Liters to Cups Converter
Convert liters to US cups — one liter is 4.227 US cups. Results update as you type; exact factors shown.
One liter is 4.2268 US cups — see the exact factor, not a rounded rule of thumb.
How the liters to cups converter works
Volumes convert through the liter (exactly 1 dm³). The US gallon is exactly 3.785411784 L (231 cubic inches); the imperial gallon is exactly 4.54609 L. A US fluid ounce is 29.5735 mL, an imperial fluid ounce 28.4131 mL; a US pint is 16 US fl oz, an imperial pint 20 imperial fl oz.
The US uses customary units (US gallon, short ton, °F) in daily life; NIST SP 811 gives the exact SI factors.
Common volume conversions
| From | To | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25 L | 1.0567 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 0.5 L | 2.1134 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 0.75 L | 3.1701 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 1 L | 4.2268 US cup | liter to US cups |
| 1.25 L | 5.2834 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 1.5 L | 6.3401 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 2 L | 8.4535 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 2.5 L | 10.5669 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 3 L | 12.6803 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 4 L | 16.907 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 5 L | 21.1338 US cup | liters to US cups |
| 10 L | 42.2675 US cup | liters to US cups |
Units in this converter and their exact factors
| Unit | Symbol | One unit in liters |
|---|---|---|
| milliliter | mL | 0.001 liter |
| liter | L | 1 liter |
| cubic meter | m³ | 1,000 liter |
| teaspoon (metric) | tsp | 0.005 liter |
| tablespoon (metric) | tbsp | 0.015 liter |
| cup (metric) | cup | 0.25 liter |
| US fluid ounce | US fl oz | 0.0295735296 liter |
| US cup | US cup | 0.2365882365 liter |
| US pint | US pt | 0.473176473 liter |
| US gallon | US gal | 3.785411784 liter |
| imperial fluid ounce | imp fl oz | 0.0284130625 liter |
| imperial pint | imp pt | 0.56826125 liter |
| imperial gallon | imp gal | 4.54609 liter |
| cubic foot | ft³ | 28.316846592 liter |
FAQFrequently asked questions about volume conversion
How many cups in a liter?
4.227 US cups, or 4 metric cups of 250 ml.
Which cup is this?
The US customary cup of 236.6 ml. Australian recipes use a 250 ml metric cup, so an Australian cup is about 5.7% larger.
What is 1 liter in cups?
4.23 US cups.
Why are cup measures unreliable?
Because a cup measures volume, and how much flour fits in one depends on how it was packed. Weighing is far more consistent.
How many cups is 500 ml?
2.11 US cups, or exactly 2 metric cups.
Where these figures come from
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure, 9th edition) — definitions of the base and derived units.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact conversion factors used here.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — United States's national measurement authority.
Last checked: September 2026. Conversion factors are fixed by definition and do not change with tax years or regulations.