Cubic Inches to Liters Converter
Convert cubic inches (in³) to liters (L) for engine displacement, containers, and volume calculations.
Conversion Result
📐 Conversion Formula
The Key Constant: 0.016387064
Where does this come from?
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm (exactly, by definition)
- 1 in³ = 2.54³ cm³ = 16.387064 cm³
- 1 cm³ = 1 mL (exactly)
- 1 mL = 0.001 L
- Therefore: 1 in³ = 16.387064 mL = 0.016387064 L
📝 Step-by-Step Calculation
Enter a value and convert to see the step-by-step breakdown.
Understanding Cubic Inches and Liters
Converting cubic inches to liters is essential for comparing engine sizes, understanding container volumes, and working between Imperial and metric measurement systems.
What Is a Cubic Inch?
A cubic inch (in³) is the volume of a cube measuring 1 inch on each side. It's an Imperial unit commonly used in the United States for:
- Engine displacement (especially classic American cars)
- Container and tank volumes
- Electronic enclosure specifications
- Pump and compressor ratings
Engine Displacement: Cubic Inches vs Liters
Engine size is often expressed in both units. Classic American muscle cars used cubic inches (350, 454, 427), while modern cars typically use liters (5.0L, 6.2L). The relationship is:
- A "5.0 liter" engine ≈ 305 cubic inches
- A "350 cubic inch" engine ≈ 5.74 liters
- Ford's "5.0 Coyote" engine is actually 4,951 cc (302 in³)
Relationship to cc (Cubic Centimeters)
Since 1 mL = 1 cc exactly, and 1 in³ = 16.387064 mL, this means 1 in³ = 16.387064 cc. When you see motorcycle engines listed as "600cc" or "1000cc," you can divide by 16.387 to get cubic inches.
Quick Reference Table
Common engine displacements and volume conversions:
| Cubic Inches | Liters | cc (mL) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 1.0 | 1,000 | 1.0L engine |
| 122 | 2.0 | 2,000 | 2.0L 4-cylinder |
| 183 | 3.0 | 3,000 | 3.0L V6 |
| 302 | 4.95 | 4,950 | Ford 302 / 5.0L |
| 350 | 5.74 | 5,740 | Chevy 350 |
| 427 | 7.0 | 7,000 | Chevy 427 big block |
| 454 | 7.44 | 7,440 | Chevy 454 big block |
| 572 | 9.37 | 9,370 | Chevy 572 crate engine |
Frequently Asked Questions
1 cubic inch = 0.016387064 liters exactly. This is derived from the definition that 1 inch = 2.54 cm, so 1 in³ = 2.54³ = 16.387064 cm³ = 16.387064 mL = 0.016387064 L.
It comes from cubing the inch-to-centimeter relationship. Since 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly (by international definition since 1959), 1 in³ = 2.54³ cm³ = 16.387064 cm³ = 16.387064 mL = 0.016387064 L.
Multiply the cubic inch displacement by 0.016387. For example: a 350 cubic inch engine × 0.016387 = 5.74 liters. Or divide cubic inches by 61.024 for a quick approximation.
5.0 liters ÷ 0.016387 = 305.1 cubic inches. Note that Ford's famous "5.0" badge was used on both the 302 (4.94L) and later 4.6L engines—marketing names don't always match exact displacement.
cc (cubic centimeters) is metric, while cubic inches is Imperial. 1 in³ = 16.387 cc. Motorcycles and smaller engines typically use cc; American car engines traditionally used cubic inches.
For small engines in cc, divide by 16.387 to get cubic inches. For example: a 600cc motorcycle engine = 600 ÷ 16.387 = 36.6 cubic inches.
Related Converters
Explore more volume conversion tools: