Cups to Millilitres Converter
Convert cups to millilitres for any liquid. Because both are volume units, one US cup is always about 240 millilitres, whatever the ingredient.
1 cup=240 ml
Water: 240 g per US cup. See full table →
Cups to millilitres chart
| Cups | Millilitres | Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 60 ml | 4 tbsp |
| 1/3 cup | 80 ml | 5 tbsp |
| 1/2 cup | 120 ml | 8 tbsp |
| 2/3 cup | 160 ml | 11 tbsp |
| 3/4 cup | 180 ml | 12 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 240 ml | 16 tbsp |
| 1 1/2 cups | 360 ml | 24 tbsp |
| 2 cups | 480 ml | 32 tbsp |
| 2 1/2 cups | 600 ml | 40 tbsp |
| 3 cups | 720 ml | 48 tbsp |
Converting cups to millilitres
Unlike converting to grams, going from cups to millilitres is refreshingly simple, because both are measures of volume. You do not need to know the ingredient at all. One US cup is about 240 millilitres, so half a cup is 120 ml, a quarter cup is 60 ml, and two cups make 480 ml. The same holds whether you are measuring water, milk, oil or stock: the volume is identical even though the weights differ.
The one thing worth watching is which cup a recipe assumes. A US customary cup is roughly 237 millilitres, often rounded to 240, while a metric cup is a neat 250 millilitres. That difference of 10 to 13 millilitres is negligible when you are making soup, but in delicate baking it can nudge a batter off balance. If a recipe was written in Australia or continental Europe, it probably means the 250 ml metric cup, whereas most American recipes mean the smaller US cup.
Millilitres are handy because they are precise and universal, and most liquid measuring jugs are marked in them. If your recipe gives cups but your jug shows millilitres, this converter bridges the gap instantly. And when you need weight rather than volume, for flour, sugar or other dry goods, switch over to the grams converter, which factors in each ingredient's density.
Need weight instead of volume? Use the cups to grams converter for flour, sugar, butter and more.
Frequently asked questions
How many millilitres are in a cup?
A US customary cup is about 237 millilitres, though many recipes round it to 240 ml. A metric cup, used in Australia and parts of Europe, is 250 millilitres. This converter uses 240 ml for a US cup.
Is cups to millilitres the same for every ingredient?
Yes. Millilitres and cups both measure volume, so the conversion between them does not depend on the ingredient. One cup of water and one cup of oil are the same number of millilitres, even though they weigh different amounts.
How many ml is half a cup?
Half a US cup is about 120 millilitres, since a full cup is around 240 ml. A quarter cup is about 60 ml and three quarters of a cup is about 180 ml.
What is the difference between a US cup and a metric cup in ml?
A US cup is about 237 to 240 millilitres, while a metric cup is 250 millilitres. The 10 to 13 ml gap is small for most cooking but can matter in precise baking, so check which system your recipe uses.