Cups to ML Converter — US, Metric & UK Cup Baking Reference
Convert cups to milliliters for US, metric, and UK measurements. Includes a full baking reference table, fractional cups, and common ingredient volumes.
Here's the catch with cups: there's no single universal "cup." The US customary cup, the metric cup, and the UK/imperial cup are all slightly different sizes. For most recipes the difference is minor, but in precise baking it can matter.
Use CalcHub's cups to ml converter to switch between any cup standard, or use the tables below.
Cup Sizes by Region
| Cup Type | Volume (mL) | Used In |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.59 mL | USA |
| US legal cup | 240 mL | US nutrition labeling |
| Metric cup | 250 mL | Australia, Canada, NZ |
| UK/Imperial cup | 284.13 mL | Older UK recipes |
| Japanese cup | 200 mL | Japan |
US Cup to mL Conversion Table
| Cups | mL (US 240) | mL (Metric 250) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 30 | 31.25 |
| 1/4 | 60 | 62.5 |
| 1/3 | 80 | 83.3 |
| 1/2 | 120 | 125 |
| 2/3 | 160 | 166.7 |
| 3/4 | 180 | 187.5 |
| 1 | 240 | 250 |
| 1.5 | 360 | 375 |
| 2 | 480 | 500 |
| 3 | 720 | 750 |
| 4 | 960 | 1000 (1 L) |
Common Baking Ingredient Reference
Cups are a volume measure, but ingredients have different densities. This table gives both volume and approximate weight.
| Ingredient | 1 Cup Volume | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 240 mL | 240 g |
| Milk | 240 mL | 245 g |
| All-purpose flour | 240 mL | 120–130 g |
| Granulated sugar | 240 mL | 200 g |
| Powdered sugar | 240 mL | 120 g |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 240 mL | 220 g |
| Butter | 240 mL | 227 g |
| Rolled oats | 240 mL | 90 g |
| Cocoa powder | 240 mL | 100 g |
| Honey | 240 mL | 340 g |
Practical Kitchen Examples
A standard Indian recipe calling for 200 mL of milk = just under 1 US cup (0.83 cups). A recipe calling for 500 mL of water = 2 US cups exactly (using the 250 mL metric cup, it's exactly 2 metric cups).
Is 1 cup always 250 mL?
In Australia and Canada, yes — the metric cup is 250 mL. In the US, a standard cup is 236.59 mL, though nutrition labels use 240 mL. For most recipes, rounding to 250 mL works fine.
How do I measure a cup without a measuring cup?
A standard large mug holds about 250–300 mL, so it's close to 1 cup. A small teacup is usually around 150–180 mL. For precision, a kitchen scale weighing water (1 mL = 1 g) is more reliable.
How many cups is 750 mL?
Using the US legal cup (240 mL): 750 ÷ 240 = 3.125 cups (about 3 cups + 2 tablespoons). Using the metric cup (250 mL): exactly 3 cups.
Related Converters
- Tablespoon to ML Converter — for smaller baking amounts
- Ounces to Grams Converter
- Cooking Measurement Converter — full kitchen converter