United States (beer serving, cooking, dairy)
Uses of the Pint today
- US beer and beverage serving sizes
- US recipe measurement
- US dairy packaging (pint containers)
History of the Pint
The pint follows the same English wine-gallon lineage as the US gallon and quart, retained by the US after Britain's 1824 switch to a different imperial gallon standard.
Historical origin. Pint was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Cup — sources
- US FDA — Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed — Uses the 240 mL rounded cup for nutrition labeling.
Pint — sources
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C — General tables of units including the US pint definition.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many pints are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 0.5 pints, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to pint?
Multiply the cup value by 0.5. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert pint back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 pint equals 2 cups. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a cup?
Cup (cup) measures volume. The US customary cup used in cooking is defined as exactly 240 milliliters (a rounded culinary standard, not the older 236.588 mL legal cup). It is classified as a US customary unit (culinary).
What is a pint?
Pint (pt) measures volume. The US liquid pint is one-eighth of a US gallon: exactly 0.473176473 liters. It is classified as a US customary unit.
Is the cup to pint conversion exact?
Yes. The US liquid pint is one-eighth of a US gallon: exactly 0.473176473 liters. That fixed definition is what the converter above uses, so any rounding you see is a display choice, not a limitation of the math.
What is the difference between cooking cup vs. legal us cup?
US recipes commonly round the cup to 240 mL for convenience, while the precise legal US cup (used to derive fluid ounces, pints, etc.) is 236.588 mL — a small but sometimes noticeable difference in precise baking.
Where is the cup still used today?
United States (recipes and cooking measurement)