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 litre?
The litre is a metric unit of volume equal to one cubic decimetre. It is widely used for measuring liquid quantities in cooking, beverages, fuel, and laboratory work across metric countries.
Real-world uses
Litres are the global standard for beverage volumes, fuel tank capacities, engine displacement, and liquid medications. Water intake recommendations are given in litres (about 2 L/day), and swimming pools are measured in thousands of litres.
History
The litre was originally defined in 1795 as one cubic decimetre. In 1901 it was redefined based on the mass of water, creating a tiny discrepancy with the cubic decimetre. In 1964, the original definition (1 L = 1 dm³ exactly) was restored.
Common mistakes
Confusing litres with liters (both are correct—"litre" is the international spelling, "liter" is American). Also, assuming 1 litre of any liquid weighs 1 kg; this is only true for water at 4°C.
When is this conversion used?
Fuel economy, beverage volumes, and liquid measurements frequently require converting between litres and US gallons, especially for automotive and cooking contexts across different markets.
Worked examples
1 cubic centimetre = 0.001 litre
1 litre = 1 litre
How to convert cubic centimetre to litre
To convert cubic centimetre to litre, multiply the value by 0.001.
To convert litre back to cubic centimetre, multiply by 1,000.
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 litre
| cubic centimetre | litre |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0001 |
| 0.5 | 0.0005 |
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 0.002 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 25 | 0.025 |
| 50 | 0.05 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 250 | 0.25 |
| 500 | 0.5 |
| 1,000 | 1 |
Common values
| cubic centimetre | litre | |
|---|---|---|
| A teaspoon | 5 cubic centimetre | 0.005 litre |
| A cup of coffee | 250 cubic centimetre | 0.25 litre |
| A water bottle | 500 cubic centimetre | 0.5 litre |
| A bathtub | 300,000 cubic centimetre | 300 litre |
| A swimming pool (Olympic) | 2.500000e+09 cubic centimetre | 2,500,000 litre |
Available Volume units
More cubic centimetre conversions
- Convert cubic centimetre to litre
- Convert cubic centimetre to millilitre
- Convert cubic centimetre to US gallon
- Convert cubic centimetre to cubic metre
- Convert cubic centimetre to Imperial gallon
- Convert cubic centimetre to US fluid ounce
- Convert cubic centimetre to Imperial fluid ounce
- Convert cubic centimetre to teaspoon (metric)
- Convert cubic centimetre to tablespoon (metric)