Fluid Ounces to Milliliters Converter

Fluid Ounces to Milliliters: the quick answer and formula

To convert fluid ounces to milliliters, multiply the number of fluid ounces by 29.5735 for US fluid ounces. So 1 US fl oz is about 29.57 mL, 8 fl oz (one cup) is roughly 236.6 mL, and 16 fl oz (a US pint) is about 473.2 mL. Enter any fluid-ounce value in the converter above and the milliliter result appears instantly — free, browser-based, and with no signup.

One thing to settle up front: the United States and the United Kingdom use slightly different fluid ounces. A US fluid ounce is 29.5735 mL, while a UK (imperial) fluid ounce is 28.4131 mL. This page uses the US ounce by default because it is the more common request, but the table below shows both so you can match whichever recipe or label you are working from. You will also find the formula, a worked example, and the everyday conversions used in cooking and mixing drinks.

The fluid ounce is a volume unit from the US customary and imperial systems, while the milliliter is the metric unit found on nearly every measuring jug, syringe, and nutrition label outside the US. That mismatch is why this conversion shows up so often: an American recipe lists ingredients in fluid ounces, but your measuring cup is marked in milliliters, or a bottle imported from Europe shows mL while your reference is in ounces. The numbers are small and the math is a single multiplication, but getting it exactly right matters more in the kitchen and the medicine cabinet than almost anywhere else.

How to use the Fluid Ounces to Milliliters converter

This fluid ounces to milliliters converter is built for kitchen-speed lookups.

1. Enter the volume in fluid ounces in the input field.
2. Read the result in milliliters, which updates as you type.
3. Use decimals for partial measures — 1.5 fl oz (a standard shot) converts to about 44.4 mL.
4. Copy the answer, or clear the field and convert another value.

For the reverse direction, use the Milliliters to Fluid Ounces converter. Cooks often keep both open as a combined fluid ounces to milliliters and back reference while scaling a recipe.

Formula and a worked example

The conversion is a single multiplication: mL = US fl oz × 29.5735. For UK measurements, swap the factor to 28.4131. Both are fixed constants, so the only rounding is in your final answer.

Walk through 4 fluid ounces step by step (US):

1. Start with the value in fluid ounces: 4.
2. Multiply by 29.5735: 4 × 29.5735 = 118.294.
3. Round as needed: 4 US fl oz = 118.29 mL.

The table below lists worked results for common volumes, with the UK equivalent alongside so you can see the difference at a glance.

A quick estimate: multiply fluid ounces by 30. For 8 fl oz that gives 240 mL, close to the exact 236.59. Good enough for casual cooking, though use the full factor when precision matters.

US versus UK fluid ounces in practice

The roughly 1.16 mL gap between a US and a UK fluid ounce sounds trivial, but it compounds. Convert a 16-ounce US recipe and you get 473 mL; treat those same ounces as imperial and you get 455 mL — an 18 mL difference, about a tablespoon and a half. For a single drink that rarely matters, but for baking, where ratios drive the result, or for medicine, where a dose is calculated precisely, picking the wrong ounce can throw things off.

How do you tell which ounce a source uses? Generally, if the recipe, label, or product comes from the United States, assume US fluid ounces. If it comes from the UK, Ireland, or an older Commonwealth source, assume imperial. Curiously, the imperial fluid ounce is the smaller of the two even though the imperial gallon and pint are larger than their US counterparts — a historical quirk worth remembering so you do not assume "imperial means bigger" across the board. When in doubt, the table on this page lets you check both and see whether the difference is large enough to matter for your purpose.

Common conversions and use cases

Most of these conversions show up in the kitchen and behind the bar. The list below maps the volumes people reach for most.

• 1 fl oz — 29.57 mL (a single liqueur pour)
• 1.5 fl oz — 44.36 mL (a standard US spirit shot)
• 2 fl oz — 59.15 mL (a double or a small jigger)
• 4 fl oz — 118.29 mL (half a US cup)
• 8 fl oz — 236.59 mL (one US cup)
• 12 fl oz — 354.88 mL (a standard soda can)
• 16 fl oz — 473.18 mL (a US pint)

Where it matters: following an American recipe with metric measuring tools, reading a beverage label, mixing cocktails by volume, measuring baby formula, and dosing liquid medicine. Because cups and ounces are closely related, you may also want the Cups to Milliliters converter or the Milliliters to Cups converter when a recipe jumps between units. For dry ingredients measured by weight rather than volume, switch to the Grams to Ounces converter instead — weight ounces and fluid ounces are not the same thing.

Bartending is a field where these numbers are practically muscle memory. A standard US pour is 1.5 fl oz (44.36 mL), a double is 3 fl oz (88.72 mL), and many cocktail recipes are written in fractions of an ounce that translate cleanly into the metric measures used behind bars elsewhere in the world. Knowing that three-quarters of an ounce is about 22 mL, for instance, lets a bartender follow a US recipe with a metric jigger without losing the balance of the drink.

In the kitchen, the conversion smooths over the gap between US and metric measuring systems. A US recipe might call for 4 fl oz of milk (118 mL) or 12 fl oz of broth (355 mL). If your jug is metric, converting once and noting the milliliter figure saves repeated guesswork. For medicine, syringes and dosing cups are almost always marked in milliliters, so converting a fluid-ounce instruction to mL helps you measure an accurate dose — one more reason to use the exact factor rather than rounding to 30.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Mixing up US and UK ounces. They differ by about 1.16 mL each. Over a large recipe that adds up, so match the ounce to the source of your recipe.
• Confusing fluid ounces with weight ounces. A fluid ounce measures volume; a weight ounce measures mass. They only roughly coincide for water and diverge for everything else.
• Using 30 as the exact factor. 30 is a handy estimate, but the precise US factor is 29.5735. For baking and medicine, use the exact number.
• Dividing instead of multiplying. To go from fluid ounces to milliliters you multiply. Dividing converts the other way by mistake.
• Assuming a cup is 250 mL everywhere. A US cup is 236.6 mL (8 US fl oz); a metric cup is 250 mL. Know which one your recipe means.

Tips and related converters

Keep one anchor in mind: 1 US fluid ounce is about 30 mL, so a US cup (8 fl oz) is roughly 240 mL. That single shortcut covers most everyday cooking. When you need accuracy — baking, lab work, or medicine doses — use the converter above with the exact 29.5735 factor and confirm whether the recipe is US or UK.

For related units, the Milliliters to Fluid Ounces converter handles the reverse, while the Cups to Milliliters converter and Grams to Ounces converter cover the other measurements recipes throw at you. Browse every volume and weight tool on the Unit Converters hub, all free and running in your browser.

Frequently asked questions

How many milliliters are in a fluid ounce? One US fluid ounce is 29.5735 mL, and one UK (imperial) fluid ounce is 28.4131 mL. Multiply your fluid-ounce value by the matching factor.

What is 8 fluid ounces in milliliters? 8 US fluid ounces equal about 236.59 mL, which is one US cup. In UK ounces it is about 227.30 mL.

What is the difference between US and UK fluid ounces? A US fluid ounce is 29.5735 mL and a UK fluid ounce is 28.4131 mL, so the UK ounce is slightly smaller. Always match the ounce type to your recipe or label.

Is a fluid ounce the same as a weight ounce? No. A fluid ounce measures volume and a weight ounce measures mass. They only line up for water and differ for other substances, so do not convert one as the other.

How do I convert milliliters back to fluid ounces? Divide the milliliters by 29.5735 for US fluid ounces, or use the milliliters to fluid ounces converter for an instant result.

What is a standard shot in milliliters? A standard US shot is 1.5 fluid ounces, which is about 44.36 mL.

Can I just multiply by 30 for a quick estimate? Yes, for rough cooking. Multiplying fluid ounces by 30 is close, but use the exact 29.5735 factor when measurements need to be precise.

Do I need to sign up to use this converter? No. It is completely free, runs in your browser, and has no account or usage limits.