cubic centimetre (cm³)
1 cubic centimetre = 0.001 litres
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.
Notes: Equal to 1 mL
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.
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.
How to convert cubic centimetre to litre
To convert cubic centimetre to litre, multiply the value by 0.001.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 0.001
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.
| cubic centimetres | litres |
|---|---|
| 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 centimetres | litres | |
|---|---|---|
| A teaspoon | 5 cubic centimetres | 0.005 litres |
| A cup of coffee | 250 cubic centimetres | 0.25 litres |
| A water bottle | 500 cubic centimetres | 0.5 litres |
| A bathtub | 300,000 cubic centimetres | 300 litres |
| A swimming pool (Olympic) | 2.500000e+09 cubic centimetres | 2,500,000 litres |
Full cubic centimetre conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| litre | 1 cm³ = 0.001 L | × 0.001 |
| millilitre | 1 cm³ = 1 mL | × 1 |
| US gallon | 1 cm³ = 0.00026417 gal (US) | × 0.00026417 |
| cubic metre | 1 cm³ = 0.000001 m³ | × 0.000001 |
| Imperial gallon | 1 cm³ = 0.00021997 gal (Imp) | × 0.00021997 |
| US fluid ounce | 1 cm³ = 0.03381402 fl oz (US) | × 0.03381402 |
| Imperial fluid ounce | 1 cm³ = 0.03519508 fl oz (Imp) | × 0.03519508 |
| teaspoon (metric) | 1 cm³ = 0.2 tsp | × 0.2 |
| tablespoon (metric) | 1 cm³ = 0.06666667 Tbsp | × 0.06666667 |