Free Milliliters to Fluid Ounces Converter

What is a milliliter? What is a US fluid ounce?

The milliliter (mL) is a metric unit of volume: one thousandth of a litre. One milliliter is exactly one cubic centimetre, so a 500 mL bottle holds 500 cubic centimetres of liquid. Millilitres are the standard for drinks, recipes, and medicine across Europe and most of the world — a European drinks bottle says 500 mL, a recipe says 240 mL, and a child's medicine dose is measured in millilitres with a syringe or dosing cup.

The US fluid ounce (US fl oz) is the everyday unit of liquid volume in the United States. It is defined through the US gallon: 1 US gallon is exactly 231 cubic inches, and 1 US fluid ounce is 1/128 of a gallon, which works out to exactly 29.5735295625 mL. A standard US soda can holds 12 US fl oz, a US cup holds 8 US fl oz, and a US pint holds 16 US fl oz. Note the word fluid: a fluid ounce measures volume, while an ounce on its own measures weight, and the two must never be swapped without knowing the density of the liquid.

The UK imperial fluid ounce is a different unit, and mixing the two is the classic mistake in this conversion. The imperial gallon is 4.54609 litres, and 1 imperial fluid ounce is 1/160 of it, exactly 28.4130625 mL — about 4 percent smaller than a US fluid ounce. This converter uses US fluid ounces in every result; the table below shows imperial values alongside so a British recipe can be read correctly too.

How to use

1. Type a volume in milliliters in the left box — the US fluid ounces appear instantly on the right, with no button to press.
2. Or type in the US fluid ounces box instead: both boxes are editable, and typing in either one updates the other at once.
3. Press Swap to flip the direction. The converted value carries over as the new starting number, so you can keep converting back and forth.
4. Read the result line for the full conversion, and the line under it for the rate: 1 mL = 0.0338140227 US fl oz. If your source is British, use the imperial column in the table below instead.

Milliliters to fluid ounces formula

To go from milliliters to US fluid ounces, divide by the exact size of one US fluid ounce:

US fl oz = mL ÷ 29.5735295625

And the reverse direction multiplies by the same factor:

mL = US fl oz × 29.5735295625

• mL — volume in milliliters (1 mL = 1 cubic centimetre)
• US fl oz — volume in US fluid ounces (1 US fl oz = 1/128 US gallon)
• 29.5735295625 — milliliters in one US fluid ounce, exact (231 cubic inches ÷ 128)

For UK imperial fluid ounces the factor is different: imp fl oz = mL ÷ 28.4130625. The imperial fluid ounce is about 4 percent smaller, so the same milliliters give a larger imperial number. If you need other units in one place, the general unit converter covers more units than any single page here.

Worked example

Milliliters to fluid ounces conversion table

US values use the exact factor 1 US fl oz = 29.5735295625 mL; imperial values use 1 imp fl oz = 28.4130625 mL. The imperial fluid ounce is about 4 percent smaller, so its numbers run higher.

Everyday benchmarks: recipes, drinks, and medicine

These are the conversions people actually look up, computed with the exact factor:

• Teaspoon, 5 mL — 0.1691 US fl oz. The standard medicine dosing spoon holds 5 mL.
• Tablespoon, 15 mL — 0.5072 US fl oz. Three teaspoons make one tablespoon in both systems.
• Shot glass, 44.36 mL — 1.5 US fl oz, the standard US jigger measure for spirits.
• US cup, 240 mL — 8.1154 US fl oz. US recipes measure liquids in cups; European recipes weigh or measure in millilitres, and 240 mL is the figure printed on most measuring jugs.
• Soda can, 355 mL — 12.004 US fl oz, labelled 12 fl oz in the US.
• Water bottle, 500 mL — 16.907 US fl oz, sold as a 16.9 fl oz bottle in the US. In imperial ounces it is 17.5975 imp fl oz.
• Wine bottle, 750 mL — 25.3605 US fl oz, about five 5 fl oz glasses.
• Litre, 1,000 mL — 33.814 US fl oz, just over a US quart (32 US fl oz).
• Medicine doses — always use the measuring device supplied with the medicine and follow the label. A kitchen spoon is not an accurate substitute for a dosing syringe or cup.

For the background on why Europe and the US ended up with different systems, read the metric vs imperial conversion guide for Europe.

Frequently asked questions

How many fluid ounces is 1 milliliter?

1 milliliter is 0.0338140227 US fluid ounces. The value comes from the exact definition of the US fluid ounce: 1 US fl oz is 29.5735295625 milliliters.

How do I convert milliliters to fluid ounces?

Divide the milliliters by 29.5735295625. For example, 500 ml divided by 29.5735295625 equals 16.907 US fluid ounces. For a quick estimate, divide by 30 instead.

How many fluid ounces is 500 ml?

500 ml is 16.907 US fluid ounces. A standard 500 ml water bottle is therefore just under 17 US fluid ounces, and a 16.9 fl oz bottle in the US holds the same 500 ml.

Is a US fluid ounce the same as a UK fluid ounce?

No. A US fluid ounce is 29.5735295625 ml, while a UK imperial fluid ounce is 28.4130625 ml, about 4 percent smaller. A UK pint holds 20 imperial fluid ounces, while a US pint holds 16 US fluid ounces, so the pints differ too.

How many ml is 8 fluid ounces?

8 US fluid ounces is 236.5882 ml, usually rounded to 240 ml as one US cup in recipes. Eight fluid ounces is the classic US glass of water, and 240 ml is the metric figure printed on many European measuring jugs.

What is 355 ml in fluid ounces?

355 ml is 12.004 US fluid ounces. That is why a standard US soda can, labelled 12 fl oz, holds 355 ml: the can size was set in fluid ounces first and the metric figure followed.

Can I use this converter for medicine doses?

You can use it to understand a dose, but always follow the dose printed on the medicine label and use the measuring device supplied with it. Medicine doses in milliliters are exact, and a kitchen spoon is not an accurate substitute for a dosing syringe or cup.

What is the difference between fluid ounces and ounces?

Fluid ounces measure volume, the space a liquid fills, while ounces measure weight. Eight fluid ounces of water weighs about 8.3 ounces, but 8 fluid ounces of honey weighs much more because honey is denser. Never swap the two without knowing the density.

Sources

• NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI).
• BIPM SI Brochure — The International System of Units, including the litre and its relation to the cubic decimetre.
• NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C — 1 US gallon = 231 cubic inches exactly; 1 US fl oz = 29.5735295625 mL.
• UK Weights and Measures Act 1985 — 1 imperial gallon = 4.54609 litres; 1 imperial fluid ounce = 28.4130625 mL.

Disclaimer: This converter uses US fluid ounces and the exact factor 1 US fl oz = 29.5735295625 mL; always follow the measuring device supplied with a medicine.

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