US kitchen measures step up in simple ratios: 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon, 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce and 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup, so a cup holds 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons. In metric terms a teaspoon is 4.93 mL, a tablespoon 14.79 mL and a cup 236.6 mL (240 mL on nutrition labels), and a liter is 4.23 cups.
Quick reference: US kitchen measurement chart
| Measure | Teaspoons | Tablespoons | US fl oz | US cups | mL (US customary) | mL (US label) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (tsp) | 1 | 1/3 | 1/6 | 1/48 | 4.93 | 5 |
| 1 tablespoon (tbsp) | 3 | 1 | 1/2 | 1/16 | 14.79 | 15 |
| 1 US fluid ounce | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1/8 | 29.57 | 30 |
| 1/4 cup | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1/4 | 59.15 | 60 |
| 1/3 cup | 16 | 5 1/3 | 2 2/3 | 1/3 | 78.86 | 80 |
| 1/2 cup | 24 | 8 | 4 | 1/2 | 118.29 | 120 |
| 3/4 cup | 36 | 12 | 6 | 3/4 | 177.44 | 180 |
| 1 US cup | 48 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 236.59 | 240 |
| 1 liter | 202.88 | 67.63 | 33.81 | 4.227 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
Customary milliliters follow NIST SP 811 (Appendix B.8), where the US fluid ounce is 29.57353 mL; label milliliters follow 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii). The counts are the same in both columns. Each section below covers one conversion in detail, with its own chart and worked examples.
How many teaspoons in a tablespoon?
There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. To convert, multiply tablespoons by 3 to get teaspoons, or divide teaspoons by 3 to get tablespoons: 4 tablespoons is 12 teaspoons, and 9 teaspoons is 3 tablespoons. This holds for the US measuring spoons used in recipes, and NIST's capacity table lists the same ratio.
NIST's table of common capacity units gives one tablespoonful as 3 teaspoonfuls. The same table shows how the small spoons fit into larger US customary units: 1 fluid ounce is 2 tablespoons or 6 teaspoons, and 1 cup is 16 tablespoons. Multiplying through, 1 cup is 16 × 3 = 48 teaspoons.
The tablespoon and teaspoon are fixed in volume, unlike table cutlery, which varies from set to set. A fluid ounce is the next unit up; see how many ounces in a cup for the larger ladder.
Teaspoon to tablespoon chart
| Teaspoons | Tablespoons | Fluid ounces | Milliliters (NIST, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 1/12 tbsp | 1/24 | 1.23 |
| 1/2 tsp | 1/6 tbsp | 1/12 | 2.46 |
| 1 tsp | 1/3 tbsp | 1/6 | 4.93 |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 1/2 tbsp | 1/4 | 7.39 |
| 2 tsp | 2/3 tbsp | 1/3 | 9.86 |
| 3 tsp | 1 tbsp | 1/2 | 14.79 |
| 4 tsp | 1 1/3 tbsp | 2/3 | 19.72 |
| 6 tsp | 2 tbsp | 1 | 29.57 |
| 9 tsp | 3 tbsp | 1 1/2 | 44.36 |
| 12 tsp | 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) | 2 | 59.15 |
| 24 tsp | 8 tbsp (1/2 cup) | 4 | 118.29 |
| 48 tsp | 16 tbsp (1 cup) | 8 | 236.59 |
The converters teaspoons to tablespoons and tablespoons to teaspoons handle other amounts, and the whole family is collected on the unit converters page.
How many milliliters are in a teaspoon and a tablespoon?
NIST's conversion factors (SP 811, Appendix B.8) give a teaspoon as 4.928922 mL and a tablespoon as 14.78676 mL. Three teaspoons then total 3 × 4.928922 = 14.786766 mL, which agrees with the tablespoon value to the digits listed.
On US nutrition labels a teaspoon is 5 mL and a tablespoon 15 mL, so the 3-to-1 ratio is unchanged (3 × 5 = 15); the label values are explained under US customary vs label measures.
How many teaspoons are in common fractions of a tablespoon?
| Fraction of a tablespoon | Teaspoons |
|---|---|
| 1/4 tbsp | 3/4 tsp |
| 1/3 tbsp | 1 tsp |
| 1/2 tbsp | 1 1/2 tsp |
| 2/3 tbsp | 2 tsp |
| 3/4 tbsp | 2 1/4 tsp |
| 1 tbsp | 3 tsp |
| 1 1/2 tbsp | 4 1/2 tsp |
| 2 tbsp | 6 tsp |
Worked examples: teaspoons in a tablespoon
Example 1: only a teaspoon is available
A recipe asks for 2 tablespoons of vanilla, but only the teaspoon is clean. 2 × 3 = 6 teaspoons. That is also exactly 1 fluid ounce.
Example 2: mixed amounts
A spice rub needs 4 teaspoons of paprika. 4 ÷ 3 = 1.33 tablespoons, which is 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon. Written the other way, 1 tbsp + 1 tsp = 3 + 1 = 4 tsp.
Example 3: scaling a recipe up
A dressing uses 2 teaspoons of mustard and is tripled for a party. 2 × 3 = 6 teaspoons, which is 6 ÷ 3 = 2 tablespoons.
Example 4: from spoons to a cup
How many teaspoons fill half a cup? Half a cup is 8 tablespoons, and 8 × 3 = 24 teaspoons. In milliliters, 24 × 4.928922 = 118.3 mL, matching half of the 236.588 mL cup.
Example 5: tablespoons to fluid ounces
A drink recipe asks for 3 tablespoons of lime juice. Two tablespoons make 1 fl oz, so 3 tablespoons is 1.5 fl oz, or 9 teaspoons.
How do tbsp and tsp abbreviations avoid mix-ups?
Both spoons are abbreviated in recipes, and the shortened forms can look alike. Writing "tsp" for teaspoon and "tbsp" for tablespoon, with the letters in lowercase, removes most of the confusion. Mixing them up is a 3-fold error, because a tablespoon is three times a teaspoon. This matters most with strong ingredients such as salt, cayenne or baking soda, where tripling the amount changes the result.
How should spoon measures be taken?
- Use measuring spoons, not cutlery. Flatware spoons vary in size and are not standard measures.
- Level the spoon for dry ingredients such as flour or spices by sweeping the straight edge of a knife across the top. A heaped spoon can hold noticeably more than a level one.
- Fill liquids to the brim without overflowing, holding the spoon over a separate bowl.
- Remember the cup chain: 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon, 16 tablespoons = 1 cup. For every other step up the ladder, see the ounces in a gallon guide. Milliliter values are under how many ml in a teaspoon.
Spoons and cups measure volume. To convert a spoon of an ingredient into grams, a density is needed, which is why cups to grams lists ingredients one by one. The overview of metric vs imperial units covers the other units that share a name but differ between countries.
How many tablespoons in a cup?
A US cup contains 16 tablespoons. That is 48 teaspoons and 8 fluid ounces, and it holds about 236.6 mL. To convert cups to tablespoons, multiply by 16: 1/2 cup is 8 tablespoons, 1/4 cup is 4 tablespoons, and 3/4 cup is 12.
NIST's table of common capacity units gives one cupful as 16 tablespoonfuls. In milliliters, NIST's conversion factors list the US cup as 236.5882 mL and the tablespoon as 14.78676 mL. Checking the ratio: 236.588 ÷ 14.78676 = 16.000.
The relationship also fits the label rule used in US nutrition facts, where 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii) rounds the cup to 240 mL and the tablespoon to 15 mL: 240 ÷ 15 = 16. Both systems agree on the count; they differ only in the rounding of the milliliters.
Tablespoons in a cup: conversion chart
| Cup | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Fluid ounces | Milliliters (NIST, approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16 cup | 1 | 3 | 1/2 | 14.8 |
| 1/8 cup | 2 | 6 | 1 | 29.6 |
| 1/4 cup | 4 | 12 | 2 | 59.1 |
| 1/3 cup | 5 1/3 (5 tbsp + 1 tsp) | 16 | 2 2/3 | 78.9 |
| 3/8 cup | 6 | 18 | 3 | 88.7 |
| 1/2 cup | 8 | 24 | 4 | 118.3 |
| 2/3 cup | 10 2/3 (10 tbsp + 2 tsp) | 32 | 5 1/3 | 157.7 |
| 3/4 cup | 12 | 36 | 6 | 177.4 |
| 7/8 cup | 14 | 42 | 7 | 207.0 |
| 1 cup | 16 | 48 | 8 | 236.6 |
The converters cups to tablespoons and tablespoons to cups cover other amounts.
Why is 1/3 cup not a whole number of tablespoons?
Thirds do not divide into 16. One third of 16 tablespoons is 5.33, and a third of a tablespoon is exactly 1 teaspoon (because a tablespoon is 3 teaspoons). So 1/3 cup is 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon, and 2/3 cup is 10 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. Counted in teaspoons, the numbers come out whole: 1/3 cup is 16 teaspoons and 2/3 cup is 32.
Worked examples: tablespoons in a cup
Example 1: no measuring cup
A recipe calls for 3/4 cup of milk, and only a tablespoon is available. 16 × 3/4 = 12 tablespoons. A teaspoon would take 36 scoops, so the tablespoon is the better choice.
Example 2: halving a recipe
A cake uses 1/3 cup of oil. Half of it is 1/6 cup, which is 16 ÷ 6 = 2.67 tablespoons: 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons. A quarter cup halved is simply 2 tablespoons.
Example 3: a cup minus a few spoons
A recipe needs 1 cup of sugar, and 3 tablespoons have already gone into a sauce. 16 − 3 = 13 tablespoons remain, which is 13/16 of a cup, or about 0.81 cup. In milliliters, 13 × 14.78676 = 192.2 mL.
Example 4: tablespoons to milliliters
Two cups of broth is 2 × 16 = 32 tablespoons. 32 × 14.78676 = 473.2 mL, equal to 2 × 236.588 = 473.18 mL. Using the rounded label values instead, 32 × 15 = 480 mL, about 1.4% more.
Example 5: tripling a recipe
A sauce uses 5 tablespoons of butter and is tripled. 5 × 3 = 15 tablespoons, which is one cup minus 1 tablespoon (16 − 1 = 15).
Quick ways to remember: tablespoons in a cup
- 16 tablespoons = 1 cup, so every doubling of the cup halves the count: 1/2 cup = 8, 1/4 cup = 4, 1/8 cup = 2, 1/16 cup = 1.
- 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon links the two small units, and 48 teaspoons fill a cup.
- A cup is a volume: flour or butter measured in a cup still needs a density to become grams, as shown in cups to grams.
How many teaspoons in a cup?
A US cup holds 48 teaspoons. That comes from 16 tablespoons per cup and 3 teaspoons per tablespoon: 16 × 3 = 48. To convert, multiply cups by 48 (1/4 cup is 12 teaspoons) or divide teaspoons by 48.
NIST gives the US teaspoon as 4.928922 mL and the cup as 236.5882 mL. 236.5882 ÷ 4.928922 = 48.0. The label units give the same answer: 21 CFR 101.9 sets the teaspoon at 5 mL and the cup at 240 mL, and 240 ÷ 5 = 48. Other amounts: cups to tablespoons and tsp to ml.
Cups to teaspoons chart
| Cup | Teaspoons | Tablespoons | mL (label) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 6 | 2 | 30 |
| 1/4 | 12 | 4 | 60 |
| 1/3 | 16 | 5 1/3 | 80 |
| 1/2 | 24 | 8 | 120 |
| 2/3 | 32 | 10 2/3 | 160 |
| 3/4 | 36 | 12 | 180 |
| 1 | 48 | 16 | 240 |
| 2 | 96 | 32 | 480 |
Worked examples: teaspoons in a cup
Example 1: scaling a spice mix
A rub calls for 1/4 cup of paprika, but only a teaspoon is at hand: 48 ÷ 4 = 12 teaspoons. A batch three times larger needs 3 × 12 = 36 teaspoons, which is 3/4 cup.
Example 2: a third of a cup
1/3 cup is 48 ÷ 3 = 16 teaspoons, or 5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. By NIST volumes, 16 × 4.928922 = 78.9 mL, and 1/3 cup is 78.86 mL.
Example 3: teaspoons to cups
120 teaspoons is 120 ÷ 48 = 2.5 cups. The same steps in reverse: 2.5 cups × 16 = 40 tablespoons.
Quick ways to remember: teaspoons in a cup
- 48 = 16 × 3: tablespoons first, then times three.
- Quarter cup is a dozen: 12 teaspoons.
- Half cup is 24, three-quarters is 36.
How many tablespoons in an ounce?
One US fluid ounce equals 2 tablespoons, which is also 6 teaspoons or 1/8 cup. To convert fluid ounces to tablespoons, multiply by 2: 3 fl oz is 6 tbsp, and half an ounce is 1 tbsp. To go from tablespoons to fluid ounces, divide by 2.
A US tablespoon is 14.78676 mL and a US fluid ounce is 29.57353 mL (NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8). Dividing gives 29.57353 ÷ 14.78676 = 2.000, so a fluid ounce is two tablespoons. A teaspoon is 4.928922 mL, a third of a tablespoon, so an ounce is 6 teaspoons (29.57353 ÷ 4.928922 = 6.000).
The cup follows from the same ratio. A US cup is 8 fluid ounces, so it holds 8 × 2 = 16 tablespoons, matching how many tablespoons in a cup.
Ounces to tablespoons chart
| Fluid ounces | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | Cups | Milliliters (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 fl oz | 1 | 3 | 1/16 | 15 |
| 1 fl oz | 2 | 6 | 1/8 | 30 |
| 1 1/2 fl oz | 3 | 9 | 3/16 | 44 |
| 2 fl oz | 4 | 12 | 1/4 | 59 |
| 3 fl oz | 6 | 18 | 3/8 | 89 |
| 4 fl oz | 8 | 24 | 1/2 | 118 |
| 6 fl oz | 12 | 36 | 3/4 | 177 |
| 8 fl oz | 16 | 48 | 1 | 237 |
The ounces to tablespoons and tablespoons to ounces converters cover other values, and teaspoons to ounces handles the smaller spoon. For millilitre values see tablespoons to ml.
Worked examples: tablespoons in an ounce
Example 1: a salad dressing
A dressing needs 3 fl oz of olive oil. 3 × 2 = 6 tablespoons.
Example 2: tablespoons to ounces
A marinade uses 5 tablespoons of soy sauce. 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5 fl oz, which is also 15 teaspoons.
Example 3: scaling a recipe
A recipe calls for 1 1/2 fl oz of lemon juice and is doubled. 1.5 × 2 = 3 fl oz, and 3 × 2 = 6 tablespoons for the double batch.
Example 4: label serving sizes
US nutrition labels round a tablespoon to 15 mL and a fluid ounce to 30 mL (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii)). That keeps 30 ÷ 15 = 2 tablespoons per ounce. The true tablespoon is 14.787 mL, so 16 true tablespoons are 236.6 mL, while 16 label tablespoons are 240 mL, a 1.4% difference that rarely changes a recipe.
Does the rule work for weight ounces?
No, and this is the most common mistake. The "1 ounce = 2 tablespoons" rule only holds for fluid ounces. A weight ounce of flour, sugar, cocoa or butter fills a different number of tablespoons, and the number changes with the ingredient and how it is packed. For dry or solid ingredients, use the weight on the package or the tablespoon count printed on it. The avoirdupois ounce entry describes the weight unit, how many ounces in a cup compares the two ounces, and cups to grams covers volume-to-weight conversion.
Quick ways to remember: tablespoons in an ounce
- 1 fl oz = 2 tbsp = 6 tsp. Double for tablespoons, multiply by six for teaspoons.
- 8 fl oz = 1 cup = 16 tbsp, so 2 tablespoons is always an eighth of a cup.
- 1/4 cup = 4 tbsp = 2 fl oz.
- Tablespoons ÷ 2 = fluid ounces, which is the reverse check.
For the ladder of larger units, see how many ounces in a gallon.
How many mL in a teaspoon?
A US teaspoon is about 5 mL. Precisely, the US customary teaspoon is 4.928922 mL (NIST), and US nutrition labels round it to exactly 5 mL. A tablespoon is 3 teaspoons: 14.79 mL, or 15 mL on labels. For cooking the 5 mL and 15 mL values are the practical ones.
NIST lists the teaspoon as 4.928922 mL and the tablespoon as 14.78676 mL. Dividing, 14.78676 ÷ 4.928922 = 3.0000, so a tablespoon is exactly 3 teaspoons. The US fluid ounce is 29.57353 mL, which is 6 teaspoons. Food regulation (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii)) defines the teaspoon as 5 mL, tablespoon 15 mL and fluid ounce 30 mL for nutrition labels, as the US legal cup is 240 mL.
Teaspoon and tablespoon to mL chart
| Amount | Exact US value (mL) | Label value (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 tsp | 1.23 | 1.25 |
| 1/2 tsp | 2.46 | 2.5 |
| 1 tsp | 4.93 | 5 |
| 1 1/2 tsp | 7.39 | 7.5 |
| 1 tbsp (3 tsp) | 14.79 | 15 |
| 2 tbsp (1 fl oz) | 29.57 | 30 |
| 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) | 59.15 | 60 |
Use tsp to ml, ml to tsp, tbsp to ml and ml to tbsp for other amounts.
Worked examples: mL in a teaspoon
Example 1: converting a metric recipe
A recipe needs 25 mL of vanilla. 25 ÷ 5 = 5 teaspoons, or 1 tablespoon and 2 teaspoons. With the exact teaspoon, 25 ÷ 4.928922 = 5.07 teaspoons, a difference that does not matter in baking.
Example 2: scaling up
A recipe uses 2.5 tsp of salt for 1 batch. For 6 batches: 15 tsp = 5 tbsp = 75 mL on the label scale (73.9 mL exact).
Example 3: how much error does 5 mL add?
5 ÷ 4.928922 = 1.0144, so the label teaspoon is 1.4% larger than the customary one. Twelve level label teaspoons (60 mL) are 0.9 mL more than twelve customary ones.
Can a kitchen spoon measure medicine?
No. A kitchen spoon is not a calibrated measure, and the FDA advises using the dosing device supplied with a liquid medicine, not a kitchen spoon or a device from another product. If a label gives mL, measure in mL.
Quick ways to remember: mL in a teaspoon
- 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL (label values).
- 3 tsp = 1 tbsp; 6 tsp = 1 fl oz.
- Teaspoons to mL: multiply by 5. mL to teaspoons: divide by 5.
- 15 mL is 3 label teaspoons, or 3.04 teaspoons using the exact 4.928922 mL value.
Educational, not medical advice: follow the dosing instructions on the product or from a pharmacist.
How many mL in a cup?
A US customary cup is 236.588 mL, usually rounded to 237 mL. US nutrition labels use a rounder, legal value of exactly 240 mL per cup. To convert, multiply cups by 236.588 (or by 240 for label math): 2 cups is 473.2 mL, or 480 mL on a label.
NIST lists the US cup as 236.5882 mL. This follows from the US cup being 8 fluid ounces of 29.57353 mL each: 8 × 29.57353 = 236.588 mL. The milliliter is one thousandth of a liter, so a cup is a little under a quarter of a liter.
Cups to mL chart
| Cups | US customary (mL) | Nutrition label (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 59.1 | 60 |
| 1/3 cup | 78.9 | 80 |
| 1/2 cup | 118.3 | 120 |
| 3/4 cup | 177.4 | 180 |
| 1 cup | 236.6 | 240 |
| 1 1/2 cups | 354.9 | 360 |
| 2 cups | 473.2 | 480 |
| 3 cups | 709.8 | 720 |
| 4 cups | 946.4 | 960 |
Other values are on the cups to ml converter. Why two values exist, and which to use, is covered under US customary vs label measures.
Worked examples: mL in a cup
Example 1: a 500 mL ingredient
500 ÷ 236.588 = 2.11 cups. On the label basis, 500 ÷ 240 = 2.08 cups.
Example 2: a recipe for 3/4 cup of milk
3/4 × 236.588 = 177.4 mL, close to the label value of 180 mL.
Example 3: a 1 liter bottle
1,000 ÷ 236.588 = 4.23 cups. A recipe listing 4 cups needs about 946 mL, a little under the bottle.
How many ounces in a cup?
A US cup contains 8 fluid ounces (fl oz), which is about 236.6 milliliters. That figure is for volume. A cup does not generally weigh 8 ounces: the ounce on a kitchen scale is a unit of weight, and ingredients differ in how much a cupful weighs. Water-like liquids come near the 8 fl oz = 8 oz rule; flour is about half of it.
NIST lists the US cup as 0.2365882 liters and the US fluid ounce as 29.57353 milliliters. Dividing, 236.5882 ÷ 29.57353 = 8.000 (to three decimals), so one cup is 8 fl oz. The fluid ounce is the unit; the cup is simply 8 of them.
Cups to ounces chart
| US cups | Fluid ounces | Milliliters (exact NIST factor) | Also called |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 1 fl oz | 29.6 | 2 tablespoons |
| 1/4 cup | 2 fl oz | 59.1 | 4 tablespoons |
| 1/3 cup | 2.67 fl oz | 78.9 | |
| 1/2 cup | 4 fl oz | 118.3 | |
| 3/4 cup | 6 fl oz | 177.4 | |
| 1 cup | 8 fl oz | 236.6 | half a pint |
| 1 1/2 cups | 12 fl oz | 354.9 | |
| 2 cups | 16 fl oz | 473.2 | 1 pint |
| 4 cups | 32 fl oz | 946.4 | 1 quart |
| 16 cups | 128 fl oz | 3,785.4 | 1 gallon |
Use cups to ounces or ounces to cups for other values, and cups to ml for metric. For 2 tablespoons per fluid ounce see how many tablespoons in an ounce or tablespoons to cups.
What is the difference between fluid ounces and weight ounces?
They share a name and a symbol, but measure different things.
| Fluid ounce (fl oz) | Ounce (oz, avoirdupois) | |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | Volume | Weight (mass) |
| NIST value | 29.57353 mL | 28.34952 g |
| Used with | Liquids in cups, bottles | Items on a scale |
| 1 cup equals | 8 fl oz | Depends on the ingredient |
The avoirdupois ounce is the weight unit, 16 to the pound. Only for water-like liquids are the numbers close: assuming water weighs about 1 g per mL, one fluid ounce (29.57 mL) weighs roughly 29.6 g, near 1.04 oz.
How much does a cup of common ingredients weigh?
| Ingredient | 1 cup weighs | In ounces |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 120 g | 4 1/4 oz |
| Granulated sugar | 198 g | 7 oz |
| Brown sugar, packed | 213 g | 7 1/2 oz |
| Confectioners' sugar | 113 g | 4 oz |
| Rolled oats (King Arthur) | 113 g | 4 oz |
These are King Arthur Baking's published values. A cup of flour is therefore 4 1/4 weight ounces, not 8. For grams, see cups to grams.
Worked examples: ounces in a cup
Example 1: a recipe says "12 oz of milk"
For a liquid, recipes almost always mean fluid ounces. 12 ÷ 8 = 1.5 cups, or 12 × 29.57 = 355 mL.
Example 2: how many ounces in 3/4 cup?
3/4 × 8 = 6 fl oz, which is 177.4 mL.
Example 3: a 16 oz bag of flour
16 weight ounces of all-purpose flour at about 4 1/4 oz per cup is 16 ÷ 4.25 ≈ 3.8 cups. Using the fluid ounce rule would wrongly give 2 cups.
Example 4: converting a bottle label
A 16.9 fl oz bottle: 16.9 ÷ 8 = 2.11 cups, or 16.9 × 29.57 = 500 mL.
Common mistakes: ounces in a cup
- Treating fl oz and oz as equal. They match only for water-like liquids.
- Assuming every country's units match. US and imperial volume units differ; see metric vs imperial.
- Converting bottles by guesswork. A liter is 33.81 fl oz, covered in how many ounces in a liter.
- Forgetting the gallon ladder. 1 gallon is 16 cups; the gallon guide shows the other steps.
For the weight ounce, how many ounces in a pound gives the 16-to-1 chart, and how many grams in an ounce the metric values.
How many mL in an ounce?
One US fluid ounce is 29.5735 mL, about 30 mL. Multiply fluid ounces by 29.5735 to get milliliters: 8 fl oz is 236.6 mL and 16 fl oz is 473.2 mL. A UK fluid ounce is smaller, 28.4131 mL, and US nutrition labels round the ounce to 30 mL.
NIST gives 29.57353 mL for the US fluid ounce and 28.41306 mL for the imperial fluid ounce used in the UK. The milliliter is one thousandth of a liter. For nutrition labeling, US regulation (21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii)) sets 1 fl oz to 30 mL, so label and exact values differ by 1.4%.
Fluid ounces to mL chart
| Fluid ounces | US exact (mL) | US label (mL) | UK imperial (mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.57 | 30 | 28.41 |
| 2 | 59.15 | 60 | 56.83 |
| 4 | 118.29 | 120 | 113.65 |
| 6 | 177.44 | 180 | 170.48 |
| 8 | 236.59 | 240 | 227.30 |
| 12 | 354.88 | 360 | 340.96 |
| 16 | 473.18 | 480 | 454.61 |
| 20 | 591.47 | 600 | 568.26 |
| 32 | 946.35 | 960 | 909.22 |
Use oz to ml for other amounts, and ml to oz for the reverse.
How many ounces are in a mL value?
Divide milliliters by 29.5735: 100 mL is 3.38 US fl oz (3.52 UK fl oz), 500 mL ÷ 29.5735 = 16.9 fl oz, 1 liter = 33.8 fl oz and 355 mL = 12.0 fl oz. The same 1 liter is 35.2 UK fluid ounces (1,000 ÷ 28.4131), which is why drink sizes differ between countries. See how many ounces in a liter.
Worked examples: mL in an ounce
Example 1: a 12 oz can
12 × 29.5735 = 354.9 mL, printed as 355 mL on many cans.
Example 2: a 3.4 fl oz bottle
3.4 × 29.5735 = 100.5 mL, so a 3.4 fl oz container is just over 100 mL.
Example 3: a UK recipe
A recipe asks for 10 UK fl oz of milk: 10 × 28.4131 = 284.1 mL. Measured with US ounces, 284.1 ÷ 29.5735 = 9.6 US fl oz is the equivalent, a 4% difference.
Why do weight ounces not convert to mL?
An ounce on a kitchen scale (the avoirdupois ounce) measures weight, 28.35 g. Milliliters measure volume, so converting needs the ingredient's density; how many ounces in a cup explains the difference. Water is about 1 g per mL, so 1 oz of water by weight (28.35 g) is close to 28.3 mL, but oil, honey or flour differ. Compare metric vs imperial for other unit pairs that look alike.
How many cups in a liter?
A liter is 4.227 US cups, so for cooking it is about 4 1/4 cups. To convert, divide liters by 0.2365882 (2 liters is 8.45 cups); to go from cups to liters, multiply by 0.2365882. On US nutrition labels, where a cup is rounded to 240 mL, a liter is 4.167 cups.
NIST gives the US cup as 0.2365882 L (236.5882 mL), and the liter is 1,000 mL. 1 ÷ 0.2365882 = 4.2268. The label cup under 21 CFR 101.9 is 240 mL, and 1,000 ÷ 240 = 4.1667. The two values differ because the US legal cup is a rounded labeling unit. For other amounts use liters to cups or cups to liters.
Liters to cups chart
| Liters | US cups | Label cups (240 mL) | US fluid ounces |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 | 1.057 | 1.042 | 8.45 |
| 0.5 | 2.113 | 2.083 | 16.91 |
| 0.75 | 3.170 | 3.125 | 25.36 |
| 1 | 4.227 | 4.167 | 33.81 |
| 1.5 | 6.340 | 6.250 | 50.72 |
| 2 | 8.454 | 8.333 | 67.63 |
| 3 | 12.680 | 12.500 | 101.44 |
| 4 | 16.907 | 16.667 | 135.26 |
Worked examples: cups in a liter
Example 1: a 2-liter bottle
2 L ÷ 0.2365882 = 8.45 US cups. A recipe that needs 8 cups of broth fits in a 2-liter carton with about half a cup to spare.
Example 2: a recipe in liters
A European recipe asks for 750 mL of milk, which is 0.75 L. 0.75 ÷ 0.2365882 = 3.17 cups, close to 3 1/4 cups (3.25 cups would be 769 mL).
Example 3: cups to liters
12 cups is 12 × 0.2365882 = 2.839 L, which is about 2.84 liters (12 label cups is exactly 2.88 L).
Is 4 cups the same as a liter?
No, but it is close. Four US cups is a US quart: 4 × 0.2365882 = 0.946 L, about 5% short of a liter. A quart-sized measure is therefore not a safe stand-in when a recipe is precise. The quart and its neighbors are covered in how many cups in a quart, and the liter in other units in how many ounces in a liter.
Quick ways to remember: cups in a liter
- A liter is 4 cups plus a little: add about a quarter cup (4 tablespoons) to 4 cups.
- Half a liter is a bit over 2 cups: 500 mL is 2.11 cups.
- Fluid ounces: a liter is about 34 fluid ounces.
- Cups to liters: one US cup is 0.2366 L (0.24 L on a nutrition label), and 1.5 L is 1.5 ÷ 0.2365882 = 6.34 cups.
US customary vs nutrition label vs UK measures
The counts in this guide (3 teaspoons per tablespoon, 2 tablespoons per fluid ounce, 16 tablespoons or 48 teaspoons per cup) hold for every US measure. Only the milliliter values change between the customary and the label system.
Why do some sources say 240 mL or 5 mL?
US food regulation defines household measures differently for one purpose. Under 21 CFR 101.9(b)(5)(viii), on a nutrition label a cup means 240 mL, a tablespoon 15 mL, a teaspoon 5 mL and a fluid ounce 30 mL. The US legal cup is a rounding for labels, not a second physical cup. 240 ÷ 236.588 = 1.0144, so the label cup is about 1.4% larger, and the label teaspoon is larger by the same factor (5 ÷ 4.928922 = 1.0144). A labeled "1 cup (240 mL)" serving is therefore 1.4% larger than the 236.6 mL customary cup.
The ratios survive the rounding: 3 × 5 = 15 mL per tablespoon, 240 ÷ 15 = 16 tablespoons per cup, 240 ÷ 5 = 48 teaspoons per cup and 30 ÷ 15 = 2 tablespoons per ounce. A full cup of 48 label teaspoons is exactly 240 mL, versus 236.59 mL for the customary cup. The difference between 14.79 and 15 mL per tablespoon is small enough that it does not matter for cooking.
Which value should be used?
- Cooking and baking: 237 mL (or 236.6 mL). A 1.4% difference changes a cup of liquid by about 3.4 mL, under a teaspoon.
- Reading a nutrition label: 240 mL, because serving sizes in "cups" were set with that value.
- Exact conversions: 236.588 mL, from NIST.
- Medicine: neither; use the dosing device that comes with the product (see how many ml in a teaspoon).
Do cups and spoons differ in other countries?
Yes. The 16-tablespoon cup is the US customary cup. Recipes from other countries may use a metric cup or an older imperial measure, so the same word can mean a different volume and a recipe from outside the US may not follow the 16-tablespoon rule. NIST notes that customary units such as cups can differ in meaning from country to country, which is why a recipe from another country can come out different.
The fluid ounce itself differs between systems: a UK imperial fluid ounce is 28.41306 mL, about 4% smaller than the US one (see imperial fluid ounce). For a recipe written in imperial units, convert with milliliters rather than relying on the 2-tablespoon rule. The metric vs imperial guide lists the common near-twin units, and for dry ingredients, where volume is not weight, see cups to grams.