Convert cups to liters

Have you ever wondered how to convert cups to liters while browsing your favorite recipes? It’s a common question that many of us have had to ask at one point or another.

At times, particularly if you are from Europe and looking up US recipes, you’ll find basically all your favorite recipes using cups. I get annoyed by this pretty often, it feels like: “What on Earth?!” Why do these people measure in Fahrenheit instead of Celsius, and in tablespoons, cups etc.? It gets even worse when the recipe pops up in pints!

It gets even worse when trying to convert these cups. You see, things would be pretty easy if at least there would be a single cup used… But nooooo, there are metric cups, customary cups, imperial cups, Canadian cups and more… about seven different measuring cups! And each of them is of a different volume in ml.

But don’t worry; in this quick guide, we’ll break down the conversion of cups into liters (and the reverse), ensuring you never miss a beat while whipping up your favorite dishes!

Let’s first see the quick answer – how many US customary cups are in a liter?

US customary cup equals 0,236588 l.

Video – convert cups to liters

Free cups to liters printable conversion charts

To make it easier for you when you are browsing for recipes with different units, we created a free conversion printable chart for each cup in common use. Freely choose the one you need, download, print and stick it someplace handy:

US customary cups to liters

US legal cups to liters

Imperial cups to liters

Canadian cups to liters

Australian cups to liters

Japanese cups to liters

Who uses cups, and who liters

Liters

A liter is a unit of volume in the International System of Units (SI), which is used as a universal measurement metric mostly for liquids in many countries worldwide. A liter is equivalent to 1,000 milliliters or roughly 33.81 fluid ounces.

A decimal-based system provides a consistent and coherent set of units for measuring various physical quantities. The SI system was established by the 11th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in 1960 and has been adopted by nearly all countries around the globe.

Cups

In contrast, cups are a common unit of measurement used to quantify the volume or capacity of liquid or dry ingredients. The cup is not part of the International System of Units (SI) but is still widely used in some regions, especially in the United States and a few other countries.

Cups are regularly used for both wet and dry components when it comes to cooking and baking, providing a convenient and easy way to measure amounts, especially for those who don’t have precise tools like kitchen scales.

The confusing part is that different types of cups are used as measuring units, and their definitions can vary depending on the country or region.

How to convert cups to liters

Let’s start with the most common US Customary cups.

The formula for how to calculate how many cups are in a liter is pretty straightforward:

US customary cups = liter(s) ÷ 0.2366

Although one US customary cup equals exactly 0,236588 l, the values for more convenient conversions are often rounded to 0,2366 l (or 0,237 l).

So how do we do this? Multiply the number of cups by the conversion factor of 0,237, and you’ll get the equivalent volume in liters.

1 liter ÷ 0,236588 = 4,2267 US customary cups

Converting cups to liters – the reverse calculation

If we understand that one US customary cup equals exactly 0,4226757 l, which is usually rounded to 0,4227 cups, then it’s pretty easy to convert cups to liters.

Divide the number of liters by 4.2267, and you’ll get the equivalent measurement in liters. The formula for the conversion looks like this :

US customary cups = l ÷ 4.2267

therefore,

1 US customary cup = 0,236588 l

Here’s a downloadable and printable conversion table for converting US customary cups to liters (and liters to cups).

Practical examples of the conversion

Let’s look at some practical examples in order to gain a better understanding of the conversion process:

EXAMPLE 1: CONVERTING 5 CUPS TO L

Alright, let’s suppose that some grandma is sharing her very special pancake recipe online, but it’s written in cups, and you prefer using liters. No problem! The recipe calls for five cups of milk. To find out how many liters that is, keep in mind that one cup is equivalent to 0.2366 liters. Here we go:

5 cups of milk x 0.2367 liters per cup =1,183 liters of milk

In order to make those scrumptious fluffy pancakes, you’ll need to use approximately 1.2 liters of milk.

EXAMPLE 2: CONVERTING 1.5 CUPS TO LITERS

Now let’s change a cup measurement that is expressed as a fraction.

Let’s say you’re ready to make some delicious chocolate chip cookies. The instructions call for 1.5 cups of yummy, melty chocolate chips. However, you discover that your measuring cups have been labeled with metric liters.

No worries, there’s no need to be puzzled about how to make the conversion.:

Liters = cup × 0.2367

The result is:

liters = 1.5 cup × 0.2367 = 0,35505 l

Therefore, 1.5 cups of chocolate chips is approximately 0,35505 liters of the same chips.

EXAMPLE 3: CONVERTING 1.5 LITERS TO CUPS

How you calculate when the recipe calls for a fraction in liters:

Let’s imagine you want to make a refreshing pitcher of homemade lemonade on a hot summer day. The recipe from Greece says to use 1.5 liters of water for this tangy, zesty lemon lemonade. But hold on, your measuring cups are all about those good ol’ cups, and you’re wondering how to flip it to the metric world.

Just remember the conversion factor: 1 liter is roughly 4,2267 cups. You got this!:

cups = 1.5 liters × 4.2267

The result is:

1.5 liters = 6.34 cups

Thus, 1.5 liters of water are roughly equal to 6.34 cups.

How to convert US legal cups to liters

The US legal cup is mainly used for nutritional information and dietary guidance in the United States. It is a specific measurement employed in the country’s nutrition labeling regulations.

In 1824, the U.S. Congress passed the “British Imperial Act,” which formally adopted the British Imperial gallon as the standard gallon in the United States. The act also defined the relationships between various units of measurement, including the cup.

Later the Code of Federal Regulations regarding the measurements for nutrition labeling in the United States changed the definition of a cup (and its volume) to 240 ml. The volume is mostly used for nutrition labeling.

Since there are 1000 milliliters in a liter, dividing the number of milliliters by 1000 will give you the equivalent in liters. Therefore, dividing 240 milliliters by 1000 gets you to exactly 0,24 l.

Here’s the conversion:

1 US legal cup (240 ml) ≈ 240 ml ÷ 1000 ml/liter ≈ 0.24 liters

1 liter (1000 ml) ≈ 1000 ml ÷ 240 ml ≈ 4.1667 cups

So, 1 US legal cup equals 0.24 liters. Therefore, one liter measures 4.1667 US legal cups.

US Legal Cups	liter	liter	US Legal Cups
1 cup	0.24 l	1.0 l	4.17 cups
2 cups	0.48 l	1.1 l	4.58 cups
3 cups	0.72 l	1.2 l	5.00 cups
4 cups	0.96 l	1.3 l	5.42 cups
5 cups	1.20 l	1.4 l	5.83 cups
6 cups	1.44 l	1.5 l	6.25 cups
7 cups	1.68 l	1.6 l	6.67 cups
8 cups	1.92 l	1.7 l	7.08 cups
9 cups	2.16 l	1.8 l	7.50 cups
10 cups	2.40 l	1.9 l	7.92 cups
11 cups	2.64 l	2.0 l	8.33 cups
12 cups	2.88 l	2.1 l	8.75 cups
13 cups	3.12 l	2.2 l	9.17 cups
14 cups	3.36 l	2.3 l	9.58 cups
15 cups	3.60 l	2.4 l	10.00 cups
16 cups	3.84 l	2.5 l	10.42 cups
17 cups	4.08 l	2.6 l	10.83 cups
18 cups	4.32 l	2.7 l	11.25 cups
19 cups	4.56 l	2.8 l	11.67 cups
20 cups	4.80 l	2.9 l	12.08 cups

How to convert Imperial cups to liters

The imperial cup is a unit of measurement that has its roots in the British Empire and is still widely utilized in certain regions of the world that have been impacted by British customs (Commonwealth countries), including the United Kingdom. In the event that you encounter a recipe that specifies the use of an imperial cup, it is referring to a precise measurement within the imperial system.

An imperial cup measures 284.13 milliliters or 9.6 fluid ounces. That’s slightly bigger than the US customary cup (240 milliliters) and the metric cup (250 milliliters).

So, to convert a volume from Imperial cups to liters, simply multiply the number of cups by 0.284.

Imperial cup ≈ 0.284 liter

For example:

2 Imperial cups x 0.284 liters/cup ≈ 0.568 liters

In the reverse process, when converting liters to Imperial cups, you can use the following conversion factor:

1 liter = 3.51951 Imperial cups (rounded to 5 decimal places)

To convert a volume from liters to Imperial cups, divide the number of liters by 0.284.

Number of liters ÷ 0.284 ≈ number of Imperial cups

1 liter ÷ 0.284 ≈ 3.51951 Imperial cups

Imperial Cups	Liters	Liters	Imperial Cups
1 cup	0.284 liters	1.0 liter	3.52 cups
2 cups	0.568 liters	1.2 liters	4.224 cups
3 cups	0.852 liters	1.4 liters	4.928 cups
4 cups	1.136 liter	1.6 liters	5.632 cups
5 cups	1.42 liters	1.8 liters	6.336 cups
6 cups	1.704 liters	2.0 liters	7.04 cups
7 cups	1.988 liters	2.2 liters	7.744 cups
8 cups	2.272 liters	2.4 liters	8.448 cups
9 cups	2.556 liters	2.6 liters	9.152 cups
10 cups	2.84 liters	2.8 liters	9.856 cups
11 cups	3.124 liters	3.0 liters	10.56 cups
12 cups	3.408 liters	3.2 liters	11.264 cups
13 cups	3.692 liters	3.4 liters	11.968 cups
14 cups	3.976 liters	3.6 liters	12.672 cups
15 cups	4.26 liters	3.8 liters	13.376 cups
16 cups	4.544 liters	4.0 liters	14.08 cups
17 cups	4.828 liters	4.2 liters	14.784 cups
18 cups	5.112 liters	4.4 liters	15.488 cups
19 cups	5.396 liters	4.6 liters	16.192 cups
20 cups	5.68 liters	4.8 liters	16.896 cups
21 cups	5.964 liters	5.0 liters	17.6 cups

How to convert metric cups to liters

Metric cups, also referred to as “international cups,” are a universally recognized unit of volume within the metric system. In contrast to the US customary and Imperial cups, which vary in size, the metric cup is consistent worldwide.

A metric cup is equal to exactly 250 milliliters. Interestingly, this is slightly bigger than the US customary cup (236,7 milliliters) and smaller than the Commonwealth Imperial cup ( 284.13 milliliters). Quite amazing how measurements can differ depending on the region, don’t you think?

To convert a metric cup to liters for cooking and recipes, you can use the following conversion factor:

1 metric cup = 0.25 liters (rounded to 5 decimal places)

For example: 2 metric cups x 0.25 liters/cup ≈ 0.5 liters

Reversely, to convert liters to metric cups in cooking and recipes, you can use the following relationship:

1 liter = 4 metric cups

To find out the equivalent number of metric cups for a given volume in liters, multiplicate the number of liters by 4.

For example, if you have 2 liters of water and you want to know how many metric cups that is, here’s how you calculate it:

2 liters x 4 cups ≈ 8 metric cups

Metric Cups (cups)	Liters (Approximate)	Liters (Approximate)	Metric Cups (cups)
1 cup	0.25 liters	1.0 liter	4 cups
2 cups	0.5 liters	1.2 liters	4.8 cups
3 cups	0.75 liters	1.4 liters	5.6 cups
4 cups	1.0 liter	1.6 liters	6.4 cups
5 cups	1.25 liters	1.8 liters	7.2 cups
6 cups	1.5 liters	2.0 liters	8 cups
7 cups	1.75 liters	2.2 liters	8.8 cups
8 cups	2.0 liters	2.4 liters	9.6 cups
9 cups	2.25 liters	2.6 liters	10.4 cups
10 cups	2.5 liters	2.8 liters	11.2 cups
11 cups	2.75 liters	3.0 liters	12 cups
12 cups	3.0 liters	3.2 liters	12.8 cups
13 cups	3.25 liters	3.4 liters	13.6 cups
14 cups	3.5 liters	3.6 liters	14.4 cups
15 cups	3.75 liters	3.8 liters	15.2 cups
16 cups	4.0 liters	4.0 liters	16 cups
17 cups	4.25 liters	4.2 liters	16.8 cups
18 cups	4.5 liters	4.4 liters	17.6 cups
19 cups	4.75 liters	4.6 liters	18.4 cups
20 cups	5.0 liters	4.8 liters	19.2 cups

How to convert Canadian cups to liters

The standard Canadian cup measurement is slightly different from the US customary cup and the UK/Commonwealth cup. The Canadian cup is approximately 227.3 milliliters or around 7.68 fluid ounces, making it marginally smaller than the legal US cup, which measures 240 milliliters.

Therefore, when using a recipe from a Canadian source or exploring Canadian cuisine, it’s important to be mindful that the measurements might be based on the Canadian cup.

To convert Canadian cups to liters, you can apply the following conversion factor:

1 liter = 4.39918 Canadian cups (rounded to five decimals)

To perform the conversion, simply divide the number of cups by 4.39918.

Here’s an example: 2 Canadian cups ÷ 4.39918 ≈ 0.45535 liters

Conversely, to convert liters to Canadian cups, you can use the subsequent conversion factor:

1 Canadian cup = 0.2273 liters

To execute the conversion, divide the volume in liters by 0.2273.

For example, 2 liters ÷ 0.2273 ≈ 5.2788 Canadian cups

Canadian Cups	Liters	Liters	Canadian Cups
1 cup can	0.227 liters	1.0 liter	4.399 cups can
2 cups can	0.454 liters	1.2 liters	5.2788 cups can
3 cups can	0.681 liters	1.4 liters	6.1586 cups can
4 cups can	0.908 liter	1.6 liters	7.0384 cups can
5 cups can	1.135 liters	1.8 liters	7.9182 cups can
6 cups can	1.362 liters	2.0 liters	8.7980 cups can
7 cups can	1.589 liters	2.2 liters	9.6778 cups can
8 cups can	1.816 liters	2.4 liters	10.5576 cups can
9 cups can	2.043 liters	2.6 liters	11.4374 cups can
10 cups can	2.270 liters	2.8 liters	12.3172 cups can
11 cups can	2.497 liters	3.0 liters	13.1970 cups can
12 cups can	2.724 liters	3.2 liters	14.0768 cups can
13 cups can	2.951 liters	3.4 liters	14.9566 cups can
14 cups can	3.178 liters	3.6 liters	15.8364 cups can
15 cups can	3.405 liters	3.8 liters	16.7162 cups can
16 cups can	3.632 liters	4.0 liters	17.5960 cups can
17 cups can	3.859 liters	4.2 liters	18.4758 cups can
18 cups can	4.086 liters	4.4 liters	19.3556 cups can
19 cups can	4.313 liters	4.6 liters	20.2354 cups can
20 cups can	4.540 liters	4.8 liters	21.1152 cups can
21 cups can	4.767 liters	5.0 liters	21.9950 cups can

How to convert Japanese cups to liters

In Japan, the “gō” cup is a widely used measurement unit for cooking and baking.

The traditional Japanese used to measure 180.4 ml in 1891 and it is still used for measuring rice and sake. Later the official volume of the cup was changed; therefore, today, the Japanese cup holds 200 milliliters or 0.2 liters.

Japanese cup is smaller than the US customary or metric cups, and it’s a perfect example of how various countries and regions have different culinary traditions when it comes to measuring cups.

To convert a Japanese cup to liters, the only essential thing is to know the conversion factor. Luckily, the magic number is 0.2. By dividing the number of Japanese cups by 5, you can easily obtain the equivalent value in liters.

Liter ≈ Japanese cups x 5

Example:

2 Japanese cups ÷ 5 ≈ 0.4 liters

Now that you understand how to convert Japanese cups to liters, let’s reverse the process and convert liters to Japanese cups. The conversion factor is, once again, 0.2. Divide the volume in liters by 0.2, and you’ll have the equivalent number of Japanese cups.

1 liter ÷ 0.2 ≈ 5 Japanese cups

Japanese Cups	Liters	Liters	Japanese Cups
1 cup	0.2 liters	1.0 liter	5 cups
2 cups	0.4 liters	1.2 liters	6 cups
3 cups	0.6 liters	1.4 liters	7 cups
4 cups	0.8 liters	1.6 liters	8 cups
5 cups	1.0 liter	1.8 liters	9 cups
6 cups	1.2 liters	2.0 liters	10 cups
7 cups	1.4 liters	2.2 liters	11 cups
8 cups	1.6 liters	2.4 liters	12 cups
9 cups	1.8 liters	2.6 liters	13 cups
10 cups	2.0 liters	2.8 liters	14 cups
11 cups	2.2 liters	3.0 liters	15 cups
12 cups	2.4 liters	3.2 liters	16 cups
13 cups	2.6 liters	3.4 liters	17 cups
14 cups	2.8 liters	3.6 liters	18 cups
15 cups	3.0 liters	3.8 liters	19 cups
16 cups	3.2 liters	4.0 liters	20 cups
17 cups	3.4 liters	4.2 liters	21 cups
18 cups	3.6 liters	4.4 liters	22 cups
19 cups	3.8 liters	4.6 liters	23 cups
20 cups	4.0 liters	4.8 liters	24 cups

How to convert Australian cups to liters

While many countries have their own cup measurements, Australians embrace the Australian cup, also referred to as the metric cup. Holding 250 ml of liquid, this measurement too sets itself apart from the 237 ml US customary cup and the 284 ml Commonwealth cup.

The adoption of the Australian cup measurement was primarily driven by Australia’s transition to the metric system in the 1970s. As a part of this change, the nation adopted the use of metric measurements, which included the metric cup.

Converting Australian cups to liters is a simple process. The conversion factor is 0.25, as one liter contains four Australian cups. To convert, divide the number of cups by 4.

1 liter ≈ 0.25 (Australian cup) x 4 ≈ 4 Australian cups

1 Australian cup ≈ 1 liter ÷ 4 ≈ 0.25 l

Example:

2 Australian cups ÷ 4 ≈ 0.5 liters

So, 2 Australian cups are approximately equal to 0.5 liters.

2 liters x 4 = 8 Australian cups

Thus, two liters are equal to 8 Australian cups.

Australian Cups (cups)	Liters (Approximate)	Liters (Approximate)	Australian Cups (cups)
1 cup	0.25 liters	1.0 liter	4 cups
2 cups	0.5 liters	1.2 liters	4.8 cups
3 cups	0.75 liters	1.4 liters	5.6 cups
4 cups	1.0 liter	1.6 liters	6.4 cups
5 cups	1.25 liters	1.8 liters	7.2 cups
6 cups	1.5 liters	2.0 liters	8 cups
7 cups	1.75 liters	2.2 liters	8.8 cups
8 cups	2.0 liters	2.4 liters	9.6 cups
9 cups	2.25 liters	2.6 liters	10.4 cups
10 cups	2.5 liters	2.8 liters	11.2 cups
11 cups	2.75 liters	3.0 liters	12 cups
12 cups	3.0 liters	3.2 liters	12.8 cups
13 cups	3.25 liters	3.4 liters	13.6 cups
14 cups	3.5 liters	3.6 liters	14.4 cups
15 cups	3.75 liters	3.8 liters	15.2 cups
16 cups	4.0 liters	4.0 liters	16 cups
17 cups	4.25 liters	4.2 liters	16.8 cups
18 cups	4.5 liters	4.4 liters	17.6 cups
19 cups	4.75 liters	4.6 liters	18.4 cups
20 cups	5.0 liters	4.8 liters	19.2 cups

Rounding the converted cups and liters measurements

Here’s how you can incorporate rounding for smoother and more user-friendly measurements:

When converting from cups to liters:

• Round the converted value to two decimal places for most recipes. For example, if the exact conversion is 0.56826 liters, round it to 0.57 liters for ease of use.

When converting from liters to cups:

• Round the converted value to the nearest whole number or half, depending on the desired precision. For instance, if the exact conversion is 4.39918 cups, round it to 4 cups for a whole number or 4.4 cups for a more precise measurement.

Tips for measuring cups and liters by hand

If you prefer not to rely on conversion factors and instead measure the values manually, sometimes that can prove itself a helpful skill. Here are some tips to help you achieve accurate measurements:

Remember the volume of a liter: Get familiar with the volume of one liter, which equals 1000 milliliters. Take a look at how one liter of water, milk or flour appears in a container. This will assist you in visualizing the amount you need to measure accurately.

Use a reference container: If possible, find a container that holds exactly one liter of liquid. It could be a measuring jug, a bottle, or any other vessel with clear volume markings. This container will serve as your reference point for estimating one liter.

Divide visually: If you don’t have a reference container, you can divide the volume visually. Picture the liter as four equal portions or quarters. Each part is roughly 250 milliliters, which is equal to one metric cup.

The pinch method: When measuring smaller quantities, use your thumb and index finger to create a pinch with approximately 50 milliliters of liquid. This can be a rough measurement for smaller portions, such as a quarter cup.

Calibrate with standard tools: If you have standard measuring cups at home, use them to calibrate your hand measurements. Pour a cup of liquid into your hand, and then pour it into a container. Repeat this process to refine your skills.

Remember that measuring by hand can be convenient, but it may not always be as accurate as using proper measuring tools. For the precise following of recipes when cooking and baking, consider investing in reliable measuring cups and spoons.

Conclusion – cups to liters conversion

We’ve explored the uniqueness of different cup measures used in different countries and shown how to convert them into liters and vice versa. With so many different cups in use, there is no simple answer to that question.

Diving a bit into the history of metrication, we uncovered the reasons behind the adoption of different cup measures worldwide.

I hope your head is no longer spinning when using a foreign recipe. And I completely agree with the idea of using a universal type of cup for everyone worldwide!

Remember, rounding the converted cup and liter values to two decimal places or the nearest whole number allows you to incorporate these measurements into your recipes a little bit easier.

Sometimes, when needing a quick conversion, using an online converter is ok, but these will most often convert a liter into US customary cups only.

If you cook a lot and need to convert cups to liters and vice versa frequently, we find using free printable kitchen conversion charts, not a bad idea at all!

Of course, feel free to print the ones you need:

US Customary cups to liters and vice versa

US Legal cups to liters and vice versa

Imperial cups to liters and vice versa

Metric cups to liters and vice versa

Canadian cups to liters and vice versa

Australian cups to liters and vice versa

Japanese cups to liters and vice versa

FAQs

More free kitchen conversion charts

Cups to ml

Cups to dl

Cups to pints

Cups to tablespoons

375 F to C

200 Celsius to Fahrenheit

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