The exact figure
One US cup is 236.588 mL. Recipes round it to 240 for convenience, which is a 1.4% error — invisible in soup, occasionally visible in a delicate cake. This converter uses the exact value.
Metric versus US cups
- US cup: 236.588 mL
- Metric / Australian cup: 250 mL
- Japanese cup: 200 mL
- If a recipe is Australian and you use a US cup, you are 5% short on every liquid
Useful anchors
250 mL ≈ 1 cup + 1 tbsp. 500 mL ≈ 2 cups + 1 tbsp. 1 litre ≈ 4 1/4 cups. A standard mug holds 300–350 mL, which is why "one mug of stock" is not a measurement.
Why volume is unreliable for dry goods
Millilitres measure space, not mass. 240 mL of flour is about 127 g but 240 mL of sugar is about 203 g — use the cups-to-grams converter for anything dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 250 mL one cup?
Nearly — it is 1.06 US cups. Australian recipes treat 250 mL as one cup.
How many mL in a tablespoon?
14.787 mL in the US; 15 mL metric; 20 mL in Australia.
Should I round 236.588 to 240?
For cooking yes; for baking use the exact figure or weigh the liquid.
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