A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Cubic Centimeters Converter — cup to cm3
Convert Cup (cup) to Cubic Centimeter (cm3) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 236.5882365 cubic centimeter). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Cups to Cubic Centimeters converter
Converter
Volume Converter
Convert metric, US customary, imperial, cooking, dry, and industrial volume units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
Cubic metric volume unit.
Result = input x 0.0002365882365 / 1e-6.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Cups to Cubic Centimeters
Cup and Cubic Centimeter appear side by side at fuel pumps and on beverage labels, since the US measures liquids in gallons while most of the world uses liters. Cup is most often used for us recipe and cooking measurement.
Formula
cubic centimeters = cups × 236.5882365
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, and 1 cubic centimeter equals 0.000001 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-cubic centimeter factor of 236.5882365.
Simple example
1 cup × 236.5882365 = 236.5882365 cm3
1 cup = 236.5882365 cubic centimeters.
Real-world example
10 cup × 236.5882365 = 2,365.882365 cm3
10 cups = 2,365.882365 cubic centimeters.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Cubic Centimeter (cm3) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 236.5882365 cm3 |
| 5 cup | 1,182.941182 cm3 |
| 10 cup | 2,365.882365 cm3 |
| 25 cup | 5,914.705912 cm3 |
| 50 cup | 11,829.41182 cm3 |
| 100 cup | 23,658.82365 cm3 |
Reverse conversion: Cubic Centimeter to Cup
236.5882365 cm3 × 0.004226752838 = 1 cup
236.5882365 cubic centimeters = 1 cups.
cups = cubic centimeters × 0.00422675283773
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Cubic Centimeter to Cup.
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 Cubic Centimeter (cm3)
Cubic metric volume unit.
Cup — sources
- US FDA — Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed — Uses the 240 mL rounded cup for nutrition labeling.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic centimeters are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 236.5882365 cubic centimeters, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to cubic centimeter?
Multiply the cup value by 236.5882365. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert cubic centimeter back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 cubic centimeter equals 0.0042267528 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 cubic centimeter?
Cubic Centimeter (cm3) is a unit of volume.
Is the cup to cubic centimeter conversion exact?
Yes. 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). 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)