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Milliliters to Cups: Which Cup, a Chart and the Label Cup
By To convert milliliters to cups, divide by the size of the cup you mean. The US customary cup, half a US pint, is 236.59 mL. The cup on a US nutrition label is 240 mL. A metric cup, used in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, is 250 mL. So 500 mL is 2.11 customary cups, 2.08 label cups or exactly 2 metric cups. If you sell a drink in milliliters and package it in beverage boxes with your logo, the label cup is the one your nutrition panel uses.
Three Cups, Three Sizes
| Cup | Milliliters | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| US customary cup | 236.59 | NIST’s conversion factors (236.5882 mL) |
| US nutrition label cup | 240 | FDA’s rule for nutrition labeling, 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii) |
| Metric cup | 250 | Used in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, per Wikipedia |
The US customary cup equals 8 US fluid ounces, using the factors NIST publishes in its Guide to the SI, checked in October 2026. The label cup is 1.44 percent larger.
Milliliters to Cups Chart
| Milliliters | US customary cups | Label cups (240 mL) | Metric cups (250 mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 mL | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.20 |
| 100 mL | 0.42 | 0.42 | 0.40 |
| 125 mL | 0.53 | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| 200 mL | 0.85 | 0.83 | 0.80 |
| 250 mL | 1.06 | 1.04 | 1.00 |
| 330 mL | 1.39 | 1.38 | 1.32 |
| 355 mL | 1.50 | 1.48 | 1.42 |
| 375 mL | 1.59 | 1.56 | 1.50 |
| 500 mL | 2.11 | 2.08 | 2.00 |
| 750 mL | 3.17 | 3.13 | 3.00 |
| 1,000 mL | 4.23 | 4.17 | 4.00 |
All values computed and rounded at the end.
Cup Fractions in Milliliters
| Cup | US customary | Label cup | Metric cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 59.15 mL | 60 mL | 62.5 mL |
| 1/3 cup | 78.86 mL | 80 mL | 83.3 mL |
| 1/2 cup | 118.29 mL | 120 mL | 125 mL |
| 2/3 cup | 157.73 mL | 160 mL | 166.7 mL |
| 3/4 cup | 177.44 mL | 180 mL | 187.5 mL |
| 1 cup | 236.59 mL | 240 mL | 250 mL |
The Cups and Spoons on a Nutrition Label
FDA’s rule, as read in October 2026, says that “for nutrition labeling purposes, a teaspoon means 5 milliliters (mL), a tablespoon means 15 mL, a cup means 240 mL, 1 fl oz means 30 mL.” They are close to, but not the same as, the US customary measures: NIST puts a US teaspoon at 4.93 mL, a tablespoon at 14.79 mL and a fluid ounce at 29.57 mL.
Two things follow for a drink brand:
- Use the label measures on the label. A serving declared as 1 cup is written as 240 mL, not 236.59 mL.
- Halfway servings round up. If a serving falls exactly halfway between two sizes, such as 2.5 tablespoons, FDA says to round up to the next size.
The rule applies to nutrition labeling. It does not redefine the US customary cup.
UK and Japanese Cups
Wikipedia’s article on the cup says there is no imperial unit based culinary measuring cup in British cookery. It gives a Japanese cup of 200 mL, and a rice cooker cup of about 180 mL. So a 284 mL “UK cup” in a conversion chart does not match any culinary cup the article records.
Pouches and Labels at Custom Boxes Deals
Custom Boxes Deals makes spouted pouches, straw pouches and plain liquid pouches for drinks, and outer packaging such as craft beverage boxes for cans and bottles. Printing is CMYK, Pantone or PMS, or unprinted. Send your artwork and we will tell you how it will reproduce on the stock you have picked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups is 250 mL?
About 1.06 US customary cups, 1.04 label cups, or exactly 1 metric cup.
How many cups is 500 mL?
About 2.11 US customary cups, 2.08 label cups, or exactly 2 metric cups.
Is a cup 240 mL or 250 mL?
It depends on the cup. The US customary cup is 236.59 mL, the 240 mL cup is FDA’s for nutrition labels, and 250 mL is the metric cup.
How many mL is half a cup?
118.29 mL in US customary cups, 120 mL on a nutrition label, or 125 mL in metric cups.
How many cups are in 1 liter?
About 4.23 US customary cups, 4.17 label cups, or exactly 4 metric cups.
Anthony Kim
Hello, I'm Anthony Kim, a seasoned packaging consultant and designer. With a professional journey spanning over four years, I've evolved from a budding designer to a recognized expert in the field. Currently holding the position of Packaging Consultant, I've honed my skills in creating not just visually stunning packaging but also solutions that align with strategic business goals.
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