Cups to Ounces Converter
Convert measuring cups to ounces by ingredient weight or liquid volume.
Interactive Cups to Ounces Converter
Convert measuring cups into fluid ounces (volume) or compare dry ingredient weights. 1 standard US cup contains exactly 8 fluid ounces.
Equivalent Across All 5 Cup Standards
Cup volumes vary worldwide by regionUnderstanding Cups to Ounces Conversion
In liquid measurement, 1 US Customary Cup equals exactly 8 fluid ounces (fl oz). Because this is a volume-to-volume ratio, it applies identically to all liquids (water, milk, cider, oil, broth).
However, if your recipe refers to dry ounces (weight), the ounce value depends on the bulk density of the ingredient:
- 1 cup of Water / Milk: 8 fluid ounces = 8.35 oz by weight (237g)
- 1 cup of Unsalted Butter: 8 fluid ounces = 8.0 oz by weight (2 sticks / 227g)
- 1 cup of All-Purpose Flour: 8 fluid ounces = 4.41 oz by weight (125g)
- 1 cup of Granulated Sugar: 8 fluid ounces = 7.05 oz by weight (200g)
- 1 cup of Honey: 8 fluid ounces = 12.0 oz by weight (340g)
How to Convert Cups to Fluid Ounces: Formula & Math
Fluid Ounces (fl oz) = Cups × 8 - Multiply by 8: Take the cup amount and multiply by 8 to get total fluid ounces.
- Common benchmarks:
- 1/4 cup × 8 = 2 fl oz (4 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup × 8 = 4 fl oz (8 tablespoons / 1 stick butter)
- 3/4 cup × 8 = 6 fl oz (12 tablespoons)
- 1 cup × 8 = 8 fl oz (16 tablespoons / 1/2 pint)
- 2 cups × 8 = 16 fl oz (1 US liquid pint)
- 4 cups × 8 = 32 fl oz (1 US liquid quart)
Worked Culinary Examples
Example 1: Measuring Broth for Gravy
A roast gravy recipe calls for 2 1/2 cups of beef broth.
- Formula: 2.5 cups × 8 fl oz/cup.
- Calculation: 2.5 × 8 = 20 fluid ounces.
- Metric equivalent: 20 fl oz × 29.57 = 591.5 mL.
Example 2: Sugar for Lemonade Pitcher
You are scaling a lemonade recipe calling for 1.5 cups of white granulated sugar.
- Liquid volume: 1.5 cups = 12 fluid ounces of volume.
- Dry weight: 1.5 cups × 200g/cup = 300 grams = 10.58 dry ounces by weight.
Quick Reference Conversion Table: Cups to Fluid Ounces
| Cups (US) | Fluid Ounces (fl oz) | Tablespoons (tbsp) | Milliliters (mL) | Flour Weight (oz) | Sugar Weight (oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 cup | 1 fl oz | 2 tbsp | 29.6 mL | 0.55 oz | 0.88 oz |
| 1/4 cup | 2 fl oz | 4 tbsp | 59.1 mL | 1.10 oz | 1.76 oz |
| 1/3 cup | 2.67 fl oz | 5.3 tbsp | 78.9 mL | 1.47 oz | 2.35 oz |
| 1/2 cup | 4 fl oz | 8 tbsp | 118.3 mL | 2.20 oz | 3.53 oz |
| 2/3 cup | 5.33 fl oz | 10.7 tbsp | 157.7 mL | 2.94 oz | 4.70 oz |
| 3/4 cup | 6 fl oz | 12 tbsp | 177.4 mL | 3.31 oz | 5.29 oz |
| 1 cup | 8 fl oz | 16 tbsp | 236.6 mL | 4.41 oz | 7.05 oz |
| 1 1/4 cup | 10 fl oz | 20 tbsp | 295.7 mL | 5.51 oz | 8.82 oz |
| 1 1/2 cup | 12 fl oz | 24 tbsp | 354.9 mL | 6.61 oz | 10.58 oz |
| 2 cup | 16 fl oz | 32 tbsp | 473.2 mL | 8.82 oz | 14.11 oz |
| 2 1/2 cup | 20 fl oz | 40 tbsp | 591.5 mL | 11.02 oz | 17.64 oz |
| 3 cup | 24 fl oz | 48 tbsp | 709.8 mL | 13.23 oz | 21.16 oz |
| 4 cup | 32 fl oz | 64 tbsp | 946.4 mL | 17.64 oz | 28.22 oz |
Common Measuring Pitfalls
Assuming 1 Cup Always Weighs 8 Ounces
Only dense liquids like water, milk, or melted butter weigh approximately 8 ounces per cup. One cup of cocoa powder weighs only 3.5 ounces, while one cup of honey weighs 12 ounces.
British Imperial vs US Fluid Ounces
A British Imperial cup (half pint) holds 10 Imperial fluid ounces (284.1 mL). A US cup holds 8 US fluid ounces (236.6 mL). If using an older UK cookbook, don't use American 8 fl oz measuring cups.
Digital Kitchen Scales
Most modern digital kitchen scales have both an "oz" mode (dry weight) and a "fl oz" mode (calculated volume assuming water density). Make sure your scale is in the right mode.
Measuring Sticky Ingredients
When measuring honey, peanut butter, or molasses in cups, line the measuring cup with parchment or spray with non-stick cooking spray to prevent leaving ounces stuck to the sides.