Converting Cups into Quarts: Ratio, Examples & Calculator

Understanding Cup and Quart Conversions

When cooking, baking, or simply trying to portion out ingredients, knowing how to convert between cups and quarts can be very useful. Though the US customary system provides standard cup and quart volumes, figuring out the right conversion ratios takes a bit of math.

Defining Cups and Quarts

Let's start by defining what exactly a cup and quart measure:

A cup is a standard unit of volume in cooking, which is equal to 16 tablespoons or 8 fluid ounces. Most measuring cups you find in a kitchen measure exactly one cup.
A quart is also a standard unit of volume, but it equals 4 cups or 32 fluid ounces. Quart-sized containers are common for storing liquids like juices, milk, broths, etc.

The Ratio of Cups to Quarts

Because a quart equals 4 cups, the conversion ratio is:

1 quart = 4 cups
1 cup = 0.25 quarts

These ratios make conversions easy. Let's see some examples:

If you have 4 cups of flour, you have 1 quart of flour
If you have 3 quarts of milk, that equals 3 * 4 = 12 cups of milk

Converting 18 Cups to Quarts

Now that we know the basic conversion ratios, let's specifically look at converting 18 cups to quarts:

Divide the 18 cups by the ratio of 4 cups per quart since 1 quart = 4 cups (and 1 cup = 0.25 quarts)
18 cups / 4 cups per quart = 4.5 quarts

So 18 cups is equal to 4.5 quarts. Let's look at why:

18 cups can be separated into 4 full groups of 4 cups (4 quarts) plus 2 extra cups
2 cups is equal to 0.5 quarts since 1 quart = 4 cups
4 quarts plus 0.5 quarts gives us our final answer of 4.5 quarts

Converting Other Cup Amounts to Quarts

The exact same method can be used to convert any number of cups to quarts:

Divide the cups by 4
The resulting number is equal to the number of quarts

Some examples:

36 cups / 4 = 9 quarts
12 cups / 4 = 3 quarts
1 cup / 4 = 0.25 quarts
0.5 cups / 4 = 0.125 quarts

Converting Cups to Quarts By Hand

While dividing allows for easy conversion between cups and quarts, sometimes you may need to calculate the values by hand without a calculator.

To do so, split up the cups into groups of 4, with any remainder left over representing a fractional quart amount based on the ratio of 4 cups per quart.

For example, to convert 14 cups to quarts by hand:

Separate into groups of 4 cups = 3 full groups of 4 cups
Remaining amount = 14 - (3 * 4) = 2 cups
3 groups of 4 cups represents 3 quarts
The 2 remaining cups represents 2/4 quarts, or 0.5 quarts
Total quarts = 3 quarts + 0.5 quarts = 3.5 quarts

Being able to manually calculate conversions comes in handy any time you're working with recipes or volume measurements.

Other Handy Quart Conversions

In cooking, baking, and nutrition tracking, some other quart conversions that can be useful include:

Quarts to Fluid Ounces

1 quart (qt) = 32 fluid ounces (fl oz)
1 fluid ounce = 0.03125 quarts

So if you have 2 quarts of broth, that equals 2 * 32 = 64 fluid ounces.

Quarts to Liters

1 quart = 0.94635 liters
1 liter = 1.05669 quarts

This allows you to convert recipes or quantities between US customary units and metric units.

Quarts to Milliliters

1 quart = 946.353 milliliters (ml)
1 milliliter = 0.00105669 quarts

Get Accurate with Cup and Quart Conversions

Being able to accurately convert between cups, quarts, fluid ounces, liters, and milliliters is extremely useful for cooking, baking, meal planning, and portion control.

Our cup to quart conversion overview provides the key ratios and calculation strategies you need for seamlessly handling any recipe. Mastering cup and quart conversions provides consistency, precision, and ease when working with volume measurements.

FAQs

How many cups are in a quart?

There are 4 cups in one quart. The conversion ratio is: 1 quart = 4 cups.

How do you convert cups to quarts?

To convert cups to quarts, divide the number of cups by 4 to get the equivalent number of quarts. For example, 18 cups / 4 cups per quart = 4.5 quarts.

How many quarts are in 18 cups?

There are 4.5 quarts in 18 cups. By dividing 18 cups by the cup-to-quart ratio of 4 cups/quart, we get 18 cups / 4 cups/quart = 4.5 quarts.

Can you convert cups to quarts manually?

Yes, you can convert between cups and quarts manually by separating the cups into groups of 4, which represent quarts. Any remaining cups divide by 4 cups/quart to get the partial quart amount. 14 cups equals 3 full groups of 4 (3 quarts) plus 2 more cups, which is 2/4 quarts or 0.5 quarts, totaling 3.5 quarts.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.