How do I convert US cups to cups for any recipe?

Switching between metric cups and US cups is a fixed volume ratio that applies to any ingredient, since one US cup is 240 ml and one metric cup is 250 ml. The volume converter at the link below covers cups, US cups, millilitres, tablespoons and teaspoons in both directions.

What is the difference between a metric cup and a US cup?

A metric cup holds 250 ml while a US cup holds 240 ml, so a US cup is 4% smaller. For chopped lime that gap is small but real, and it adds up across several cups. The guide linked below explains when the difference matters and how to switch between the two so a recipe lands right whichever cup you own.

Convert Lime from US cups (chopped) to Cups (chopped)

Use the tool below to convert lime from US cups (chopped) to Cups (chopped).

A small lime is 45 g whole and a large one is 90 g, so the juice from 'three limes' can vary by twice as much. Picking the right size keeps cocktails, marinades, and ceviche on target.

How many cups is 1 US cup of lime?

One US cup of lime is 0.96 cups. A US cup holds 240 ml and a metric cup 250 ml, so the gap is small and fixed for any ingredient. Use the converter above for any amount, or the volume converter linked below for millilitres, tablespoons and more.

Related Lime Ingredients

Recipes often call for lime juice by the cup or spoon rather than by the fruit. The lime juice converter scales a recipe by volume or weight once you know your yield. See our Lime Juice converter.

After a sweeter citrus instead? The orange converter works out whole-fruit counts and chopped cups across small, medium, and large sizes. See what a US cup of oranges is in cups.

Out of lime? See lime substitutes →

No measuring cups? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring cup set keeps every batch the same.

Scoop it right, get measuring cups

Lime converter tool

Enter an amount, pick your units, and set the size for counting whole limes.

Convert from

Convert to

Lime sizeSize applies to whole limes (small / medium / large).

Result

0.96 cups

Lime Calculators & Kitchen Tools

Working with lime? These tools handle the jobs a converter cannot.

Juice Yield Calculator Estimate how much juice you get from fresh produce.
Recipe Scaler Scale any recipe up or down and keep every ingredient in ratio.

Common Lime conversions

Quick reference for lime at medium size. Switch the size in the converter above for small or large.

US cups (chopped)	Cups (chopped)
0.25 cups (US)	0.24 cups
0.5 cups (US)	0.48 cups
0.75 cups (US)	0.72 cups
1 cup (US)	0.96 cups
1.5 cups (US)	1.44 cups
2 cups (US)	1.92 cups
3 cups (US)	2.88 cups

Lime conversion chart

The chart below shows how whole limes (medium size) convert to cups, grams and ounces.

cups (US)	cups	limes	g	oz	lb	kg
0.25 cups (US)	0.24 cups	0.86 limes	57.5 g	2.03 oz	0.13 lb	0.06 kg
0.5 cups (US)	0.48 cups	1.72 limes	115 g	4.06 oz	0.25 lb	0.12 kg
1 cup (US)	0.96 cups	3.43 limes	230 g	8.11 oz	0.51 lb	0.23 kg
1.5 cups (US)	1.44 cups	5.15 limes	345 g	12.17 oz	0.76 lb	0.35 kg
2 cups (US)	1.92 cups	6.87 limes	460 g	16.23 oz	1.01 lb	0.46 kg

Lime varieties and best uses

The conversions above are the same whatever variety you use; the difference is what each is good for. Here is how the common lime varieties compare.

Variety	Best for
Persian (Tahiti)	Everyday lime juice and zest: bright, reliable, widely stocked.
Key (Mexican)	Pies and cocktails: smaller and sharper with intense aroma.
Kaffir (Makrut)	Thai and Indonesian curries: prized for zest and leaves, very little juice.
Bearss	Cocktails and dressings: large Persian-type, slightly sweeter and milder than Tahiti.

Which should I pick?

For everyday juice and zest, Persian (Tahiti) is the supermarket default: bright acid and reliable yield. No Persian? Bearss is nearly identical and slightly sweeter. Reach for Key (Mexican) when you want a sharper, more aromatic note for pies and cocktails. Kaffir is for zest and leaves only, not juice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups is 1 US cup of lime?: One US cup of lime is 0.96 cups, and two US cups are 1.92 cups. A US cup holds 240 ml against a metric cup's 250 ml, so the gap is small and the same for any ingredient. Use the converter above for any cup amount of lime. Open the lime converter
How do I convert US cups to cups for any recipe?: Switching between metric cups and US cups is a fixed volume ratio that applies to any ingredient, since one US cup is 240 ml and one metric cup is 250 ml. The volume converter at the link below covers cups, US cups, millilitres, tablespoons and teaspoons in both directions. US cups to cups converter
What is the difference between a metric cup and a US cup?: A metric cup holds 250 ml while a US cup holds 240 ml, so a US cup is 4% smaller. For chopped lime that gap is small but real, and it adds up across several cups. The guide linked below explains when the difference matters and how to switch between the two so a recipe lands right whichever cup you own. metric v US cup
Which lime variety should I use?: For everyday juice and zest, Persian (Tahiti) is the supermarket default: bright acid and reliable yield. No Persian? Bearss is nearly identical and slightly sweeter. Reach for Key (Mexican) when you want a sharper, more aromatic note for pies and cocktails. Kaffir is for zest and leaves only, not juice.

Other produce

Convert another fruit or vegetable: