The standard pint abbreviation is pt, written in lowercase letters. For more than one pint, most recipes and labels write pts, though plain pt is also correct for the plural, as in "2 pt." In the United States, one liquid pint equals 16 fluid ounces, or 2 cups.
You will see the short form on milk cartons, ice cream tubs, paint cans, berry baskets and grocery lists. Some writers add a period, pt., which is fine in running text, but most labels and recipe cards leave it off.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
ptPlural
pts, or pt after a numberPeriod
Optional: pt or pt.Capitals
Lowercase; avoid PT, which has other meaningsUS liquid pint
16 fl oz, 2 cups, about 473 mLUK pint
20 imperial fl oz, about 568 mLBigger units
2 pints make a quart; 8 make a gallon
Writing the pint abbreviation correctly
- Singular: 1 pt
- Plural: 3 pts or 3 pt
- With a period: 1 pt. (common in older cookbooks)
- Fraction: ½ pt or 0.5 pt
A small gap belongs after the figure, so "2 pt" reads better than "2pt." Keep the letters lowercase so they will not be mistaken for other short forms. Choose one style for the plural and stick to it within the same recipe or document. A guide to the habits behind these choices is on how to abbreviate.
How much is a pint?
| Amount | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 pint | 2 cups |
| 1 pint | 16 fluid ounces |
| 1 pint | 32 tablespoons |
| 2 pints | 1 quart (qt) |
| 8 pints | 1 gallon (gal) |
| 1 pint | About 473 milliliters, just under half a liter |
A handy memory trick many cooks use: two cups make a pint, two pints make a quart, and four quarts make a gallon.
Where you will see pt
On a recipe card: "1 pt heavy cream, whipped." This calls for 2 cups of cream, measured before whipping.
- Groceries: ice cream, half and half, sour cream and berries are often sold by the pint.
- Hardware: small cans of paint, stain and varnish.
- Restaurants: menus that list a pint of a drink.
- Medical settings: older references to blood donations, where one donation is roughly a pint.
US pint vs UK pint
A pint is not the same size everywhere. The US liquid pint is 16 US fluid ounces, about 473 mL. The British imperial pint is 20 imperial fluid ounces, about 568 mL, so it holds roughly a fifth more. Both are abbreviated pt. If a recipe comes from a British source, check which pint it means before you measure.
The United States also has a dry pint, used for things like berries, which is slightly larger than the liquid pint at about 551 mL. In everyday cooking the difference rarely matters.
Pint in example sentences
- "Grab 2 pts of blueberries for the muffins."
- "The label reads 1 pt, so the tub holds two cups."
- "Stir in ½ pt of broth and simmer."
- "Buy a 1 pt can of primer for the trim."
When you write the word out in a sentence, as in "a pint of milk," no abbreviation is needed. Save pt for lists, labels, charts and recipe ingredient lines, where space is tight and the number sits right in front.
Other meanings of pt
Those two letters turn up well beyond the kitchen, so look at what surrounds them:
- pt also means point in printing and design, as in a 12 pt font.
- pt can mean part, as in "Pt. 2" of a series.
- Pt with a capital P is the chemical symbol for platinum.
- PT in capitals often means physical therapy, part time or Pacific Time.
Labels and shopping lists hold many more of these, gathered in common abbreviations.
Questions people ask
Is pint abbreviated pt or pnt?
It is pt. Pnt is not a standard abbreviation and may confuse readers.
What is the abbreviation for pint?
The abbreviation for pint is pt. Write pts or pt for more than one.
How many cups are in a pint?
A US pint holds 2 cups. A British pint is larger, at about 2.4 US cups.
Does pt need a dot at the end?
You may, but you do not have to. Most modern recipes and package labels write pt without a period.
How do recipes shorten pints?
Recipes usually write pts, as in "2 pts strawberries," or keep pt for both singular and plural.