ML to Cups Calculator

Complete ML to Cups Conversion Table

This table covers all commonly used amounts in recipes, from small dessertspoon quantities to large bowl volumes. US cup = 240ml throughout.

Understanding Cup Measurements: US, UK, and Australian Differences

Cup measurements can be a source of confusion when following international recipes because the same word "cup" refers to different volumes in different countries. Here is a clear breakdown:

US Cup: 240ml

The US customary cup is defined as exactly 240ml (8 US fluid ounces, which are 29.6ml each). This is the standard used across all American cookbooks, food blogs, cooking shows, and recipe websites. When you see "1 cup" on any US recipe, it means 240ml. US measuring cups are calibrated to this standard and are widely available in the UK.

Metric / Australian Cup: 250ml

Australia and New Zealand use a metric cup of 250ml. This is exactly one-quarter of a litre, making metric calculations convenient. The same 250ml standard is used in South Africa and other countries that adopted the metric system for cooking. When buying measuring cups from Australian brands or following Australian food bloggers (Donna Hay, Bill Granger, etc.), use 250ml per cup.

UK: No Official Cup

The United Kingdom does not have an officially standardised cooking cup measurement. Traditional British recipes use grams and millilitres. However, with the global influence of food media, many UK recipes now include cup measurements as an alternative — and when they do, they typically mean either 250ml (metric) or 240ml (US), often without clarifying which. When in doubt, check the recipe source: UK food magazines (BBC Good Food, Delicious Magazine) more often mean 250ml; US food websites (Allrecipes, Food Network) always mean 240ml.

Canadian Cup: 250ml

Canada officially uses 250ml (the metric cup), though many Canadians also use US measuring cups (240ml) in practice. Canadian recipes from official Canadian food authorities use 250ml; recipes from American-influenced Canadian sources may use 240ml.

The 10ml Difference: Does It Matter?

The difference between 240ml and 250ml is 10ml — about 4%. For a single cup, this is negligible. For a recipe requiring 4 cups, it accumulates to 40ml — still not dramatically significant. For most home baking and cooking, you can use either standard interchangeably without noticeably affecting results. Where precision matters (soufflés, delicate pastries, or highly precise ratio-dependent recipes), it is worth noting which standard is in use.

Measuring Liquids vs Thick Ingredients in Cups

Water, Milk, Juice: Simple Volume

For thin liquids — water, milk, juice, broth, vinegar, wine — volume measurement in cups or millilitres is accurate and convenient. These liquids flow freely and level themselves in a measuring cup. The relationship ml = grams holds closely for these (1ml of water = 1g; 1ml of milk ≈ 1.03g). A standard 240ml measuring jug or cup measure is all you need.

Always read a liquid measuring cup at eye level, looking at the bottom of the meniscus (the curved surface of the liquid). Reading from above causes parallax error and can introduce 5-10ml inaccuracy per cup.

Cream and Yogurt: By Volume or Weight

Single cream (240ml = approximately 248g) and double cream (240ml = approximately 260g) are close to water density. Yogurt (240ml ≈ 245g) is also close to water. Volume measurements work well for these. For very thick Greek yogurt or strained labneh, weighing in grams is more accurate as the dense texture can create air pockets in volume measurements.

Honey, Golden Syrup, and Treacle

Dense, viscous sweeteners like honey (density ≈ 1.4 g/ml), golden syrup (≈ 1.4 g/ml), and black treacle (≈ 1.4 g/ml) are considerably heavier than water per millilitre. 240ml of honey = approximately 336g — 40% heavier than water. Measuring these by weight (grams) is more practical and accurate than using cup measures, as they stick to cup sides and are difficult to level. To get honey out of a measuring cup cleanly, lightly oil the cup first or use a silicone spatula.

UK Measuring Jugs

Standard UK measuring jugs are calibrated in millilitres (and sometimes fluid ounces). Most UK jugs have markings from 100ml to 1000ml or 2000ml. To use cups with a UK jug, simply measure to the ml equivalent: ¼ cup = 60ml, ½ cup = 120ml, 1 cup = 240ml (US) or 250ml (metric). Some UK measuring jugs and measuring cup sets now include cup markings for the international cooking market.

Common Recipe Quantities: ml to Cups Reference