Quick answer: A US cup is 236.59 mL and a metric cup 250 mL, so 2 cup = 473.18 mL; one US cup holds 16 tablespoons.
How it's calculated
The amount is changed to millilitres, then to your unit. US measures come from the US gallon: 1 cup = 1/16 gallon = 236.59 mL, 1 tablespoon = 1/16 cup = 14.79 mL, 1 teaspoon = 1/3 tablespoon = 4.93 mL. Metric measures are rounder: cup 250 mL, tablespoon 15 mL, teaspoon 5 mL.
Grams are shown for water only, where 1 mL weighs about 1 g. Flour, sugar, rice and oil have different densities, so a cup of them weighs a different amount; weigh them on kitchen scales when a recipe needs precision.
Worked examples
- 2 US cups of milk: 2 cup = 473.18 mL
- 3 tablespoons: 3 tbsp = 44.36 mL
- 500 mL of water: 500 mL = 2.1134 cup
Common kitchen conversions
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 236.59 mL |
| 0.5 cup | 118.29 mL |
| 0.25 cup | 59.147 mL |
| 1 cup | 16 tbsp |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp |
| 1 tbsp | 14.787 mL |
| 1 tsp | 4.9289 mL |
| 1 fl oz | 29.574 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.59 g water |
| 1 L | 4.2268 cup |
Frequently asked questions
How many mL is one cup?
236.59 mL for a US cup and 250 mL for a metric cup (used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada).
How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?
Three.
How many grams is a cup of flour?
It depends on the ingredient and how it is packed; roughly 120 to 130 g for flour. This converter gives grams for water only.
How many tablespoons are in a cup?
Sixteen US tablespoons, or 48 teaspoons.
Is a metric cup the same as a US cup?
Close, but no. A US cup is 236.6 mL and a metric cup, used in a lot of Australian and New Zealand recipes, is 250 mL. You won't notice in a stew, but you might in a cake.
How many mL are in a tablespoon?
A US tablespoon is 14.79 mL and a metric one is 15 mL. Australian recipes use a 20 mL tablespoon, so it's worth checking where the recipe's from.