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Cup to Milliliter

Cup to Milliliter Conversion: Cooking, Baking & Beverage Measurement

Convert cups to milliliters accurately for recipes, baking, and beverage preparation. Essential for international cooking with precise conversion factors and practical kitchen examples.

1 cup equals 236.5883953392086 milliliter

Quick Values:
0

Formula: mL = cup × 236.588

Precision Levels

237
Quick Estimation±0.17%
236.59
Standard Use±0.00%
236.5884
Professional/Scientific
☕

0 → 0

Scale: small

🧃

1 → 236.6

Scale: medium

🪣

4 → 946.4

Scale: medium

🪣

5 → 1183

Scale: medium

🛢️

10 → 2366

Scale: medium

Converting cups to milliliters is essential for anyone following recipes across different measurement systems. One cup equals approximately 236.588 milliliters in the US system, though metric cup variants exist. Precision in this conversion directly impacts baking results, recipe consistency, and beverage preparation across international kitchens.

Why This Conversion Matters

Accurate cup-to-milliliter conversion is critical for baking success, where ingredient ratios determine texture and rise. A 5% measurement error (approximately 12 milliliters) can transform a delicate cake into a dense failure or create overly salty sauces. International recipe sharing, professional food service, and dietary compliance all depend on precise volume conversions.

Real-World Examples

Professional Baking & Pastry Arts

Bakers worldwide must convert recipes between cup and milliliter measurements to maintain consistency across locations and scale production. European bakeries use metric systems exclusively, while American recipes rely on cups. Converting accurately ensures croissants, bread doughs, and pastry creams achieve identical results whether produced in New York or Paris.

Examples:

  • Croissant dough: 2 cups flour = 473.18 milliliters (approximately 240 grams when converted by density)
  • Cake batter: 1.5 cups milk = 354.88 milliliters
  • Bread recipe scaling: 4 cups water = 946.35 milliliters for large batch production

Pro Tips:

  • ✓Professional bakers prefer weight measurements (grams) over volume, but when converting recipes: 1 cup = 236.588 mL exactly
  • ✓Use graduated cylinders or digital scales with milliliter markings for precision; cup measurements vary by country (US cup ≠ metric cup)

International Food Service & Hospitality

Restaurants, catering companies, and food manufacturers operating across multiple countries must standardize recipes in both cup and milliliter measurements. Menu consistency, nutritional labeling compliance, and staff training all require accurate conversions. A hotel restaurant serving both American and European clientele must maintain identical dish quality regardless of measurement system used.

Examples:

  • Soup stock: 8 cups = 1,892.7 milliliters per batch
  • Sauce preparation: 0.5 cup = 118.29 milliliters for plating consistency
  • Beverage service: 6 cups coffee = 1,419.53 milliliters for standard service

Pro Tips:

  • ✓Create standardized conversion charts posted in kitchens; staff should never estimate between measurement systems
  • ✓For consistency across locations, convert all recipes to metric (milliliters) for European operations and maintain cup measurements for US locations

Quick Reference Table

cupsmilliliters
1 cup236.588395 mL
2 cup473.176791 mL
5 cup1182.941977 mL
10 cup2365.883953 mL
20 cup4731.767907 mL

Formula: mL = cup × conversion factor

Understanding the Units

About Cup

The cup is a widely used unit for measuring volume. It is commonly used in various applications and industries worldwide.

About Milliliter

The milliliter is a widely used unit for measuring volume. It is commonly used in various applications and industries worldwide.

Accuracy & Precision

This cup to milliliter converter uses high-precision conversion factors to ensure accurate results for professional and academic use.

Our calculator provides results with up to 10 decimal places for maximum accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many milliliters are in one cup exactly?

One US cup equals 236.588 milliliters precisely. This is the legal standard used in American recipes and nutrition labels. However, a metric cup (used in some European countries) equals 250 milliliters. Always verify which cup measurement your recipe source uses, as the 13.4 milliliter difference significantly affects baking results. For quick mental math: 1 cup ≈ 240 mL, but use 236.588 mL for accuracy in baking.

Why do different countries use different cup sizes?

The US cup (236.588 mL) was standardized in 1896 as 1/16 of the US gallon, which predates metric system adoption in American cooking. Most countries adopted the metric system in the 1800s-1900s and use either direct milliliter measurements or the metric cup (250 mL). The United States maintained its customary system for cooking despite adopting metric in science and commerce. This historical divergence means American and European recipes require conversion.

Conversion Tips & Tricks

  • 1 liter ≈ 0.26 gallons (US) or 0.22 gallons (UK)
  • Cooking recipes may use different volume units by region
  • 1 cubic meter = 1000 liters
  • Always double-check your conversions for critical applications
  • Use the exact conversion factor for maximum precision

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