Pint (US)

Definition: The US pint (symbol: pt) is a unit of volume equal to one-eighth of a gallon or one-half of a quart. One US pint equals exactly 2 cups or 16 fluid ounces. The simple 2:1 relationship between pints and cups makes this one of the easiest conversions in US cooking measurements.

History/origin: The pint has been used since medieval times. The US liquid pint was defined in 1832 as one-eighth of a US gallon or exactly 16 US fluid ounces. The 2:1 relationship with cups has remained constant and is fundamental to American cooking measurements.

Current use: The US pint is commonly used for measuring beer, cider, milk, ice cream, and berries. Pints are standard in bars and pubs for beer servings, grocery stores for dairy products and ice cream, and farmers markets for berries and cherry tomatoes. Converting pints to cups is one of the most common conversions in everyday cooking.

Cup (US)

Definition: The US cup is a unit of volume used in cooking and baking. One US cup equals exactly 8 fluid ounces or 236.588 milliliters. There are 2 cups in 1 pint, 4 cups in 1 quart, and 16 cups in 1 gallon.

History/origin: The cup has been used in cooking for centuries, but the US cup was standardized as exactly 8 fluid ounces in the late 19th century. The simple 2:1 relationship with pints makes conversions straightforward for recipe scaling.

Current use: The US cup is the primary measuring unit for cooking and baking in the United States. It's used in recipes for both liquid and dry ingredients. Most American measuring cup sets are based on this standard. The cup is essential for home cooking and professional food preparation in the US.

Pints to Cups Conversion Table

How to Convert Pints to Cups