Cups to Liters
Convert cups to liters instantly — one cup is 0.236588 liters.
| Cups | Liters |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 0.236588 L |
| 2 cup | 0.473176 L |
| 3 cup | 0.709765 L |
| 5 cup | 1.182941 L |
| 10 cup | 2.365882 L |
| 25 cup | 5.914706 L |
| 50 cup | 11.829412 L |
| 100 cup | 23.658824 L |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Cups field.
- The Liters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Liters field converts back to Cups the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Cups to Liters formula
Converting cups to liters is a single multiplication by 0.236588236.
L = cup × 0.236588236
Why this factor: the cup and the liter are both defined against the liter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.236588236 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.236588236 — or use the Liters to Cups converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Start with 2 cup. Multiply by 0.236588236 to get 0.473176 L.
2 cup × 0.236588236 = 0.473176 L
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a cup?
A US customary cup is the standard cooking volume measure in American recipes.
Definition: Exactly one sixteenth of a US liquid gallon, so exactly 236.5882365 milliliters.
Where it is used: American recipes and baking, where dry and liquid ingredients alike are measured by cup.
Worth knowing: Nutrition labels use the US *legal* cup of exactly 240 mL, and a metric cup is 250 mL — three slightly different cups are in circulation.
What is a liter?
A liter is the everyday metric unit of volume, equal to the space in a 10 cm cube.
Definition: Exactly one cubic decimeter, so exactly 0.001 cubic meter. Accepted for use with SI but not an SI unit itself.
Where it is used: Fuel, beverages, engine displacement, and recipe volumes across the metric world.
Cups vs Liters
The cup is a US customary unit while the liter is a metric unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in a cup?
One cup equals 0.236588236 liters.
What is the formula to convert cups to liters?
Multiply the number of cups by 0.236588236. To reverse it, divide by 0.236588236 instead.
How do I convert liters back to cups?
Divide by 0.236588236, which is the same as multiplying by 4.22675284.
How many liters are in 10 cups?
10 cup works out to 2.365882 L.
Is there anything to watch out for with cups?
Nutrition labels use the US *legal* cup of exactly 240 mL, and a metric cup is 250 mL — three slightly different cups are in circulation.
How is the cup defined?
Exactly one sixteenth of a US liquid gallon, so exactly 236.5882365 milliliters.