How this calculator works
A litre is one cubic decimetre, a cube 10 cm on each side. A cubic centimetre is a cube 1 cm on each side, so 10 x 10 x 10 of them fit in a litre. That makes 1 L exactly 1,000 cc. The cubic centimetre is identical to the millilitre, which is why a 10 cc syringe and a 10 mL syringe hold the same volume. Car engines are often described by displacement in litres or cc for the same reason.
Formula
cc = L x 1,000. L = cc / 1,000. A cubic centimetre and a millilitre are the same volume, so 1 cc = 1 mL and 1,000 cc = 1 L.
Worked example
2 L = 2,000 cc. 1.6 L = 1,600 cc. 0.5 L = 500 cc. 6.2 L = 6,200 cc. 250 cc = 0.25 L.
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Frequently asked questions
Is cc the same as mL?
Yes. A cubic centimetre and a millilitre are both one thousandth of a litre. Medicine labels may use either, and the volume is identical.
Why do engines use both litres and cc?
Engine displacement is a swept volume. A 2.0 L engine sweeps 2,000 cc. Litres keep the number small for car names, while cc gives a whole number for smaller engines such as motorcycles.
Is a cc an SI unit?
The SI unit of volume is the cubic metre. The cubic centimetre is a coherent submultiple of it and is widely accepted, and the litre is accepted for use with the SI. Both are exact conversions, not approximations.
How many cc are in a cubic metre?
One million. A cubic metre is 100 cm on each side, so it contains 100 x 100 x 100 = 1,000,000 cubic centimetres, which is 1,000 L.