CALTRX

Milliliters to Fluid Ounces

Convert milliliters to fluid ounces for US labels, medication, and recipe adaptation. 1 mL = 0.0338 fl oz — enter any mL value for US fluid ounce equivalent.

Enter your values above to see the results.

Tips & Notes

  • ✓US product labeling law (FPLA) requires both metric (mL or L) and US customary (fl oz) volume on consumer products. A 473 mL product must also show "16 fl oz." When importing goods to the US, convert metric volumes to fl oz for label compliance.
  • ✓Medicine bottle reference: 30 mL = 1.014 fl oz (≈ 1 fl oz, 6 teaspoons); 60 mL = 2.03 fl oz; 100 mL = 3.38 fl oz; 118 mL = 3.99 fl oz (≈ 4 fl oz); 237 mL = 8.01 fl oz (≈ 8 fl oz = 1 cup). Pharmacy standard bottles: 2 fl oz (59 mL), 4 fl oz (118 mL), 6 fl oz (177 mL), 8 fl oz (237 mL), 16 fl oz (473 mL).
  • ✓Wine pouring: standard restaurant wine pour is 5 fl oz = 147.9 mL = about 1/5 of a 750 mL bottle = 5 glasses per bottle. A standard pour is sometimes 6 fl oz (177 mL) = 4.2 glasses per bottle. The 750 mL bottle gives 25.36 fl oz total.
  • ✓Perfume and cosmetic bottle sizes: 30 mL = 1 fl oz (travel size); 50 mL = 1.69 fl oz; 75 mL = 2.54 fl oz; 100 mL (airport security maximum) = 3.38 fl oz. TSA 3-1-1 rule: liquids in containers of 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) or less.
  • ✓Quick estimate: mL / 30 gives approximate fl oz (0.8% high). Example: 250 mL / 30 = 8.33 fl oz (actual: 8.45 fl oz). Accurate enough for informal estimation.

Common Mistakes

  • ✗Assuming 30 mL = exactly 1 fl oz — 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL (not 30). For everyday estimation, 30 mL per fl oz is a useful shorthand, but for product labeling, pharmaceutical dosing, and precise cocktails, always use the exact 29.5735 mL/fl oz.
  • ✗Labeling metric products for US sale with only mL — US Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) requires the principal display panel to show net contents in both metric AND US customary units. A product labeled "500 mL" without "16.9 fl oz" is non-compliant for US retail sale.
  • ✗Confusing mL with cc (cubic centimeters) — 1 mL = 1 cc exactly. Both are the same unit. Medical syringes typically use cc or mL interchangeably. 50 cc = 50 mL = 50 × 0.033814 = 1.691 fl oz.
  • ✗Applying mL-to-fl-oz conversion to g/mL density values — g/mL is density (mass per volume), not a volume to convert. Converting "the olive oil has a density of 0.91 g/mL to fl oz" makes no sense; density cannot be converted to fl oz directly without knowing the total volume.
  • ✗Using UK fl oz for US label compliance — US products require US fl oz (29.5735 mL). UK fl oz = 28.4131 mL. If a product contains 500 mL: US label = 16.91 fl oz; UK equivalent = 17.60 fl oz (UK). Only US fl oz satisfies FPLA requirements for products sold in the US.

Milliliters to Fluid Ounces Overview

Milliliters to fluid ounces conversion serves the reverse direction of metric-to-US communication: interpreting metric product volumes in familiar US fluid ounce terms, complying with US dual-labeling laws, and understanding how international beverage and pharmaceutical sizes translate to the US system.

Milliliters to fluid ounces formula:

fl oz = mL × 0.033814 | fl oz = mL / 29.5735 | Quick: fl oz ≈ mL / 30 (0.8% high)
EX: 750 mL wine bottle → 750 × 0.033814 = 25.36 fl oz. 100 mL perfume (TSA max) → 100 × 0.033814 = 3.38 fl oz. EU 330 mL beer can → 330 × 0.033814 = 11.16 fl oz
Inverse — fl oz to mL:
mL = fl oz × 29.5735 | 1.5 fl oz shot = 44.36 mL | 12 fl oz can = 354.88 mL
EX: Verify: 25.36 fl oz × 29.5735 = 749.9 mL ≈ 750 mL ✓. Standard wine pour 5 fl oz → 5 × 29.5735 = 147.9 mL
Metric product sizes in US fluid ounces:
MillilitersUS Fluid OzCommon Product
30 mL1.01 fl ozSample/travel size cosmetics
50 mL1.69 fl ozPerfume bottle, miniature spirits
100 mL3.38 fl ozTSA maximum, small skincare
250 mL8.45 fl ozJuice box, yogurt drink
330 mL11.16 fl ozEuropean standard beer can
500 mL16.91 fl ozWater bottle, large beer
750 mL25.36 fl ozWine/spirits bottle (standard)
1,000 mL33.81 fl oz1-liter bottle
US product labeling dual requirements:
Metric VolumeRequired US fl oz labelRounding Rule
30 mL1 fl ozRound to 1/4 fl oz below 2 fl oz
118 mL4 fl ozRound to nearest fl oz
237 mL8 fl ozRound to nearest fl oz
473 mL16 fl ozRound to nearest fl oz
946 mL32 fl oz (1 qt)Express as qt if exact
3,785 mL1 galExpress as gal if exact
The US fluid ounce exists at the intersection of three measurement traditions: the avoirdupois weight ounce (28.35 g), the apothecary volume ounce (29.57 mL), and the imperial volume ounce (28.41 mL). The US system chose 29.57 mL — slightly larger than both weight and imperial equivalents — creating the persistent 3.97% gap between US and UK fluid ounce that trips up international recipe users and bartenders regularly. Understanding both values ensures accurate interpretation whether the recipe or product label originated in the US or the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multiply mL by 0.033814 or divide by 29.5735. Examples: 15 mL = 0.507 fl oz; 30 mL = 1.014 fl oz; 50 mL = 1.691 fl oz; 100 mL = 3.381 fl oz; 118 mL = 3.990 fl oz (≈ 4 fl oz); 237 mL = 8.015 fl oz (≈ 8 fl oz); 355 mL = 12.000 fl oz (standard can); 473 mL = 15.998 fl oz (≈ 16 fl oz, US pint); 750 mL = 25.361 fl oz; 1,000 mL = 33.814 fl oz.

Metric to fl oz reference: 30 mL cosmetic sample = 1.01 fl oz; 50 mL perfume bottle = 1.69 fl oz; 100 mL (TSA max) = 3.38 fl oz; 150 mL travel bottle = 5.07 fl oz; 250 mL juice box = 8.45 fl oz; 330 mL beer can (EU) = 11.16 fl oz; 355 mL (US standard can) = 12.00 fl oz; 500 mL water bottle = 16.91 fl oz; 568 mL (UK pint) = 19.22 fl oz; 750 mL wine bottle = 25.36 fl oz; 1,000 mL (1 liter) = 33.81 fl oz; 1,750 mL spirits handle = 59.17 fl oz.

The US Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA, regulated by FDA and FTC) requires: all packaged consumer goods sold in the US must display net contents in both (1) US customary units (fl oz, oz, lbs, etc.) AND (2) metric units (mL, g, kg). The metric declaration must be in the same size type, prominently placed near the US customary declaration. Exemption: certain commodities over 1 gallon/4 pounds may use only metric if industry-specific. Calculating fl oz for labels: fl oz = mL × 0.033814 (round to nearest 1/4 fl oz for packages under 2 fl oz; nearest 1/2 fl oz for larger packages per FPLA rounding rules).

Liquid medications are dosed in mL internationally but historically labeled in fl oz/tsp/tbsp in US contexts. FDA medication dosing reform: since 2020, OTC liquid medications for children must be labeled and include dosing devices in mL only — eliminating tsp/tbsp ambiguity that caused dosing errors. Adult OTC liquid dosing: 30 mL (1 fl oz) dose = standard liquid NyQuil/DayQuil dose. IV fluid bags: 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 1,000 mL standard sizes. Blood draw tubes: 3-10 mL per tube. Syringe sizes: 1 mL (insulin), 3 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, 60 mL.

Serving sizes: standard US wine pour 5 fl oz = 147.9 mL = 5.1 servings per 750 mL bottle; generous pour 6 fl oz = 177.4 mL = 4.2 servings; restaurant half-glass 3 fl oz = 88.7 mL; US spirits serving 1.5 fl oz = 44.4 mL = 16.9 servings per 750 mL bottle. Beer: 12 fl oz = 354.9 mL (standard US can) = 2.11 servings per 750 mL bottle. Dietary guidelines: standard drink (US) = 14g of pure alcohol = 1.5 fl oz 80-proof spirits (44 mL) = 5 fl oz wine (148 mL at 12% ABV) = 12 fl oz beer (355 mL at 5% ABV). All contain approximately the same alcohol regardless of serving size in mL or fl oz.

TSA (US Transportation Security Administration) 3-1-1 liquids rule: containers must hold 3.4 fl oz (100 mL) or less; all containers in 1 clear quart-sized bag; 1 bag per passenger. The 3.4 fl oz limit comes from 100 mL × 0.033814 = 3.3814 fl oz, rounded up to 3.4 fl oz for labeling convenience. Practical implications: a 100 mL perfume bottle is the maximum allowed; 125 mL exceeds the limit (4.23 fl oz). Toothpaste: maximum 100 mL = 3.38 fl oz. Note: many countries use 100 mL as their own liquid security limit — the TSA rule and EU/ICAO aviation security standards align on this threshold.