A US customary cup is 236.5882365 milliliters.
Cups to Milliliters Converter — cup to mL
Convert Cup (cup) to Milliliter (mL) using the exact conversion factor (1 cup = 236.5882365 milliliter). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, unit comparison, history, and common uses.
Cups to Milliliters 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.
Milliliter is 0.001 liter units.
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 Milliliters
Cup and Milliliter 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 typically associated with united States (recipes and cooking measurement), while Milliliter is typically associated with standard small-volume unit worldwide.
Formula
milliliters = 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 milliliter equals 0.000001 base units, so dividing one by the other gives the direct cup-to-milliliter factor of 236.5882365.
Simple example
1 cup × 236.5882365 = 236.5882365 mL
1 cup = 236.5882365 milliliters.
Real-world example
10 cup × 236.5882365 = 2,365.882365 mL
10 cups = 2,365.882365 milliliters.
Conversion table
| Cup (cup) | Milliliter (mL) |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 236.5882365 mL |
| 5 cup | 1,182.941182 mL |
| 10 cup | 2,365.882365 mL |
| 25 cup | 5,914.705913 mL |
| 50 cup | 11,829.41183 mL |
| 100 cup | 23,658.82365 mL |
Reverse conversion: Milliliter to Cup
236.5882365 mL × 0.004226752838 = 1 cup
236.5882365 milliliters = 1 cups.
cups = milliliters × 0.00422675283773
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Milliliter to Cup.
Cup vs. Milliliter
| Aspect | Cup | Milliliter |
|---|---|---|
| Family | US customary unit (culinary) | SI derived (metric prefix) unit |
| Typical use | US recipe and cooking measurement | Medicine dosing (worldwide, including in the US) |
| Where it's used | United States (recipes and cooking measurement) | Standard small-volume unit worldwide |
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 Milliliter
Milliliter (mL) measures volume. A milliliter is one-thousandth of a liter, equal to one cubic centimeter. It is classified as a SI derived (metric prefix) unit.
Where it's used: Standard small-volume unit worldwide
Uses of the Milliliter today
- Medicine dosing (worldwide, including in the US)
- Cooking and recipe measurement outside the US
- Beverage and small-container labeling
History of the Milliliter
The milliliter follows directly from the liter via the 'milli-' SI prefix. It is notable as one of the few metric units in routine US use, since medicine dosing (syringes, liquid medication) is specified in milliliters even in the US.
Historical origin. Milliliter 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.
Milliliter — sources
- BIPM SI Brochure — SI prefixes — Defines 'milli-' as the prefix for 10⁻³.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many milliliters are in 1 cup?
1 cup equals 236.5882365 milliliters, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert cup to milliliter?
Multiply the cup value by 236.5882365. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert milliliter back to cup?
Use the reverse factor: 1 milliliter 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 milliliter?
Milliliter (mL) measures volume. A milliliter is one-thousandth of a liter, equal to one cubic centimeter. It is classified as a SI derived (metric prefix) unit.
Is the cup to milliliter 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)