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 US gallon?

A US gallon is a volume unit equal to 128 US fluid ounces, or approximately 3.785 litres. It is the standard unit for fuel, milk, and other liquid products in the United States.

Real-world uses

US gallons are used for fuel pricing and vehicle fuel economy (miles per gallon) in the United States. Milk, water, and paint are commonly sold in gallon containers. Pool volumes and water heater capacities are specified in gallons.

History

The US gallon is based on the English wine gallon of 231 cubic inches, which was defined by Queen Anne in 1707. When Britain adopted the Imperial gallon in 1824 (based on water weight), the US retained the older wine gallon standard.

Common mistakes

Confusing US gallons with Imperial gallons: a US gallon is about 3.785 litres while an Imperial gallon is about 4.546 litres—roughly 20% larger. This causes major confusion when comparing fuel economy between US and UK figures.

When is this conversion used?

Converting between cubic centimetre and US 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. 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 = 0.00026417 US gallon

1 US gallon = 3.78541178 litre

How to convert cubic centimetre to US gallon

To convert cubic centimetre to US gallon, multiply the value by 0.00026417.

To convert US gallon back to cubic centimetre, multiply by 3,785.411784.

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 US gallon

cubic centimetreUS gallon
0.10.00002642
0.50.00013209
10.00026417
20.00052834
50.00132086
100.00264172
250.0066043
500.0132086
1000.02641721
2500.06604301
5000.13208603
1,0000.26417205

Common values

cubic centimetreUS gallon
A teaspoon5 cubic centimetre0.00132086 US gallon
A cup of coffee250 cubic centimetre0.06604301 US gallon
A water bottle500 cubic centimetre0.13208603 US gallon
A bathtub300,000 cubic centimetre79.25161571 US gallon
A swimming pool (Olympic)2.500000e+09 cubic centimetre660,430.13089537 US gallon

Available Volume units

More cubic centimetre conversions