A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Kiloliters Converter — cup to kL
Convert Cup (cup) to Kiloliter (kL) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 0.0002365882 kiloliter). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Cups to Kiloliters 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.
Kiloliter is 1000 liter units.
Result = input x 0.0002365882365 / 1.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Cups to Kiloliters
Cup and Kiloliter 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
kiloliters = cups × 0.0002365882365
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 cup equals 0.0002365882365 base units, and 1 kiloliter equals 1 base unit, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-kiloliter factor of 0.0002365882365.
Simple example
1 cup × 0.0002365882365 = 0.0002365882 kL
1 cup = 0.0002365882 kiloliters.
Real-world example
10 cup × 0.0002365882365 = 0.0023658824 kL
10 cups = 0.0023658824 kiloliters.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Kiloliter (kL) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 0.0002365882 kL |
| 5 cup | 0.0011829412 kL |
| 10 cup | 0.0023658824 kL |
| 25 cup | 0.0059147059 kL |
| 50 cup | 0.0118294118 kL |
| 100 cup | 0.0236588237 kL |
Reverse conversion: Kiloliter to Cup
0.0002365882 kL × 4226.752838 = 0.9999998457 cup
0.0002365882 kiloliters = 0.9999998457 cups.
cups = kiloliters × 4226.75283773
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Kiloliter 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 Kiloliter (kL)
Kiloliter is 1000 liter units.
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 kiloliters are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 0.0002365882 kiloliters, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to kiloliter?
Multiply the cup value by 0.0002365882365. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert kiloliter back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 kiloliter equals 4,226.752838 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 kiloliter?
Kiloliter (kL) is a unit of volume.
Is the cup to kiloliter 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)