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.
What is teaspoon (metric)?
A metric teaspoon is a volume unit equal to exactly 5 millilitres. It is a standard unit in cooking recipes and pharmaceutical dosing instructions across metric countries.
Real-world uses
The metric teaspoon (5 mL) is used in cooking recipes, pharmaceutical dosing instructions, and nutrition labelling. It is the standard dosing spoon for children's liquid medicines. Most international recipes specify teaspoon measurements assuming the 5 mL metric standard.
History
The teaspoon originated as a unit of apothecary measure in the 18th century, roughly the volume of a small spoon used to stir tea. The metric teaspoon was standardized at exactly 5 mL to align with the metric system and simplify pharmaceutical dosing.
Common mistakes
Confusing the metric teaspoon (5 mL) with the US customary teaspoon (4.929 mL) or the older Imperial teaspoon (3.55 mL). Also, using a household spoon instead of a measuring spoon—actual spoons vary widely in size.
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 litre = 200 teaspoon (metric)
1 teaspoon (metric) = 0.005 litre
How to convert litre to teaspoon (metric)
To convert litre to teaspoon (metric), multiply the value by 200.
To convert teaspoon (metric) back to litre, multiply by 0.005.
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: litre to teaspoon (metric)
| litre | teaspoon (metric) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 20 |
| 0.5 | 100 |
| 1 | 200 |
| 2 | 400 |
| 5 | 1,000 |
| 10 | 2,000 |
| 25 | 5,000 |
| 50 | 10,000 |
| 100 | 20,000 |
| 250 | 50,000 |
| 500 | 100,000 |
| 1,000 | 200,000 |
Common values
| litre | teaspoon (metric) | |
|---|---|---|
| A teaspoon | 0.005 litre | 1 teaspoon (metric) |
| A cup of coffee | 0.25 litre | 50 teaspoon (metric) |
| A water bottle | 0.5 litre | 100 teaspoon (metric) |
| A bathtub | 300 litre | 60,000 teaspoon (metric) |
| A swimming pool (Olympic) | 2,500,000 litre | 500,000,000 teaspoon (metric) |