Is a US cup the same as a metric cup?

No. A US customary cup is 236.6 mL, while a metric cup (used in the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand) is 250 mL — about a 5.6% difference.

How many mL are in a tablespoon?

A US tablespoon is 14.79 mL, while a metric/UK tablespoon is 15 mL. Australia is the exception, using a 20 mL tablespoon (4 teaspoons instead of 3).

Why is an Australian tablespoon different?

Australia standardized its tablespoon at 20 mL (equal to 4 teaspoons) rather than the 15 mL (3 teaspoons) used elsewhere, so Australian recipes need a small adjustment when followed outside Australia.

How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?

In the US and Metric/UK systems, there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. In Australia, there are 4 teaspoons in a tablespoon because the Australian tablespoon is larger.

Is a dry measuring cup different from a liquid measuring cup?

No, both measure the same volume (e.g., 236.6 mL for a US cup). The difference is shape: liquid measuring cups have a pour spout and headspace for accuracy without spilling, while dry cups are filled level to the rim.

How many mL are in a US fluid ounce versus a UK fluid ounce?

A US fluid ounce is 29.57 mL, while a UK (Imperial) fluid ounce is 28.41 mL — close, but not identical.

How many cups are in a liter?

There are about 4.23 US customary cups in a liter, or exactly 4 metric cups in a liter, since a metric cup is defined as 250 mL.

Volume Converter – Cups, mL, Liters, Tablespoons & Fluid Ounces (Free)

🥤 Volume Converter

Cup & Spoon Standard (affects tsp, tbsp, fl oz & cup only)

Value

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Quick Conversions

1 cup → mL 1 tbsp → tsp 1 fl oz → mL 1 L → gallon ¼ cup → tbsp

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Enter a value and click Convert

Your converted volume and a regional comparison will appear here.

Converting…

How It Works

Why "1 Cup" Isn't Always the Same Volume

Unlike length or weight, common cooking volume units were never fully standardized worldwide. Pick the right standard above to match your recipe's origin.

Standard	Cup	Tablespoon	Teaspoon	Fluid Ounce
US Customary	236.6 mL	14.79 mL	4.93 mL	29.57 mL
US Legal (Nutrition Label)	240 mL	15 mL	5 mL	30 mL
Metric / UK / AU / CA / NZ	250 mL	15 mL*	5 mL	28.41 mL
UK Imperial (historic)	284 mL	17.76 mL	5.92 mL	28.41 mL

*Australia is the notable exception: its tablespoon is 20 mL (4 teaspoons) rather than 15 mL (3 teaspoons).

Worked Example: 1 US Cup to Milliliters

Select "US Customary" as the standard.

1 cup × 236.588 mL/cup = 236.588 mL

✓ Using the Metric standard instead, the same "1 cup" would be 250 mL — a 13.4 mL difference.

Quick Reference

Common Cup, Tablespoon & Teaspoon Conversions

US Customary values shown — use the calculator above to convert to Metric or UK Imperial.

Amount	Tablespoons	Teaspoons	Milliliters
1/8 cup	2 tbsp	6 tsp	29.6 mL
1/4 cup	4 tbsp	12 tsp	59.1 mL
1/3 cup	5 tbsp + 1 tsp	16 tsp	78.9 mL
1/2 cup	8 tbsp	24 tsp	118.3 mL
2/3 cup	10 tbsp + 2 tsp	32 tsp	157.7 mL
3/4 cup	12 tbsp	36 tsp	177.4 mL
1 cup	16 tbsp	48 tsp	236.6 mL

Quick Reference

Pints, Quarts & Gallons: US vs UK

US and UK (Imperial) versions of these larger units are not interchangeable.

Unit	US Value	UK (Imperial) Value
Pint	473.2 mL	568.3 mL
Quart	946.4 mL	1,136.5 mL
Gallon	3,785.4 mL (3.785 L)	4,546.1 mL (4.546 L)

A UK gallon is about 20% larger than a US gallon — a common surprise when comparing fuel economy or bulk liquid figures between the two systems.

FAQ

Volume Converter — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cup sizes, spoon measurements, and regional volume differences.