Cup (cup) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:cup
Plural:cups
Category:Volume

What is a Cup?

Definition, origin, usage, and conversion formulas for the cup.

Definition

The cup is a unit of volume used in cooking and measurements. The most common definition is the US customary cup (approx. 236.59 ml), but other definitions exist (e.g., metric cup = 250 ml).

History

The cup evolved as a traditional, informal unit of measurement in cooking, often related to the size of a typical teacup.

Common Uses

  • Cooking: Widely used in recipes, especially in North America, for measuring both liquid and dry ingredients.
  • Beverages: Measuring coffee and tea portions in home brewing.
  • Breakfast: Portioning breakfast cereals and grains.
  • Staple Foods: Measuring rice, pasta, and other staple foods before cooking.
  • Baking: Used in baking for flour, sugar, and other dry ingredients.
  • Storage: Common unit for household food storage containers.
  • Nutrition: Measuring serving sizes in dietary guidelines and nutrition information.

Unit FAQs

Is a cup the same everywhere?

No, the volume of a "cup" can vary significantly by region (e.g., US customary ≈ 237 mL, US legal = 240 mL, metric = 250 mL, imperial ≈ 284 mL). This converter primarily uses the US customary cup unless otherwise specified in the context of a specific conversion pair.

How many tablespoons are in a cup?

In the US customary system, there are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup. This is a useful conversion to remember for scaling recipes up or down, especially when working with smaller quantities.

Is a dry cup different from a liquid cup?

Yes, in the US customary system, there is a distinction between dry and liquid cup measurements. While they have the same volume (8 fluid ounces), they are measured differently. Liquid cups are typically measured to the brim in a liquid measuring cup, while dry cups are measured by filling and leveling off in a dry measuring cup. For precise cooking results, it's best to use the appropriate measuring tool for each type of ingredient.

Cup Conversion Formulas

To Liter:

1 cup = 0.236588 L
Example: 5 cups = 1.182941 liters

To Milliliter:

1 cup = 236.588236 mL
Example: 5 cups = 1182.941182 milliliters

To Cubic meter:

1 cup = 0.000237 m³
Example: 5 cups = 0.001183 cubic meters

To Gallon (US):

1 cup = 0.0625 gal
Example: 5 cups = 0.3125 US gallons

To Gallon (UK):

1 cup = 0.052042 gal
Example: 5 cups = 0.260211 UK gallons

To Quart:

1 cup = 0.25 qt
Example: 5 cups = 1.25 quarts

To Fluid ounce:

1 cup = 8 fl oz
Example: 5 cups = 40 fluid ounces

To Cup (US):

1 cup = 1 cup
Example: 5 cups = 5 US cups

To Pint (US):

1 cup = 0.5 pt
Example: 5 cups = 2.5 US pints

Convert Cup

Need to convert Cup to other volume units? Use our conversion tool.