1/2 Cup to ml: Convert a Half Cup to Milliliters
Convert 1/2 cup to ml: a US half cup equals 118.29 milliliters. Learn the exact factor, common uses, and how it relates to a stick of butter.
Why a Half Cup Comes Up
A half cup is a workhorse measure in US kitchens for flour, sugar, milk, and butter. The milliliter value is what metric scales and recipes expect.
One US half cup equals 118.29 ml. Our cup to ml converter returns it directly; 118.29 ml is the rounded figure.
The 1/2 Cup to ml Formula
One US cup is 236.59 ml, so a half cup is half of that: 236.59 / 2 = 118.295 ml, rounded to 118.29 ml.
The Exact Calculation
For 1/2 cup: 236.59 × 0.5 = 118.29 ml. For 1/4 cup it halves to 59.15 ml, and for 1 cup it doubles to 236.59 ml.
To go the other way, divide milliliters by 236.59: 118.29 ml / 236.59 = 0.5 cup.
Why the US Cup Is 236.59 ml
The US customary cup is 8 US fluid ounces, and one fluid ounce is 29.5735 ml, so 8 × 29.5735 = 236.588 ml, rounded to 236.59 ml.
What 118.29 ml Looks Like
A half cup of milk, water, or oil is 118.29 ml; it is exactly half a US stick of butter (a full stick is 1/2 cup, so this is a quarter stick in volume terms for soft fats).
For the full-cup value, our guide to 1 cup to ml covers the base measure.
When You Need 1/2 Cup in ml
The conversion matters for baking and drink recipes. A US recipe calling for 1/2 cup of liquid is 118.29 ml on a metric scale.
It also helps when a metric recipe lists 120 ml and you use a half-cup measure, a close and common substitute.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ml is 1/2 cup?
1/2 US cup equals 118.29 ml, because one US cup is 236.59 ml and half of that is 118.295 ml.
How do I convert 1/2 cup to ml?
Multiply 0.5 by 236.59 ml: 0.5 × 236.59 = 118.29 ml.
Is 1/2 cup the same as 120 ml?
Very close. 1/2 cup is 118.29 ml, so 120 ml is a common metric rounding.
How many tablespoons is 1/2 cup?
1/2 cup is 8 US tablespoons (8 × 14.79 ml = 118.29 ml).
How do I convert 118.29 ml to cups?
Divide by 236.59: 118.29 / 236.59 = 0.5 cup.
Try the Calculator
US Cups to mL Converter
Get instant, accurate results with our free converter.
Quick Summary
1/2 US cup equals 118.29 ml (236.59 / 2). A half cup is 8 tablespoons. The reverse: 118.29 ml / 236.59 = 0.5 cup.
Related Guide
1 Cup to ml: The Essential US Cooking Conversion
Convert 1 cup to ml with the exact formula: 1 US cup equals 236.59 ml. The key link between American recipes and metric measuring tools.
Read Full Guide →More in Cooking & Baking
Liters to Gallons: Convert Metric Volume to US Units
Convert liters to gallons with the exact US formula (divide by 3.78541). Covers 2-liter bottles, paint, and gasoline for everyday American use.
2 Liters to Gallons: What a Soda Bottle Really Holds
Convert 2 liters to gallons with the exact US formula. A 2-liter bottle equals 0.528 US gallons, just over half a gallon. See the math and uses.
Gallons to Liters: Convert US Volume to Metric Units
Convert gallons to liters with the exact US formula (multiply by 3.78541). Covers fuel, paint, and water for recipes, travel, and import labels.
Fluid Ounces to mL: Convert US Liquid Volume to Metric
Convert fluid ounces to mL with the exact US formula (1 fl oz = 29.5735 mL). Covers drinks, recipes, and skincare for everyday American use.
8 oz to mL: What a Standard US Cup Really Holds
Convert 8 oz to mL with the exact US formula. 8 fluid ounces equals 236.59 mL, the size of one US cup. See the math, uses, and common comparisons.
Convert Another Unit
Disclaimer
Unit conversions on this site use internationally recognized, fixed conversion factors (for example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg, 1 °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32). They are provided for general, informational, and educational use. For applications where accuracy is critical — such as medical dosing, engineering, scientific research, trade, or legal compliance — always verify results against authoritative sources such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the official International System of Units (SI) brochure, and follow any applicable local standards.
Exact Constants & Authoritative Sources
Every conversion on this page uses the fixed, internationally agreed constants below — drawn from NIST and the SI Brochure. No values are estimated or rounded as if exact. See the full list on our Sources & Standards page.
- EXACT1 US gallon (gal) = 3.785411784 litres (exact, 231 in³)
- EXACT1 US fluid ounce (fl oz) = 29.5735295625 mL (exact, 1/128 gal)
- EXACT1 US cup = 236.5882365 mL (exact, 8 fl oz)
- EXACT1 US pint (pt) = 473.176473 mL (exact, 16 fl oz)
- EXACT1 US quart (qt) = 946.352946 mL (exact, 32 fl oz)
- EXACT1 litre (L) = 1000 millilitres (definition)
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
US vs. Imperial (UK) cups
A US cup is 236.59 mL, but a UK/metric cup is 250 mL and an Imperial cup is ~284 mL. Recipes from different countries are not interchangeable drop-in.
Fluid ounce is volume, not mass
A US fl oz is 29.57 mL of volume. 1 fl oz of water ≈ 29.57 g, but 1 fl oz of honey or oil weighs more. Do not treat fluid ounces as grams.
Teaspoon/tablespoon sizes differ
1 US tbsp = 14.7868 mL; 1 US tsp = 4.92892 mL. Metric measuring spoons are 15 mL and 5 mL — close but not exact; for baking precision use weighed grams.
A unit-conversion reference site has no manufacturer-specific or device calibration parameters, so "layered tuning" does not apply here. The only real error-handling is input validation: the converter rejects non-numeric, empty, or out-of-range entries and shows a clear message, then falls back to exact constants above. No estimated or rounded figures are ever presented as exact.
Authoritative sources for this page
- NIST (U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) — NIST SP 330 — The International System of Units (SI), 2019 edition
- BIPM (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) — SI Brochure — The International System of Units (9th edition)
Last Updated 2026 | This article was reviewed for accuracy