Cups to Liters: Definition, Origin/History, Current Use, Examples

Definition

A cup is a common unit of volume used in cooking recipes, especially in the United States and Canada. One cup is typically equal to 236.588 milliliters. A liter (L) is the metric standard for measuring liquid volume, used worldwide in beverage packaging and scientific measurements. This tool helps you convert cups to liters for baking, meal prep, and international recipe translation.

Origin or History

The cup as a measurement originated from household utensils and varied by region until standardization in the 20th century. The metric liter was introduced in France in 1795 and is now the global standard for liquid measurement. Converting cups to liters is essential for adapting American recipes for use in countries that use the metric system.

Current Use

Cups are still widely used in North American kitchens for measuring ingredients like flour, sugar, and liquids. Liters are used on beverage bottles, milk cartons, and in scientific and medical contexts. This converter is perfect for home cooks, food bloggers, and anyone following recipes from around the world.

Examples

• How many liters in 4 cups of chicken broth? (Answer: 0.946 L)
• Convert 2.5 cups of milk to liters for a European cake recipe. (Answer: 0.591 L)
• How much is 1 cup of olive oil in liters? (Answer: 0.237 L)
• Recipe calls for 1.5 liters of water—how many cups is that? (Answer: 6.34 cups)