Cups to Quarts Converter
Enter cups below to convert to quarts, or flip the direction to start from quarts. Choose your measurement system: US liquid (the everyday cooking standard), US dry (for bulk grains and produce), or Imperial (UK). The result updates instantly and the "Show your work" panel walks through every step of the calculation.
Formula
Worked example
To convert 6 US liquid cups: 6 / 4 = 1.5 quarts. In millilitres: 1.5 * 946.353 = 1,419.5 mL. In pints: 1.5 * 2 = 3 pints.
How many cups are in a quart?
In the US customary system (liquid), there are exactly 4 cups in 1 quart. This makes the conversion simple: to convert cups to quarts, divide the number of cups by 4. To go the other way, multiply quarts by 4 to get cups. For example, 8 cups is 2 quarts, and 2.5 quarts is 10 cups. The US dry quart is slightly larger (about 4.65 cups), and the Imperial (UK) quart holds 4 UK cups but is a different absolute volume (1,137 mL instead of 946 mL).
US liquid, US dry, and Imperial: which system should I use?
For everyday cooking in the United States, use US liquid. A US liquid cup is 236.6 mL and a US liquid quart is 946.4 mL. US dry measurements apply to bulk produce, grains, and berries sold by volume. A US dry quart is 1,101 mL, making it about 16 percent larger than a liquid quart. Imperial cups and quarts are used in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries: one Imperial cup is 284.1 mL and one Imperial quart is 1,136.5 mL. If your recipe specifies a source country, match the system accordingly. Most American published recipes assume US liquid.
The US liquid volume hierarchy
US liquid volume units fit together in a tidy chain: 2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce, 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup, 2 cups = 1 pint, 2 pints = 1 quart, 4 quarts = 1 gallon. That means 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 16 cups = 128 fluid ounces. Keeping this chain in mind makes it easy to scale recipes up or down: a half-gallon is 2 quarts or 8 cups, and a quart is always 2 pints.
Practical tips for recipe scaling
When scaling a recipe that calls for quarts and you are measuring in cups, multiply the quart amount by 4. A recipe that needs 2.5 quarts of broth requires 10 cups. If you only have a 1-cup measure, that is 10 fills. Use the pints and gallons outputs on this calculator to confirm the container you have on hand is large enough. Note that weight (grams or ounces) is more precise than volume for baking: density varies between ingredients, so a cup of flour is not the same mass as a cup of sugar. For cooking liquids such as water, milk, or broth, the volume conversion is accurate.
Cups to quarts conversion chart
| Cups (c) | Quarts (qt) | Pints (pt) | Millilitres (mL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 0.0625 | 0.125 | 59 |
| 1/2 | 0.125 | 0.25 | 118 |
| 1 | 0.25 | 0.5 | 237 |
| 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 473 |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 946 |
| 8 | 2 | 4 | 1,893 |
| 12 | 3 | 6 | 2,839 |
| 16 | 4 | 8 | 3,785 |
| 20 | 5 | 10 | 4,732 |
| 32 | 8 | 16 | 7,571 |
| 40 | 10 | 20 | 9,464 |
US liquid measurements. Divide cups by 4 to get quarts.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups are in 1 quart?
Exactly 4 US liquid cups equal 1 US liquid quart. In US dry measurement, 1 dry quart equals about 4.65 cups. One Imperial (UK) quart equals 4 UK cups.
How do I convert cups to quarts?
Divide the number of cups by 4. For example, 6 cups / 4 = 1.5 quarts. For US dry, divide by approximately 4.655. For Imperial, divide by 4 (using UK cups).
How many cups are in 2 quarts?
2 US liquid quarts equals 8 US liquid cups. Multiply the quart count by 4 to get cups: 2 * 4 = 8.
How many quarts is 8 cups?
8 US liquid cups equals exactly 2 US liquid quarts (8 / 4 = 2). This is also equal to half a gallon.
What is the difference between a US liquid quart and a US dry quart?
A US liquid quart is 946.35 mL and contains exactly 4 liquid cups. A US dry quart is 1,101.22 mL, which is about 16 percent larger. Dry quarts are used for bulk produce and grains, not for liquids.
How many quarts is 16 cups?
16 US liquid cups equals 4 quarts, which is the same as 1 US gallon. This is 8 pints or 128 fluid ounces.
How do I convert quarts back to cups?
Multiply the number of quarts by 4 to get US liquid cups. For example, 3.5 quarts * 4 = 14 cups. Use the "Quarts to cups" direction on this calculator for instant results.