What is cubic centimetre?

A cubic centimetre is a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a litre, or 1 millilitre. It is used in medicine, engine displacement specifications, and precise scientific measurements.

Real-world uses

Cubic centimetres are used for engine displacement (e.g., a 250 cc motorcycle engine), medical syringe volumes (often marked "cc"), and laboratory measurements. Small container volumes and 3D printing material estimates are expressed in cm³.

History

The cubic centimetre was the standard volume unit in the CGS system. The abbreviation "cc" became entrenched in automotive and medical fields. The JCAHO (now The Joint Commission) recommended against "cc" in medical prescriptions to reduce errors, though it persists.

Common mistakes

Using "cc" interchangeably with mL is technically acceptable (they are equal), but some medical institutions discourage "cc" because it can be misread as "00" in handwritten prescriptions.

What is Imperial gallon?

An Imperial gallon is a volume unit used in the United Kingdom equal to approximately 4.546 litres. It is larger than the US gallon and is commonly referenced for fuel efficiency (miles per gallon) in the UK.

Real-world uses

Imperial gallons are used in the United Kingdom, Canada (for some purposes), and several Caribbean countries. British fuel economy was historically quoted in miles per Imperial gallon. Older Commonwealth-era recipes and industrial specifications may reference Imperial gallons.

History

The Imperial gallon was established by the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824 as the volume occupied by 10 pounds of water at 62°F (≈ 17°C). It replaced several older gallon definitions including the wine gallon (retained by the US) and the ale gallon.

Common mistakes

Assuming the Imperial gallon equals the US gallon. The Imperial gallon is about 4.546 litres versus 3.785 litres for the US gallon. Converting mpg figures between the two systems without adjusting for gallon size gives misleading results.

When is this conversion used?

Converting between cubic centimetre and Imperial gallon is common when working across metric and imperial systems, such as international trade, travel between countries with different measurement standards, or following instructions from a different region.

Worked examples

1 cubic centimetre = 0.00021997 Imperial gallon

1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609 litre

How to convert cubic centimetre to Imperial gallon

To convert cubic centimetre to Imperial gallon, multiply the value by 0.00021997.

To convert Imperial gallon back to cubic centimetre, multiply by 4,546.09.

Measurement standards

The cubic metre is the SI derived unit of volume. The litre, equal to exactly one cubic decimetre (0.001 m³), is accepted by the BIPM for use alongside SI units. Both the lowercase "l" and uppercase "L" are approved symbols for the litre.

Did you know?

An Olympic swimming pool holds 2,500 cubic metres of water — about 2.5 million litres. The Amazon River discharges roughly 209,000 cubic metres per second, enough to fill 84 Olympic pools every single second.

Quick reference: cubic centimetre to Imperial gallon

cubic centimetreImperial gallon
0.10.000022
0.50.00010998
10.00021997
20.00043994
50.00109985
100.00219969
250.00549923
500.01099846
1000.02199692
2500.05499231
5000.10998462
1,0000.21996925

Common values

cubic centimetreImperial gallon
A teaspoon5 cubic centimetre0.00109985 Imperial gallon
A cup of coffee250 cubic centimetre0.05499231 Imperial gallon
A water bottle500 cubic centimetre0.10998462 Imperial gallon
A bathtub300,000 cubic centimetre65.99077449 Imperial gallon
A swimming pool (Olympic)2.500000e+09 cubic centimetre549,923.12074772 Imperial gallon

Available Volume units

More cubic centimetre conversions