mL to Cups

What is mL to Cups Converter?

This tool converts milliliters to US cups, essential for anyone following metric recipes in an American kitchen. International cookbooks, food blogs, and packaged ingredient quantities often use milliliters, while US measuring cups are the standard in American households.

The Conversion Factor

One US cup equals 236.588 mL. To convert mL to cups, divide by 237. For example, 500 mL ÷ 237 = 2.11 cups.

Practical Approximations

For everyday cooking, these rounded values work well:

• 250 mL ≈ 1 cup (actually 1.06 cups)
• 125 mL ≈ ½ cup
• 60 mL ≈ ¼ cup
• 180 mL ≈ ¾ cup

Who Needs This Conversion?

• Home cooks: Following recipes from international sources
• Grocery shoppers: Understanding metric package sizes
• Recipe developers: Converting for American audiences
• Students: Working with both measurement systems

Privacy

Calculations are performed entirely in your browser with no data collection.

How to Use

Converting milliliters to cups is quick and easy:

1. Enter the mL value from your recipe or package label
2. See the cup equivalent displayed immediately
3. Round appropriately for your measuring tools

Working with Cup Fractions

Standard US measuring cups come in these sizes: ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, ¾, and 1 cup. Round your result to the nearest standard size for practical measuring.

Common Conversions

• 100 mL = 0.42 cups (just under ½ cup)
• 200 mL = 0.85 cups (just under 1 cup)
• 250 mL = 1.06 cups (treat as 1 cup)
• 500 mL = 2.11 cups (2 cups + 2 tablespoons)
• 750 mL = 3.17 cups
• 1000 mL = 4.23 cups

Rounding Guidelines

For most cooking, round to the nearest ¼ cup. For baking where precision matters more, use a combination of cups and tablespoons to get closer to the exact amount.

Features

Accurate Conversion

Uses the precise US cup definition of 236.588 mL. Results are calculated to multiple decimal places for flexibility in rounding.

Real-Time Calculation

Results update instantly as you type. Quickly check multiple values without page reloads.

Reference Table

Common metric quantities and their cup equivalents:

• 50 mL = 0.21 cup
• 100 mL = 0.42 cup (≈ ⅓ to ½ cup)
• 150 mL = 0.63 cup (≈ ⅔ cup)
• 200 mL = 0.85 cup
• 250 mL = 1.06 cups
• 500 mL = 2.11 cups

Copy Functionality

Copy converted values directly to your clipboard for pasting into recipe documents or notes.

Unit Selection

Dropdown menus allow switching between other volume units for additional conversions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups is 250 mL?

250 mL equals 1.06 US cups. For practical cooking, treat 250 mL as 1 cup—the small difference rarely affects the outcome.

How many cups is 500 mL?

500 mL equals 2.11 US cups. This is commonly rounded to 2 cups in recipes.

Is 250 mL the same as 1 cup?

Not exactly. A US cup is 236.6 mL, so 250 mL is slightly more (about 1 tablespoon extra). However, 250 mL is the metric cup used in Australia and some cookbooks, which causes confusion. This converter uses the US cup standard.

How do I measure 150 mL in cups?

150 mL equals 0.63 cups, which is closest to ⅔ cup (0.67). You can use ⅔ cup or measure ½ cup + 2 tablespoons for better accuracy.

What if my measuring cup shows both mL and cups?

Many modern measuring cups include both scales. If yours does, you can measure directly in mL without converting. Just ensure the cup markings match US standards.

How do I convert mL to cups for dry ingredients?

Volume conversions work the same for dry ingredients, but results may vary due to ingredient density. For best baking results with dry ingredients, use weight measurements (grams) instead of volume.