Metric Milliliters (mL) to US Customary Cups & Ounces Guide
1 US Customary Cup = 236.59 mL. 1 Metric Cup (Australia/NZ) = 250 mL. 1 Legal FDA Cup = 240 mL.
Key rules
- 1 US Customary Cup = 236.588 mL (~237 mL)
- 1 Metric Cup (Commonwealth) = 250.000 mL
- 1 US Legal FDA Nutrition Cup = 240.000 mL
- 1 Level Tablespoon = 14.787 mL (often rounded to 15 mL)
When translating global recipes between American, European, and Australian kitchens, the cup definitions create minor but noticeable differences.
In the United States, a traditional customary cup is 8 fluid ounces, which translates to 236.59 mL. However, Australian, New Zealand, and South African recipes use a standardized metric cup of 250 mL (5.6% larger).
For water, broth, and thin liquids, a 5% difference rarely ruins a stew or sauce. However, in delicate pastry baking (soufflés, sponge cakes, macarons), using a 250 mL cup for flour when the recipe was developed with a 236.6 mL cup will introduce excess dry starch, resulting in a rubbery texture.
Always check the origin country of a recipe book before measuring.
Reference matrix
| Input | Output A | Output B | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mL | 3.38 Tbsp (0.21 Cup) | 1.69 fl oz | Standard small shot / dosing measure. |
| 100 mL | 0.42 US Cup (6.76 Tbsp) | 3.38 fl oz | European metric sauce measure. |
| 250 mL | 1.06 US Cups | 8.45 fl oz | 1 Commonwealth Metric Cup. |
| 500 mL | 2.11 US Cups (1.06 Pints) | 16.91 fl oz | Standard half-liter liquid bottle. |
| 1000 mL (1 Liter) | 4.23 US Cups (1.06 Quarts) | 33.81 fl oz | 1 Metric Liter. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mL is 1 US cup?
One standard US Customary cup is 236.59 mL (or 240 mL on FDA nutrition labels).
Why is an Australian cup 250 mL?
Commonwealth nations modernized culinary units to align with decimal SI units, defining 1 metric cup as exactly 250 milliliters.