Can Size Conversions
Every US can size and EU can at a glance — converted to cups, ml, and fl oz.
Quick answer: A standard 15 oz US can ≈ 1¾ cups (≈ 444 ml)
Calculate any amount
The Kitchen Unit Converter handles cups, ml, g, oz, tablespoons, and more.
All Can Sizes at a Glance
Hover a row for a quick summary
| Can Size ↕ | fl oz ↑ | Cups ↕ | ml ↕ | Typical Contents | Common Recipe Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | 8 | 1 | 237 | Tomato sauce | Pizza, pasta sauce |
| #1 | 11 | 1⅜ | 325 | Soup, condensed milk | Single-batch sauce |
| 400 g (EU) | 13.5 | 1.688 | 400 | EU standard vegetable can | German / European recipes |
| 14.5 oz | 14.5 | 1.813 | 429 | Diced tomatoes, vegetables | Standard chili, soup |
| 15 oz | 15 | 1⅞ | 444 | Beans, fruit, vegetables | Standard bean / pumpkin recipe |
| #2 | 20 | 2½ | 591 | Fruit, juice, vegetables | Most fruit cocktails |
| #2.5 | 28 | 3½ | 828 | Fruit, vegetables | Pies, casseroles |
| 28 oz | 28 | 3½ | 828 | Crushed tomatoes | Large tomato sauces |
| 850 ml (EU) | 28.7 | 3.59 | 850 | EU large can | Large EU recipes |
| #3 | 46 | 5¾ | 1,361 | Juice, large vegetables | Vegetable juice, family soup |
| #5 | 56 | 7 | 1,656 | Institutional vegetables | Big-batch cooking |
| #10 | 109 | 13⅝ | 3,225 | Restaurant tomatoes, beans, fruit | Institutional / catering |
Size Comparison (Proportional)
Note: #5 and #10 (7 and 13.6 cups respectively) appear in the table above but are omitted from the chart for readability.
#10 Can: Restaurant Size
13.6
cups of content
A #10 can holds ~3,225 ml — equivalent to about 7 of the 15 oz cans you'd buy at a grocery store.
109
fl oz net
#10 cans are the institutional standard in US restaurant and catering supply. Rarely found in retail grocery stores.
Conversion example: A 50-serving chili recipe calling for 2 × #10 cans of diced tomatoes ≈ 27 US cups ≈ 6,450 ml.
Recipe Cheat Sheet
- 1 × 28 oz crushed tomatoes→= 2 × 14.5 oz OR 1 × 28 oz
- 1 × 15 oz beans→≈ 1¾ cups drained beans
- 1 × 14.5 oz diced tomatoes→≈ 1¾ cups (cannot replace 28 oz alone)
- EU 400 g tin (tomatoes)→≈ 1 × 14.5 oz US can
- EU 850 ml tin→≈ 1 × 28 oz US can
US Cans vs. EU Tins
US labeling
US cans are labeled in fluid ounces (fl oz) or net weight (oz/lb). "15 oz" refers to the net weight of contents — not volume.
EU labeling
EU tins use grams (g) or millilitres (ml). A typical 400 g tomato tin contains approximately 1¾ US cups of product.
Translating recipes
A German recipe calling for "eine 400-g-Dose Tomaten" corresponds to roughly one 14.5 oz US can. For 28 oz recipes, use two 400 g tins.
Drained Weight vs. Total Weight
What US recipes assume
Most US recipes assume drained weight when they say "1 can of beans" — unless the recipe explicitly says "with liquid" or "undrained".
FDA label format
FDA labels show both net weight (contents + liquid) and drained weight. When following a recipe, always check which the recipe intends.
Example: A 15 oz can of chickpeas drains to ~240–250 g (≈ 1½ cups) even though the total net weight including brine is ~425 g.
Common Can Substitutions
| Recipe calls for | Substitute with |
|---|---|
| 28 oz crushed tomatoes | Two 14.5 oz cans |
| 28 oz whole tomatoes | Two 14.5 oz cans (crush by hand) |
| 15 oz beans (drained) | ~240 g cooked from dried, or ⅔ cup dried beans |
| 8 oz tomato sauce | 1 cup homemade sauce |
| EU 850 ml large tin | One 28 oz US can + splash |
Sources & Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cups is a 15 oz can?
A 15 oz can holds approximately 1¾ cups (444 ml). This is the most common can size for beans, pumpkin purée, and many vegetables in US grocery stores.
How many cups is a #10 can?
A #10 can holds approximately 13.6 cups (3,225 ml or 109 fl oz). This is an institutional / restaurant-supply size. It is equivalent to about 7 standard 15 oz cans.
How many cups is a 14.5 oz can?
A 14.5 oz can holds approximately 1 13/16 cups (≈ 1.8 cups, 429 ml). This is the standard size for diced tomatoes and many canned vegetables.
How many cups is a 28 oz can?
A 28 oz can holds approximately 3½ cups (828 ml). This is the standard size for crushed or whole tomatoes used in large-batch pasta sauces and stews.
What is a 400 g EU can equivalent to in US cans?
A 400 g EU tin (standard for tomatoes, beans, vegetables) is approximately equal to a 14.5 oz US can (about 1¾ cups / 400 ml). For recipes calling for a 28 oz US can, use two 400 g EU tins.
Does "15 oz" on a can refer to volume or weight?
In the US, canned goods are labeled by net weight (solid contents + packing liquid combined), not volume. The fl oz measurement describes volume, while oz on a typical label describes weight. A 15 oz bean can will drain to about 240 g of beans — less than the label weight.
Can I substitute two 14.5 oz cans for one 28 oz can?
Yes — two 14.5 oz cans (totaling 29 oz / ~3.6 cups) is a very close match for one 28 oz can (3.5 cups). The small difference (less than one tablespoon) is negligible in most recipes.
How many cups is an 8 oz can of tomato sauce?
An 8 oz can of tomato sauce holds exactly 1 cup (237 ml). This is the smallest common retail can size, often used for pizza sauce or adding depth to a small pasta batch.
What does "drained weight" mean on a canned goods label?
Drained weight is the weight of the solid food after the packing liquid (brine, syrup, or water) has been removed. US recipes typically call for drained beans or vegetables unless the recipe says "with liquid" or "undrained". The FDA requires both net weight and drained weight on applicable labels.