Ounces to Cups Converter
Convert fluid ounces to cups (8 US fl oz = 1 cup) or back, switch to UK ounces or a metric cup, or convert ounces by weight of flour, sugar, cheese and more to cups.
cups = US fl oz ÷ 8 · fl oz = cups × 8
Fluid Ounces to Cups Chart
US fluid ounces and US cups. 8 fl oz = 1 cup exactly, so divide by 8.
| Fluid ounces | Cups | Measuring cups | mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 fl oz | 0.125 | 2 tbsp | 30 |
| 2 fl oz | 0.25 | ¼ cup | 59 |
| 3 fl oz | 0.375 | ¼ cup + 2 tbsp | 89 |
| 4 fl oz | 0.5 | ½ cup | 118 |
| 5 fl oz | 0.625 | ½ cup + 2 tbsp | 148 |
| 6 fl oz | 0.75 | ¾ cup | 177 |
| 8 fl oz | 1 | 1 cup | 237 |
| 10 fl oz | 1.25 | 1¼ cups | 296 |
| 12 fl oz | 1.5 | 1½ cups | 355 |
| 16 fl oz | 2 | 2 cups | 473 |
| 20 fl oz | 2.5 | 2½ cups | 591 |
| 24 fl oz | 3 | 3 cups | 710 |
| 32 fl oz | 4 | 4 cups | 946 |
| 48 fl oz | 6 | 6 cups | 1,420 |
| 64 fl oz | 8 | 8 cups | 1,893 |
When “8 oz” Isn't a Cup: Ounces by Weight
"Oz" on a package is usually weight: a 12 oz bag of chocolate chips or an 8 oz block of cheese. "Fl oz" is volume. The two only line up for water and similar liquids, where 8 oz by weight takes up almost exactly 8 fl oz. For anything lighter or heavier than water, 8 oz by weight is more or less than a cup:
| 8 oz (227 g) of | Cups | Measuring cups |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 0.96 | ¾ cup + 3 tbsp |
| Milk (whole) | 0.93 | ¾ cup + 3 tbsp |
| Honey | 0.67 | ½ cup + 3 tbsp |
| Butter | 1 | 1 cup |
| All-purpose flour | 1.81 | 1¾ cups + 1 tbsp |
| Granulated sugar | 1.13 | 1 cup + 2 tbsp |
| Brown sugar (packed) | 1.03 | 1 cup |
| Powdered sugar | 1.89 | 1¾ cups + 2 tbsp |
| Cocoa powder | 2.64 | 2½ cups + 2 tbsp |
| Long-grain rice (dry) | 1.23 | 1¼ cups |
| Rolled oats | 2.8 | 2¾ cups + 1 tbsp |
| Cheddar, shredded | 2.01 | 2 cups |
| Chocolate chips | 1.35 | 1¼ cups + 2 tbsp |
| Blueberries | 1.53 | 1½ cups + 1 tbsp |
| Walnuts, chopped | 1.94 | 1¾ cups + 3 tbsp |
If a US recipe lists liquids in plain "oz", it almost always means fluid ounces. For dry ingredients listed in ounces, it means weight, and a kitchen scale is the reliable way to measure them.
Worked Example: Counting a Day's Water in Cups
You're aiming for 64 fl oz of water a day, the "eight 8-ounce glasses" habit, and you drink from 500 mL bottles labelled 16.9 fl oz. (This is the Load Example.)
Step 1: One bottle in cups
Step 2: The goal in cups
Step 3: Bottles needed
Four bottles covers it with a little to spare. Food and other drinks also count towards your water intake; the 64 oz figure is a habit rather than a medical target.
| Drink | fl oz | Cups |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso shot (double) | 2 | 0.25 |
| Coffee-maker “cup” | 5 | 0.63 |
| Soda can | 12 | 1.5 |
| Water bottle, 500 mL | 16.9 | 2.11 |
| Soda bottle | 20 | 2.5 |
| Sports bottle, 32 oz | 32 | 4 |
| “Eight glasses a day” | 64 | 8 |
The "cups" on a coffee maker's carafe are usually 5 or 6 fl oz, not 8. A 12-cup machine with 5 oz cups brews 60 fl oz, or 7½ measuring cups. Check your manual.
US and UK Fluid Ounces Are Different Sizes
A UK (imperial) fluid ounce is 28.41 mL, about 4% smaller than the US 29.57 mL. Oddly, the UK pint is bigger, because it holds 20 fl oz against the US pint's 16. For a few ounces the difference doesn't matter in cooking; over a pint it adds up to a 20% gap.
US nutrition labels add one more variation: they round a cup to 240 mL and a fluid ounce to 30 mL. That's why an 8 fl oz serving is printed as "1 cup (240 mL)" though it's really 236.6 mL. Australian, New Zealand and Canadian recipes use a 250 mL metric cup. Pick the matching cup in the tool when you follow those recipes.
| Measure | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1 fluid ounce | 29.57 mL | 28.41 mL |
| Fl oz in a pint | 16 | 20 |
| Fl oz in 1 US cup (236.6 mL) | 8 | 8.33 |
| Fl oz in a metric cup (250 mL) | 8.45 | 8.80 |
Measuring Fluid Ounces With Spoons and Jugs
No jug with ounce marks? Spoons work for small amounts: 1 US fl oz is exactly 2 tablespoons. For larger amounts, use a clear liquid measuring cup on the counter and read it at eye level at the bottom of the curved surface. Dry measuring cups, filled to the brim, tend to spill and come out short.
| Amount | Tablespoons | Teaspoons | mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 fl oz | 2 tbsp | 6 tsp | 29.6 mL |
| ½ fl oz | 1 tbsp | 3 tsp | 14.8 mL |
| 1.5 fl oz (a jigger) | 3 tbsp | 9 tsp | 44.4 mL |
| 2 fl oz (¼ cup) | 4 tbsp | 12 tsp | 59.1 mL |
| 4 fl oz (½ cup) | 8 tbsp | 24 tsp | 118.3 mL |
Baby bottles are marked in both ounces and millilitres; 4 fl oz is 118 mL, often rounded to 120 on the bottle. For other kitchen units, try the volume converter.
Frequently asked questions
Is 8 oz always 1 cup?
Only for fluid ounces: 8 US fl oz is exactly 1 US cup. 8 oz by weight is 1 cup only for water-like liquids; 8 oz of flour is about 1.8 cups.
How many cups is 12 oz?
1½ cups (12 US fl oz), the size of a soda can.
How many ounces are in 3/4 cup?
6 US fluid ounces (177 mL), which is also 12 tablespoons.
How many cups is a 6 oz bag of chocolate chips?
About 1 cup. Chocolate chips weigh about 168 g per cup and 6 oz is 170 g.
Sources
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: US fluid ounce = 29.573 mL; 8 fl oz to the cup and 16 to the pint.
- 21 CFR 101.9, Nutrition labeling of food: household measures on labels: 1 cup = 240 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL.
- UK Units of Measurement Regulations 1995: imperial fluid ounce = 28.4131 mL.
- USDA FoodData Central: gram weights per cup used for the ounces-by-weight table.
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