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How many Ounces in a Cup? This is a common question that you may encounter in recipes. If it sounds confusing, this easy guide is for you. Here you will learn everything on how to convert ounces to cups and cups to ounces. Free measurement charts included!
One of the struggle that many people have when baking or cooking, is measuring ingredients. Gallons, quarts, pints and grams, there are many different measurements. And now, 1 cup how many ounce? Maybe you are more familiar with cups, but the recipe uses ounces or fluid ounces.
Indeed there are tons of online calculators and articles, but most of them are confusing. Not anymore, this easy guide will provide you with all the information you need to quickly convert cup and ounces. Alongside an in-depth description and some theory, here you will find two complete oz cups charts for measuring both fluids and dry ingredients.
What is an ounce?
An ounces (abbreviated as oz) is a unit of weight commonly used in the United States and a few other countries to measure small quantities. In recipes, ounces are used for measuring both dry and liquid ingredients. There are ounces and fluid ounces, depending on what they are intended to measure.
What is a cup?
A cup is a unit of volume equal to 8 fluid ounces. In recipes, you may find cups under abbreviations like “C” or “c”. Depending on the purpose, there are dry cups and liquid cups. The former are used for weighting out dry ingredients and are about 0.16 ounces larger than liquid cups, which measure liquid ingredients.
- 1 cup is equivalent to 1/2 of a US pint, according to the US imperial system.
- 1 cup is equivalent to 250 ml, according to the metric system.
When measuring in cups, you may often encounter tablespoons (abbreviated as tbsp or T) and teaspoons (abbreviated as tsp or t). These are two handy measurement tools that usually come with a set of cups.
How to convert ounces to cups
The relation between cup and ounces is pretty easy to understand, and it is our aim to explain the theory behind it. But if you are in a rush and need to know how many ounces are a cup, here’s a short list. Note it down and stick it to the fridge for next time you need a quick oz cups conversion.
- 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
- ¾ cup = 6 fluid ounces
- ½ cup = 4 fluid ounces
- ¼ cup = 2 fluid ounces
- 1 cup = 4.5 dry-weight ounces
Do you need to measure dry ingredients? Here is a simple conversion chart for converting dry ounces to cups and cups to dry ounces.
| Ounces (oz) | Cups (US) | Grams (g) | Pounds (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 ounce | 0.0625 cups | 15 grams | 0.03125 pounds |
| 1 ounce | 0.125 cups | 28 grams | 0.0625 pounds |
| 1 1/2 ounces | 0.1875 cups | 42 grams | 0.09375 pounds |
| 2 ounces | 0.25 cups | 56 grams | 0.125 pounds |
| 3 ounces | 0.375 cups | 85 grams | 0.1875 pounds |
| 4 ounces | 0.5 cups | 113 grams | 0.25 pounds |
| 5 ounces | 0.625 cups | 142 grams | 0.3125 pounds |
| 8 ounces | 1 cup | 226 grams | 0.5 pounds |
| 10 ounces | 1.25 cups | 283 grams | 0.625 pounds |
| 12 ounces | 1.5 cups | 340 grams | 0.75 pounds |
| 14 ounces | 1.75 cups | 397 grams | 0.875 pounds |
| 15 ounces | 1.875 cups | 425 grams | 0.9375 pounds |
| 18 ounces | 2.25 cups | 510 grams | 1.125 pounds |
| 20 ounces | 2.5 cups | 567 grams | 1.25 pounds |
| 25 ounces | 3.125 cups | 710 grams | 1.5625 pounds |
| 28 ounces | 3.5 cups | 794 grams | 1.75 pounds |
| 40 ounces | 5 cups | 1134 grams | 2.5 pounds |
Do you need to measure liquid ingredients? Here is a simple chart to convert cups into ounces (fluid oz) and fluid ounces to cups.
| Ounces (fl oz) | Cups | Milliliters (mL) | Tablespoons (Tbsp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 fl oz | 1/8 cup | 30 mL | 2 Tbsp |
| 2 fl oz | 1/4 cup | 59 mL | 4 Tbsp |
| 2 2/3 fl oz | 1/3 cup | 79 mL | 5 Tbsp |
| 4 fl oz | 1/2 cup | 118 mL | 8 Tbsp |
| 4.2 fl oz | 1/2 cup | 125 mL | 8.45 Tbsp |
| 5 1/3 fl oz | 2/3 cup | 158 mL | 10 Tbsp |
| 6 fl oz | 3/4 cup | 177 mL | 12 Tbsp |
| 8 fl oz | 1 cup | 237 mL | 16 Tbsp |
| 8.5 fl oz | 1 cup | 250 mL | 16.9 Tbsp |
| 10 2/3 fl oz | 1 1/3 cup | 316 mL | 21.33 Tbsp |
| 11.8 fl oz | 1 1/3 cup | 350 mL | 23.65 Tbsp |
| 12 fl oz | 1 1/2 cups | 355 mL | 24 Tbsp |
| 13 1/3 fl oz | 1 2/3 cup | 395 mL | 26.67 Tbsp |
| 14 fl oz | 1 3/4 cups | 414 mL | 28 Tbsp |
| 16 fl oz | 2 cups | 474 mL | 32 Tbsp |
| 20 fl oz | 2 1/2 cups | 591 mL | 40 Tbsp |
| 24 fl oz | 3 cups | 710 mL | 48 Tbsp |
| 28 fl oz | 3 1/2 cups | 828 mL | 56 Tbsp |
| 32 fl oz | 4 cups | 948 mL | 64 Tbsp |
| 40 fl oz | 5 cups | 1183 mL | 80 Tbsp |
| 48 fl oz | 6 cups | 1420 mL | 96 Tbsp |
| 64 fl oz | 8 cups | 1896 mL | 128 Tbsp |
| 80 fl oz | 10 cups | 2370 mL | 160 Tbsp |
| 96 fl oz | 12 cups | 2840 mL | 192 Tbsp |
Fluid ounces to cups
There are 8 fluid ounces in 1 cup.
This simple cup to ounce conversion comes in very handy when measuring liquid ingredients such as water or milk, according to the US system.
Dry ounces to cups
There are 4.5 dry-weight ounces in 1 cup.
According to the US measurement system, this oz cups conversion should be applied when weighting out dry ingredients such as flour or rice.
Measurement equipment & Tools
Using the correct equipment is key, when measuring dry and liquid ingredients. After understanding the cup to ounce and ounce to cup conversion, you’ll only need 3 simple tools. From plastic to metal and glass, they usually come in different materials. All are suitable, so choose the one you like the most.
Liquid measurement cups
Liquid measurement cups are used for measuring fluid ounces. You will need them when dealing with liquid ingredients such as water, milk, sauces or oil. Read further to learn how to measure fluids with cups.
Dry measurement cups
Dry measurement cups are used for weighting out dry ingredients such as rice, oats, flour, brown sugar or chocolate chips. Down below you will find step-by-step directions on how to measure dry ingredients in cups.
Measuring spoons
Teaspoons and tablespoons complement cups when measuring small quantities of ingredients. In this case, there is no differentiation between liquid and dry measurement spoons. They can be used for any type of ingredient.
British and American measuring cups
There are two types of cups: British measuring cups and US measuring cups. They measure different amounts, but this difference is almost negligible. Therefore, you should not worry that much, if the recipe doesn’t call for precise quantities. As a reference:
- 1 UK cup is equal to 250 ml
- 1 US cup is equal to 240 ml
- 1/2 UK cup is equal to 125 ml
- 1/2 US cup is equal to 120 ml
Note: UK cups are the same as metric measurement cups. US cups are the same as imperial measurement cups.
How to fill liquid measuring cups?
- Set the measuring cup on a flat surface such as a table or a kitchen counter. This step ensures that the cup remains steady when filling it out.
- Gradually pour the liquid into the cup until it reaches the designated line, making sure not to surpass it.
When cooking and converting how many ounces in a cup, it is important to note that butter and cream cheese are treated as fluids. Therefore, both ingredients should be softened before measuring.
How to fill dry measuring cups?
- Make sure the dry ingredients are loose and without lumps. A quick way to remove lumps is using a sieve, or you can quickly stir them.
- Transfer the dry ingredient into the measuring cup, filling it completely until it overflows. You can use a spoon to help you out in this process. Make sure you do not pack the ingredients into cups, if not specified in the recipe.
- Set the cup down onto a firm and even surface.
- Smooth out the flour or dry ingredient using the rear of a knife or fork to create an even surface.
More useful conversions
There are 4.5 ounces in a cup of dry ingredients.
There are 16 cups in a gallon, if measuring fluid ingredients. In case you are measuring dry ingredients, there are 18.62 cups in a gallon. Check out our full guide on how many cups in a gallon for more details.
There are 2 US liquid pints in 1 US quart.
There are 8 fluid ounces in a cup of butter. Remember that butter is considered as a wet ingredient, and therefore shall be measured soft.
There are 8 fluid ounces in a cup of water.
There are 4.5 ounces in a cup of flour.
