One number does all the work on this page: 16.387064. That is exactly how many cubic centimetres are in a cubic inch, and using the full constant rather than a rounded 16.4 is what keeps a conversion accurate enough for machine work and class checks. Enter a value in cc, litres or cubic inches above and the converter returns the other two, both directions, every time.
The three relationships worth memorising
- 1 litre = 1,000 cc. Clean and exact — a 1.6 L engine is 1,600 cc.
- 1 cubic inch = 16.387064 cc. The one that needs the constant; never approximate it for anything precise.
- 1 litre ≈ 61.024 cubic inches. So a 5.7 L engine is about 348 cu in, and a 2.0 L is about 122.
The trap: cc, litres and cubic inches are three different families
People blur cubic inches and cubic centimetres because both are "cubic". They are not close: 1,000 cc is one litre and about 61 cubic inches, whereas a single cubic inch is only 16.387 cc — roughly sixty-one times smaller. Dividing cubic inches by 1,000 (the litre move) is the mistake this converter exists to prevent, and it is why the tool always shows which unit you started from.
It understands how people actually type units
Real spec sheets and forum posts are inconsistent, so the converter's core normalises them. It reads cc, ccm, ml and cm³ as cubic centimetres; L, litre and liter as litres; and ci, cid, cu in, in³ and "cubic inch" as cubic inches. You pick the input unit from the menu, but the underlying engine recognises the lot, which is why lowercase "l" or a stray "cu in" from a pasted value still converts cleanly.
Worked conversions
A few to anchor the maths: 5,733 cc ÷ 16.387064 ≈ 349.8 cu in (the 350). 100 cu in × 16.387064 ≈ 1,638.7 cc, handy for vintage specs quoted in cubic inches. 2.0 L × 61.024 ≈ 122 cu in. 1,600 cc ÷ 16.387064 ≈ 97.6 cu in. Each of these round-trips cleanly because the tool never rounds the constant early.
Why the long decimals, and how to shorten them
The converter carries full precision so a value survives a round trip without drifting. If the extra digits are noise for your purpose, switch to Standard precision for a shorter display; switch to Build precision when you are planning machine work and want every decimal. After converting, the panel also names the closest common engine, so an unfamiliar figure lands next to something recognisable.
References & standards
- NIST SP 811 — Guide for the use of the SI, including the exact inch and unit-conversion factors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the exact cc-per-cubic-inch factor?
Exactly 16.387064 cc per cubic inch. This converter uses the full constant, not a rounded 16.4, so results stay accurate for machining and class checks.
How do I convert cc to cubic inches?
Divide cc by 16.387064. For example 5733 cc ÷ 16.387064 ≈ 349.8 cu in. Never divide by 1000 — that gives litres, not cubic inches.
How do I convert litres to cubic inches?
Multiply litres by 61.024. So 2.0 L ≈ 122 cu in and 5.7 L ≈ 348 cu in. The converter shows both directions at once.
Why does the converter show long decimals?
Because it carries the exact constant instead of rounding early, so a value round-trips cleanly. Switch to Standard precision if you want a shorter display.
What spellings of the units does it accept?
It recognises cc, ccm, ml and cm³ for cubic centimetres; L, litre and liter for litres; and ci, cid, cu in, in³ and 'cubic inch' for cubic inches — so real-world typing just works.
How many cc are in a litre?
Exactly 1000. So 1.6 L is 1600 cc and 2000 cc is 2.0 L. That one is a clean move; only the cubic-inch conversion needs the 16.387064 factor.
Why isn't 1000 cc equal to 1 cubic inch?
Different unit families. 1000 cc is one litre and about 61 cubic inches, whereas a single cubic inch is only 16.387 cc — a factor of roughly 61 apart.
Can I convert a fractional value like 1.6 L?
Yes, any positive number works. 1.6 L converts to 1600 cc and about 97.6 cu in, and the result updates as you type.
What is 100 cubic inches in cc?
About 1638.7 cc — 100 × 16.387064. Handy when reading vintage or aircraft engine specs stated in cubic inches.
Does the converter suggest a matching engine?
Yes. After converting, it names the closest common engine and class, so an unfamiliar figure lands next to something recognisable.
Is millilitre the same as cc for engines?
Yes. One millilitre equals one cubic centimetre, so ml and cc are interchangeable here — the converter treats them as identical.
Why do I get slightly different CID from other sites?
Usually because they round the constant to 16.4. Over a big-block that rounding drifts by a cubic inch or two; this tool avoids it by using the full factor.
Can I paste a value copied from a spec sheet?
Yes — enter it in whichever unit the sheet uses and read the others. The converter is unit-aware, so you pick the input unit from the menu.
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