Volume Converter
Convert between liters, gallons, cups, fluid ounces, cubic meters, and more volume units.
Each step along the axis is ten times the one before — the volume units span 7 orders of magnitude, so a straight scale would bunch almost all of them at one end.
Instant insight
That is about the same as a cubic metre
1,000 litres — 1,000 litres — an IBC tote.
Anchors like this are the quickest way to catch an answer that is out by a factor of ten.
US and imperial gallons differ by about 20%
A US gallon is 3.785 litres; an imperial gallon is 4.546. US fluid ounces and imperial ones differ too, in the opposite direction.
For recipes and fuel figures, confirm which convention the source used — the gap is large enough to matter.
Check the direction of the conversion
Going from cubic_meter to liter, the number should get bigger if the new unit is smaller, and smaller if it is bigger.
If it moved the wrong way, the factor has been applied upside down — the most common conversion error there is.
Worked out in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere. Comparison figures are approximate.
Common conversions
Quick Reference — 1 unit = ? Liter (L)
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Cubic Meter (m³) | 1000 |
| Liter (L) | 1 |
| Milliliter (mL) | 0.001 |
| Cubic Centimeter (cm³) | 0.001 |
| US Gallon (gal) | 3.78541 |
| US Quart (qt) | 0.946353 |
| US Pint (pt) | 0.473176 |
| US Cup | 0.236588 |
Formula
Multiply by (from factor / to factor)
Everyday Uses
Cups, liters, and gallons
US recipes speak cups, your measuring jug speaks milliliters — convert so soups and batters come out right.
Fuel abroad
Gas priced per liter versus per gallon hides the real cost — convert to compare what you actually pay at home.
Aquarium and pool dosing
Treatments dose per gallon; your tank is in liters. Convert volume before adding chemicals — overdosing harms fish.
Airport liquid limits
100 ml limits versus fluid-ounce bottle labels — check which containers clear security before you pack.
Medicine doses
Liquid doses appear in millilitres, teaspoons or fluid ounces. Convert carefully, since a US and UK fluid ounce differ.
Fuel tank capacity
Compare a tank quoted in litres against one in US or imperial gallons — the two gallons are not the same size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many milliliters are in a liter, and how does mL relate to cm³?
1 liter = 1,000 mL exactly. 1 mL = 1 cm³ (cubic centimetre) = 1 cc — these are interchangeable for liquid measurements. 1 liter = 1 dm³ (cubic decimetre). Common cooking: 1 US cup = 236.6 mL; 1 tablespoon = 14.79 mL; 1 teaspoon = 4.93 mL. A standard 330 mL can of soda holds about 1.4 cups; a 750 mL wine bottle holds exactly 3⅓ US cups.
What is the difference between US gallons and imperial (UK) gallons?
1 US gallon = 3.785 liters. 1 UK/imperial gallon = 4.546 liters — about 20% larger. So 1 UK gallon ≈ 1.2 US gallons. This matters significantly for fuel economy: a car rated at 30 UK MPG is not the same as 30 US MPG — it would be about 25 US MPG. The US also uses different quarts and pints: 1 US quart = 0.946 L; 1 UK quart = 1.136 L; 1 US pint = 473 mL; 1 UK pint = 568 mL (why a UK pint of beer is bigger than a US pint).
How do you convert cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons for cooking?
US volume hierarchy: 1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 48 teaspoons = 8 fl oz = 236.6 mL. ½ cup = 8 tbsp = 118.3 mL. ¼ cup = 4 tbsp = 59.1 mL. 1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 14.79 mL. 1 teaspoon = 4.93 mL. When scaling recipes, use these ratios to work up or down. Note: UK and Australian cups differ slightly (250 mL vs 236.6 mL US), which can matter in baking.
How do you convert liters to cubic feet or cubic meters?
1 liter = 0.001 m³. 1 m³ = 1,000 liters. 1 liter = 0.0353 cubic feet. 1 cubic foot = 28.317 liters. 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet. Uses: a 200-liter barrel = 0.2 m³ = 7.06 cubic feet. A standard bathtub holds about 300 liters (0.3 m³). An Olympic swimming pool = 2,500 m³ = 2,500,000 liters. Home water tanks are often sized in cubic metres: 1 m³ = 1,000 liters = 264.2 US gallons.
What are common volume benchmarks for everyday reference?
Everyday volume references: 1 teaspoon = 5 mL. 1 tablespoon = 15 mL. 1 fl oz = 29.6 mL. 1 cup = 237 mL. 1 pint (US) = 473 mL. 1 quart (US) = 946 mL. 1 liter = 33.8 fl oz. 1 gallon (US) = 3.785 L. A standard wine glass holds 150–250 mL. A shot glass = 44 mL (1.5 fl oz). A 2-liter soda bottle = 67.6 fl oz ≈ 4.2 pints. A car fuel tank (medium sedan) ≈ 50–60 liters = 13–16 US gallons.