Convert cm3 to mL
A syringe says cc, and a bottle says mL. They are the same size, so the number does not change.
Quick answer: multiply the volume in cm³ by 1. For example, 1 cm³ is 1 mL, 50 cm³ is 50 mL and 250 cm³ is 250 mL.
The cm³ to mL formula
One cubic centimetre is one milliliter (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
So the number stays the same when you switch the unit.
Take 1 cm³. Multiply by 1. The answer is 1 mL.
Take 50 cm³. Multiply by 1. The answer is 50 mL.
Cubic centimeters to milliliters
A cubic centimetre is a cube 1 cm on each side (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
A milliliter is one thousandth of a liter, or 1 cm³ (Wikipedia: Litre).
The factor 1 joins the two.
How to convert cm³ to mL step by step
- Write down the volume in cm³.
- Multiply it by 1.
- The answer is in mL.
- Check it against the chart above.
Example 1: 1 cm³
- Start with 1 cm³.
- 1 × 1 = 1.
- The volume is 1 mL.
1 cm³ = 1 mL
Example 2: 50 cm³
- Start with 50 cm³.
- 50 × 1 = 50.
- The volume is 50 mL.
50 cm³ = 50 mL
Example 3: 250 cm³
- Start with 250 cm³.
- 250 × 1 = 250.
- The volume is 250 mL.
250 cm³ = 250 mL
One cubic centimetre is one milliliter, and 1 L is 1,000 cm³ (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
cm³ to mL conversion table
| cm³ | mL | L |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm³ | 1 mL | 0.001 L |
| 5 cm³ | 5 mL | 0.005 L |
| 10 cm³ | 10 mL | 0.01 L |
| 50 cm³ | 50 mL | 0.05 L |
| 100 cm³ | 100 mL | 0.1 L |
| 250 cm³ | 250 mL | 0.25 L |
| 500 cm³ | 500 mL | 0.5 L |
| 1,000 cm³ | 1,000 mL | 1 L |
The highlighted row, 50 cm³, is the default of the converter. The last column gives L.
A quick mental shortcut for cm³ to mL
Just copy the number. 50 cm³ is 50 mL.
Only the unit name changes.
What cm³ measure
A cubic centimetre is a cube 1 cm on each side (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
The short forms cc and ccm are also used.
What mL measure
A milliliter is one thousandth of a liter, or 1 cm³ (Wikipedia: Litre).
Medicine cups and small bottles use it.
The short forms
The letters cc and ccm are non-SI short forms of cm³ (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
So 50 cc is 50 mL.
Engine sizes
An engine rated in cc gives its displacement in cm³ (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
So a 1,000 cc engine displaces 1,000 mL, which is 1 L.
Liters and cubic meters
A liter is 1,000 cm³, and a cubic metre is 1,000,000 cm³ (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
So 1 m³ is 1,000 L.
Syringes and doses
Medical syringes are often marked in mL, and sometimes in cc.
The two marks mean the same volume.
Why the factor is 1
A liter is a cubic decimetre, and a milliliter is a thousandth of it.
That is exactly one cubic centimetre.
Going the other way
To go back, copy the mL number as cm³.
So 250 mL is 250 cm³.
Check your answer
Your mL number should match your cm³ number exactly.
If it does not, check the unit name you typed.
More values at a glance
0.5 cubic centimetres is 0.5 millilitres. 2 cubic centimetres is 2 millilitres. 5 cubic centimetres is 5 millilitres.
10 cubic centimetres is 10 millilitres. 25 cubic centimetres is 25 millilitres. 100 cubic centimetres is 100 millilitres.
Each answer is the input times 1. You can use the same factor for any value that is not listed here.
The unit sizes
One of the cubic centimetres equals 1 millilitres. One of the millilitres equals 1 cubic centimetres.
If a result looks very large or very small, compare it with these sizes before you use it.
Checking in reverse
Take 10 millilitres and divide by 1. You get back 10 cubic centimetres. If you do not, one of the numbers was typed or rounded wrongly.
Quick conversion answers
| Conversion | Result |
|---|---|
| 5 cm³ | 5 mL |
| 10 cm³ | 10 mL |
| 50 cm³ | 50 mL |
| 250 cm³ | 250 mL |
| 500 cm³ | 500 mL |
| 1,000 cm³ | 1,000 mL |
Round numbers for cm³ and mL
Use these round numbers to check your own answer. 5 cm³ is 5 mL, 50 cm³ is 50 mL and 500 cm³ is 500 mL.
Going the other way, 5 mL is 5 cm³, 50 mL is 50 cm³ and 500 mL is 500 cm³.
A round trip with cm³
Say you start with 37 cm³. It becomes 37 mL. Divide that by the factor and you land on 37 cm³ again.
Now start from 250 mL instead. It becomes 250 cm³, and multiplying by the factor returns 250 mL.
One number, two names
A cubic centimeter and a milliliter are the same volume (Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre).
Syringes and engine sizes often say cc, which is short for cubic centimeter.
So 5 cc is 5 mL and 250 cm³ is 250 mL.
Building up to liters
One liter is 1,000 cm³, so 2,000 cm³ is 2 L.
A 1.5 L bottle holds 1,500 cm³.
Because the factor is 1, the answer never changes size, only its name.
Where this conversion is used
Cubic centimeters give small volumes, and 1 cm³ is 1 mL.
Bottles, syringes and medicine cups show mL.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing length and volume. A cubic unit is length times length times length.
- Expecting a change. A syringe of 50 cm³ holds 50 mL, so the number stays the same.
- Hunting for a factor. A cm³ is exactly 1 mL, so the number never changes.
Related converters
A motorbike engine
An engine of 250 cc has a displacement of 250 mL.
That is 0.25 L.
A small bottle
A bottle of 500 cm³ holds 500 mL.
In US fluid ounces that is 16.907.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cm³ to mL?
Keep the same number. 1 cm³ is 1 mL.
How many mL is 50 cm³?
50 mL.
Is cc the same as mL?
Yes. A cc is a cm³, which is 1 mL.
How many cm³ is 1 liter?
1,000 cm³.
How many cm³ is 1 cubic meter?
1,000,000 cm³.
How many liters is a 1,000 cc engine?
1 liter.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Cubic centimetre (en.wikipedia.org)
- Wikipedia: Litre (en.wikipedia.org)
