Liter (L)
The litre (L) is exactly one cubic decimetre, 10⁻³ m³. It is accepted for use with the SI.
Symbol: L
Quantity: volume (capacity)
SI relation: 1 L = 0.001 m³ (exact)
Derivation: 1 L = 1 dm³ = (0.1 m)³ = 10⁻³ m³
Exact: yes, by definition
History
From 1901 to 1964 the litre was defined as the volume of 1 kg of water, about 1.000028 dm³. The 12th CGPM restored the exact definition of 1 dm³ in 1964.
Typical uses
- Liquids, fuels and beverages
- Engine displacement
- Gas cylinder water capacity
- Lab and process vessels
Convert liters to other units
| Conversion | 1 L equals | Reverse |
|---|---|---|
| liter to cubic meter | 0.001 m³ | cubic meter to liter |
| liter to milliliter | 1000 mL | milliliter to liter |
| liter to cubic foot | 0.03531466672 ft³ | cubic foot to liter |
| liter to US gallon | 0.2641720524 gal (US) | US gallon to liter |
| liter to cubic centimeter | 1000 cm³ | cubic centimeter to liter |
| liter to cubic inch | 61.02374409 in³ | cubic inch to liter |
| liter to imperial gallon | 0.2199692483 gal (imp) | imperial gallon to liter |
Open the Volume Converter to convert any value between all units.
Sources
- The International System of Units (SI), 9th edition (SI Brochure), Bureau International des Poids et Mesures , Table 8, non-SI units accepted for use with the SI.
Last reviewed: . Factors are stored exactly and computed with 50-digit decimal arithmetic. See how we verify conversion factors.
Cite this page
APA
Scientific Converters. (2026, October 15). Liter (L). Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://scientificconverters.com/units/liter/
IEEE
Scientific Converters, "Liter (L)," scientificconverters.com. Accessed: Oct. 17, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://scientificconverters.com/units/liter/