Type in either field — conversion updates instantly in both directions.
To convert milliliters to US cups, divide by 236.588. So 500 mL = 2.113 cups, 250 mL = 1.057 cups (just over 1 cup), and 1,000 mL = 4.227 cups. For a quick estimate, divide mL by 240 — it overestimates slightly but works well for recipe scaling.
European and metric recipes list liquids in milliliters, but American cooking tools — measuring cups, pour spouts, and cup-marked blenders — display only cups. Converting 400 mL of broth to cups (1.69 cups ≈ 1⅔ cups) lets an American cook measure it without needing metric equipment.
Did you know? The US legal cup (used on nutrition labels) is exactly 240 mL, slightly different from the US customary cup of 236.588 mL. For cooking, the difference is negligible, but for precise pharmaceutical or scientific work, the correct cup size must be specified.
Following European, UK, or Australian recipes while using US measuring tools requires converting mL to cups. Medical liquid prescriptions listed in mL can be measured with a US cup when proper syringes are unavailable (though less precise). Smoothie recipes from metric-system countries need cup conversions for US-standard blender marks.