Whether you're following a recipe from across the globe, scaling up a family favorite, or simply need precise liquid measurements, our Cups to Milliliters converter bridges the gap between different measurement systems effortlessly. This powerful tool eliminates guesswork and ensures your culinary creations turn out perfectly every time.

From professional bakers who demand exact measurements to home cooks exploring international cuisine, this converter handles both US cups (240 mL) and metric cups (250 mL) with instant accuracy. No more second-guessing conversions or struggling with complex math—just enter your value and get comprehensive results across multiple volume units.

Beyond simple conversions, our tool provides detailed step-by-step calculations, equivalent measurements in liters, fluid ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, plus a visual comparison chart. It's designed to be your go-to resource for any volume conversion challenge in the kitchen.

How to Convert Cups to ML

Converting cups to milliliters is straightforward once you know the conversion factor for your cup type. Here's the simple process:

Let's say you need to convert 2.5 US cups to milliliters. Simply multiply 2.5 by 240, which gives you 600 milliliters. For the same amount in metric cups, multiply 2.5 by 250 to get 625 milliliters.

When converting in the opposite direction (milliliters to cups), divide the milliliter value by the appropriate conversion factor. For example, 480 milliliters divided by 240 equals 2 US cups, while 500 milliliters divided by 250 equals 2 metric cups.

Our converter automates this process instantly, handling both directions and providing additional conversions to related volume units, saving you time and ensuring accuracy.

How Many ML Are in a Cup?

The answer depends on which cup measurement system you're using. This is crucial to understand because using the wrong conversion can significantly impact your recipe results.

The US cup is the standard measurement used in American cookbooks and recipes. Most recipes you find online or in American publications will use this 240-milliliter standard. The metric cup, at 250 milliliters, is commonly used in countries that have adopted the metric system, such as Australia, New Zealand, and many European nations.

The 10-milliliter difference between US and metric cups might seem small, but when scaling recipes or working with precise measurements, it can make a noticeable difference. That's why our converter allows you to select your cup type, ensuring you get the exact conversion you need.

What Is a Cup?

A cup is a unit of volume measurement commonly used in cooking and baking, particularly in the United States. However, the term "cup" can be surprisingly ambiguous because different regions and measurement systems define it differently.

In the United States, a standard measuring cup holds exactly 8 US fluid ounces, which equals 240 milliliters. This measurement has been standardized for consistency in American recipes. When you see "1 cup" in a US cookbook or recipe website, it refers to this 240-milliliter measurement.

The metric cup, used in many countries outside the US, is slightly larger at 250 milliliters. This measurement aligns better with the metric system's base-10 structure, making conversions to liters more straightforward (4 metric cups = 1 liter).

It's important to note that a "cup" in cooking is not the same as a drinking cup or coffee mug, which can vary widely in size. Measuring cups are specifically designed kitchen tools with standardized volumes, typically made of glass, plastic, or metal, and often come in sets with multiple sizes (1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 cup).

Understanding which cup measurement your recipe uses is essential for accurate results. When in doubt, check the recipe's origin or look for clues like whether measurements are given in metric units elsewhere in the recipe.

What Is a Milliliter?

A milliliter (abbreviated as mL or ml) is a metric unit of volume equal to one-thousandth of a liter. It's part of the International System of Units (SI) and is widely used around the world for measuring small volumes of liquids.

To put it in perspective, one milliliter is equivalent to one cubic centimeter (cm³). This means if you imagine a perfect cube measuring 1 centimeter on each side, the volume of that cube would be exactly 1 milliliter. This relationship makes milliliters particularly useful in scientific and medical contexts where precision matters.

Milliliters are especially valuable in cooking and baking because they provide more precise measurements than cups, particularly for smaller quantities. Many professional recipes and international cookbooks use milliliters exclusively because they eliminate ambiguity and ensure consistent results regardless of where the recipe is prepared.

When working with milliliters, you'll often see measurements like 250 mL, 500 mL, or 750 mL, which correspond to common metric cup and liter measurements. This precision makes milliliters ideal for scaling recipes up or down, as the math is straightforward and less prone to rounding errors.

Cup to Milliliter Conversion Table

This comprehensive conversion table provides quick reference for common cup-to-milliliter conversions. Use it as a handy guide when you need instant conversions without using the calculator.

This conversion table covers the most commonly used cup measurements in both US and metric standards. Notice how metric cups create round numbers when converted to larger units (4 metric cups = 1 liter), while US cups require decimal conversions. For values not listed here, use our calculator above for precise conversions of any amount.