Milliliters to Cups Converter
Convert milliliters (mL) to cups instantly with our free, accurate volume converter. Perfect for cooking, baking, and recipe conversions.
Input (Milliliters)
Result (Cups)
Conversion Details:
237 mL = 1 cup
Formula: cups = milliliters ÷ 236.588
Note: 1 US cup = 236.588 mL (approximately 237 mL)
About Milliliters to Cups Conversion
Milliliters and cups are both units of volume, but they belong to different measurement systems. Milliliters are part of the metric system, while cups are commonly used in the United States for cooking and baking measurements.
Conversion Formula
The conversion between milliliters and cups is based on the US customary cup measurement:
- 1 US Cup = 236.588 milliliters (mL)
- 1 Milliliter = 0.00422675 US cups
To convert milliliters to cups, divide the milliliter value by 236.588:
cups = milliliters ÷ 236.588
Common Conversions
- 237 mL ≈ 1 cup (standard conversion)
- 118 mL ≈ 1/2 cup
- 59 mL ≈ 1/4 cup
- 30 mL ≈ 1/8 cup
- 15 mL = 1 tablespoon
- 5 mL = 1 teaspoon
Use Cases
- Cooking & Baking: Converting recipe measurements between metric and US customary units
- Recipe Scaling: Adjusting recipe quantities for different serving sizes
- International Recipes: Converting European or metric recipes to US measurements
- Kitchen Tools: Understanding measuring cup capacities
Important Notes
- US cups differ from metric cups (250 mL) and imperial cups (284 mL)
- Liquid and dry ingredients may have different densities, so use volume for liquids and weight for accuracy with dry ingredients
- For precise baking, consider using weight measurements (grams) instead of volume
- Standard measuring cups are typically graduated in 1/4 cup increments
Frequently Asked Questions
One US cup equals 236.588 milliliters (commonly rounded to 237 mL for practical purposes). This is the standard measurement used in US recipes and cooking.
US cups equal 236.588 mL, while metric cups equal 250 mL. Imperial cups (used in some Commonwealth countries) equal 284.131 mL. Always check which cup measurement system your recipe uses.
This converter works for volume measurements of both liquid and dry ingredients. However, for greater accuracy with dry ingredients (especially in baking), it’s better to use weight measurements (grams) rather than volume, as different dry ingredients have different densities.
This converter uses the precise conversion factor (236.588 mL per cup) and provides accurate results. For practical cooking purposes, rounding to 237 mL per cup is common and acceptable for most recipes.
250 mL equals approximately 1.057 US cups, which is very close to 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon. This is why metric recipes often use 250 mL as “1 cup” – it’s a convenient approximation.