Step‑by‑step

1. Select your cup standard (US, Metric, UK).
2. Enter cups to convert to liters, or liters to convert back to cups.
3. For quick mental math (US): cups × 0.2366 ≈ liters.

Quick chart

• US: 1 cup = 0.2366 L, 2 cups = 0.4732 L, 4 cups = 0.9464 L
• Metric: 1 cup = 0.25 L, 2 cups = 0.5 L, 4 cups = 1.0 L
• UK: 1 cup = 0.284 L, 2 cups = 0.568 L, 4 cups = 1.136 L

US vs UK vs Metric

Many recipes omit which cup system they use. US recipes use 236.588 ml per cup, Australian/metric recipes use 250 ml, and UK Imperial references sometimes use 284 ml. If unsure, check the origin of the recipe or use metric measurements.

Long‑tail answers

• How many cups in 1 liter (US)? ≈ 4.2268 cups
• 4 cups to liters (US) ≈ 0.9464 L
• 2 cups to liters (metric) = 0.5 L

Worked examples

• US standard: 3.5 cups × 0.236588 = 0.828 L (rounded).
• Metric standard: 1.25 cups × 0.25 = 0.3125 L.
• UK/Imperial: 2 cups × 0.284 = 0.568 L.
• Reverse (US): 1.2 L × 1000 ÷ 236.588 ≈ 5.07 cups.

Mental math tricks

• US quick: cups ÷ 4 ≈ liters for rough cooking (since 4.23 cups ≈ 1 L).
• Metric quick: every cup adds 0.25 L; four metric cups = 1 liter.
• UK quick: think "a little bigger than metric" (0.284 L per cup).

When to pick US vs UK vs Metric

• US recipes: Use 236.588 ml per cup.
• UK cookbooks / older Imperial references: Use 284 ml per cup.
• Australia/NZ & most modern international: Use 250 ml per metric cup.

Measuring best practices

• Use a liquid measuring jug for liquids; read at eye level at the bottom of the meniscus.
• For dry ingredients (flour, sugar), consider grams for precision—volume can vary with packing.
• Avoid mixing cup standards within one recipe; conversions can drift.

Ingredient notes

• Water/broth: Volume is stable; cups → liters is straightforward.
• Oil/milk: Still volume units; density does not affect cups ⇄ L, only weight. Use the same cup standard.
• Flour: If you search "2 cups flour to liters" remember cups and liters are volume, but flour compacts. Prefer grams for baking accuracy.

Common pitfalls

• Using Google default without noting US vs UK vs Metric cup sizes.
• Switching standards mid‑recipe (e.g., metric cups for milk, US cups for flour).
• Over‑rounding small quantities; keep 2–3 decimals for accuracy.

Extended quick chart (handy)

• US: 3/4 cup ≈ 0.177 L • 1/3 cup ≈ 0.0789 L • 1/4 cup ≈ 0.0591 L
• Metric: 3/4 cup = 0.1875 L • 1/3 cup ≈ 0.0833 L • 1/4 cup = 0.0625 L
• UK: 3/4 cup ≈ 0.213 L • 1/3 cup ≈ 0.0947 L • 1/4 cup ≈ 0.071 L