Objective To investigate the application of the discrete element method ( DEM) in the accuracy estimation of measuring cup filling. Methods Based on the characteristics of motion and energy dissipation of the millet grains in the process of packaging, the contact model was constructed, in which mass dashpots and stiffness dashpots were specified. Based on the model and the experimental angle of repose ( 34. 9^o ) , the micro-parameters, e. g. damping ratio, were investigated and assigned. The changes in the number of particles migrated from the hopper in each packaging cycle were calculated by the model and regarded as characterization of measuring accuracy, where the size of cup and packaging speed were 26 mmX17 mm and 150 mm / s, respectively. The data of the experiment and the simulation were compared. Results The simulative angle of repose was 34. 7 ^o , well fitted to the experimental result. At the 0. 05 level, the distribution of accuracy was not significantly different between the experiment and the simulation. Conclusion It was proved that DEM can be used to investigate measuring cup filling, in addition, construction of the model and choice of parameters were reasonable.