Result in Millilitres
—
Equivalent volume
Accurate volume conversion between litres (L) and millilitres (mL) — and back
Convert litres to millilitres instantly using the exact factor of 1,000 mL per litre. Full multi-unit breakdown into mL, cL, dL, m³, US fl oz, US pints, US quarts, and US gallons — all in one free tool for 2026.
Professional volume conversion for cooking, medicine, science, beverages, chemistry, and everyday liquid measurement worldwide
The litre and the millilitre are both metric units of volume, connected by an exact factor of 1,000. By definition, 1 L = 1,000 mL and 1 mL = 0.001 L — perfectly exact, no rounding ever required. The litre is defined as exactly 1 cubic decimetre (1 dm³ = 0.001 m³), and the millilitre is exactly 1 cubic centimetre (1 cm³ = 1 cc). This makes the litre and millilitre among the most commonly used unit pairs in daily life globally — from a 330 mL can of soft drink to a 1.5 L water bottle, from a 5 mL medicine spoon to a 20 L bucket. The ×1,000 relationship is the same as all SI milli- prefix conversions.
Switch instantly between Litres → Millilitres and Millilitres → Litres conversion modes. The results panel simultaneously displays the equivalent volume in eight units — mL, cL (centilitres), dL (decilitres), m³ (cubic metres), US fluid ounces, US pints, US quarts, and US gallons — giving complete cross-unit context from a single input. This is especially useful for cooks, bartenders, chemists, and pharmacists who work across metric mL/L scales and need to quickly see US customary equivalents, or for comparing product volumes on different regional labels (e.g., a 750 mL wine bottle = 0.75 L = 25.36 US fl oz).
Litres and millilitres are the world's most widely used everyday volume units: Food & cooking — recipes in mL (teaspoons ≈ 5 mL, tablespoons ≈ 15 mL, cups ≈ 250 mL) and L (stock, soups, bulk); Beverages — soft drink cans (330 mL), wine bottles (750 mL), water bottles (500 mL, 1 L, 1.5 L, 2 L); Medicine & pharmacy — liquid medications in mL (5 mL = 1 teaspoon dose), IV fluids in mL and L; Fuel — petrol/diesel sold in litres worldwide (except the US); Chemistry & laboratory — solutions in mL and L; Personal care — shampoo, cosmetics, perfume in mL; Automotive — engine oil capacity in litres; Pool & spa — water volume in litres.
Select conversion direction, enter your volume value, and get instant multi-unit results
The litre (L) is the fundamental metric unit for everyday liquid volume — equal to exactly 1 cubic decimetre (1 dm³). It is used worldwide for fuel, beverages, cooking, and bulk liquids. The millilitre (mL) is one-thousandth of a litre (10⁻³ L) and is numerically equal to 1 cubic centimetre (1 cm³ = 1 cc). The millilitre is the workhorse unit for small-volume measurements in medicine, cooking, cosmetics, laboratory work, and beverage service. Together, these two units cover the entire practical range of liquid volume — from a single drop (≈0.05 mL) through a teaspoon (5 mL), a cup (250 mL), a wine bottle (750 mL), a kitchen pot (5 L), right up to household tanks and industrial containers.
The conversion is perfectly exact within the SI system: 1 L = 1,000 mL and 1 mL = 0.001 L. In the broader SI volume scale: 1 L = 10 dL = 100 cL = 1,000 mL = 1,000,000 µL = 0.001 m³. Since 1 mL = 1 cm³ exactly, the mL/L system bridges neatly with the SI length system — a cube of 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm holds exactly 1 litre of water. For reference with US customary volumes: 1 L = 33.814 US fl oz; 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL; 1 L ≈ 4.227 US cups; 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L = 3,785.41 mL exactly.
Example: 1.5 L × 1,000 = 1,500 mL (standard water bottle) | 330 mL ÷ 1,000 = 0.330 L (can of soft drink)
1 L = 1,000 mL | 1 mL = 1 cm³ | 1 L = 1 dm³ | 1 m³ = 1,000 L | 1 US gal = 3,785.41 mL | 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL
To convert litres to millilitres, multiply by 1,000 (move the decimal point three places to the right). To convert millilitres back to litres, divide by 1,000 (move the decimal three places to the left). Here are three practical worked examples:
Input: 1.5 L (standard bottle)
Formula: 1.5 × 1,000
= 1,500 mL
= typical large drinking water bottle
Input: 10 mL (paediatric syrup)
Formula: 10 ÷ 1,000
= 0.010 L
= double teaspoon liquid medicine dose
Input: 750 mL (standard bottle)
Formula: 750 ÷ 1,000
= 0.750 L
= standard 75 cL wine bottle
L → mL: Multiply by 1,000 — move decimal 3 places right. Example: 0.05 L → 50 mL; 0.33 L → 330 mL; 2 L → 2,000 mL; 10 L → 10,000 mL. mL → L: Divide by 1,000 — move decimal 3 places left. Example: 5 mL → 0.005 L; 250 mL → 0.25 L; 750 mL → 0.75 L; 3,785 mL → 3.785 L. Common container sizes: Shot glass ≈ 30–44 mL; espresso ≈ 30 mL; teaspoon = 5 mL; tablespoon = 15 mL; US cup = 236.6 mL; can of soft drink = 330 mL; wine glass ≈ 150–250 mL; wine bottle = 750 mL; litre water bottle = 1,000 mL; 2 L bottle = 2,000 mL. 1 mL = 1 cc = 1 cm³: Millilitres and cubic centimetres are exactly the same unit — freely interchangeable in medicine and science. 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL — not 30 mL (close but not exact). 1 UK (imperial) fl oz = 28.4131 mL — different from the US fl oz.
Complete reference table from micro-doses through everyday and industrial volumes, with mL, cL, dL, m³, US fl oz, and US gallon equivalents plus real-world context. Desktop shows the full table; mobile shows grouped cards.
| Litres (L) | Millilitres (mL) | Centilitres (cL) | US Fluid Oz | US Gallons | Real-World Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.001 L | 1 mL | 0.1 cL | 0.0338 | 0.000264 | Single drop / eye drop dose |
| 0.005 L | 5 mL | 0.5 cL | 0.169 | 0.00132 | 1 teaspoon (medicine spoon) |
| 0.010 L | 10 mL | 1.0 cL | 0.338 | 0.00264 | 2 teaspoons / paediatric dose |
| 0.015 L | 15 mL | 1.5 cL | 0.507 | 0.00396 | 1 tablespoon / 3 teaspoons |
| 0.030 L | 30 mL | 3.0 cL | 1.014 | 0.00793 | Shot glass (US 1 fl oz ≈ 29.6 mL) |
| 0.044 L | 44 mL | 4.4 cL | 1.487 | 0.01163 | Double shot / jigger |
| 0.100 L | 100 mL | 10 cL | 3.381 | 0.02642 | Small juice glass / perfume bottle |
| 0.150 L | 150 mL | 15 cL | 5.072 | 0.03963 | Small wine glass serving |
| 0.200 L | 200 mL | 20 cL | 6.763 | 0.05283 | Small bottle / yoghurt drink |
| 0.250 L | 250 mL | 25 cL | 8.454 | 0.06604 | 1 metric cup / small glass |
| 0.330 L | 330 mL | 33 cL | 11.159 | 0.08715 | Standard can of soft drink / beer |
| 0.500 L | 500 mL | 50 cL | 16.907 | 0.13209 | 500 mL water bottle / half-litre |
| 0.750 L | 750 mL | 75 cL | 25.361 | 0.19813 | Standard wine bottle (75 cl) |
| 1.000 L | 1,000 mL | 100 cL | 33.814 | 0.26417 | 1 litre — standard water bottle |
| 1.500 L | 1,500 mL | 150 cL | 50.721 | 0.39626 | 1.5 L large water bottle |
| 2.000 L | 2,000 mL | 200 cL | 67.628 | 0.52834 | 2 L soft drink bottle |
| 5.000 L | 5,000 mL | 500 cL | 169.070 | 1.32086 | 5 L water container / jerrycan |
| 10.000 L | 10,000 mL | 1,000 cL | 338.140 | 2.64172 | 10 L bucket / fuel canister |
| 20.000 L | 20,000 mL | 2,000 cL | 676.280 | 5.28344 | 20 L water dispenser / tank |
| 100.000 L | 100,000 mL | 10,000 cL | 3,381.40 | 26.4172 | 100 L — large barrel / drum |
🟢 Green = small doses / spoon-scale | 🟧 Orange = everyday beverage / bottle sizes | 🔵 Blue = large container / industrial volumes
Litres and millilitres are the standard metric volume units in recipes worldwide. Standard kitchen measures: 1 teaspoon = 5 mL; 1 dessertspoon = 10 mL; 1 tablespoon = 15 mL; 1 metric cup = 250 mL = 0.25 L. Common recipe quantities: 500 mL (0.5 L) chicken stock; 400 mL (0.4 L) coconut milk tin; 1 L (1,000 mL) béchamel sauce; 750 mL wine for a braise. Baking liquids: 200 mL (0.2 L) milk; 120 mL (0.12 L) oil; 60 mL (0.06 L) water. Cooking in large quantities (catering, bakery): 5–20 L batches requiring mL precision for flavourings, acids, and leavening liquids. Measuring cups in metric countries are calibrated in mL (100, 125, 200, 250 mL), while recipes specify in both mL and L depending on quantity — making L-to-mL conversion a daily kitchen task.
Liquid medications, IV fluids, and injectable drugs are all measured in mL or L. Common paediatric doses: paracetamol syrup 5–10 mL; antibiotic suspension 2.5–10 mL per dose; antacid 5–15 mL. IV fluids: 0.9% saline 500 mL (0.5 L) or 1,000 mL (1 L) bags; glucose 5% in 250 mL or 500 mL bags. Blood transfusions: one unit ≈ 350–450 mL (0.35–0.45 L). Oral rehydration solution: typically 200 mL per dose, 1–2 L per day total. Nasogastric tube feeding: 200–500 mL per feed. Syringe volumes: 1 mL, 2 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, 50 mL. Nurses and pharmacists must convert fluids between mL and L daily — prescriptions may state total fluid volumes in L (e.g., 2 L/day IV fluid maintenance) while administration is in mL/hr (e.g., 83 mL/hr for 2,000 mL over 24 hours).
Laboratory solutions, reagents, and samples are routinely measured in mL and L. Common labware: microcentrifuge tubes (0.5, 1.5, 2.0 mL); test tubes (5–20 mL); beakers (50, 100, 250, 500 mL, 1 L, 2 L); volumetric flasks (10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 mL, 1 L); burettes (25–50 mL); measuring cylinders (10–1,000 mL). Titrations use mL precision: 1 mL = 0.001 L. Solution preparation: "make up to 1 L" means add solvent to reach 1,000 mL. Concentration units: mol/L (molarity) and mg/mL = g/L (mass concentration). Stock solution dilutions: 10 mL of 1 mol/L HCl diluted to 100 mL gives 0.1 mol/L. HPLC mobile phases: typically prepared in 500 mL to 2 L volumes. Converting between the mL scale of individual experiments and the L scale of bulk reagent preparation is continuous in analytical chemistry.
Engine fluids, fuel, and automotive chemicals use L and mL. Engine oil capacity: typical small car 3.5–5 L (3,500–5,000 mL); large SUV/truck 7–10 L. Coolant: typically 6–10 L (6,000–10,000 mL) total system capacity. Windscreen washer fluid: 2–5 L reservoir. Power steering fluid: 0.5–1 L. Fuel tank capacity: small car 40–55 L; large vehicle 70–100 L. Fuel economy: L/100km — a 10 L/100km car burns 10,000 mL per 100 km = 100 mL per km. Additive dosing: fuel injector cleaner or oil treatment typically 100–300 mL per treatment added to a full tank. Petrol/diesel sold by the litre in nearly every country except the USA (where it is sold by the US gallon). Converting fuel purchase volume between mL and L is a standard task for fleet operators and automotive technicians.
The beverage industry uses both mL and L as standard volume units. Standard bottle sizes: spirit/wine standard 750 mL (75 cL); half bottle 375 mL; magnum 1,500 mL (1.5 L); beer bottle 330 mL or 500 mL; soft drink 330 mL (can), 500 mL, 1 L, 1.5 L, 2 L. Serving measures: espresso 30 mL; standard beer 330–500 mL; wine pour 125–250 mL; cocktail 60–90 mL; spirit measure (UK) 25 or 35 mL; (Australia) 30 mL. Bartenders calculate total volume for batched cocktails in L, then serve in mL. Brewers track yields in L (brew kettle capacity) and package in mL (bottle/can fill). Wine labelling requirements across EU, AU, US, and other markets specify volume in mL (330 mL, 375 mL, 500 mL, 750 mL, 1,000 mL, 1,500 mL). The L↔mL conversion is fundamental to daily operations in any food and beverage business.
Swimming pool and spa water chemistry uses both L and mL for chemical dosing calculations. Pool volumes: small residential pool ≈ 20,000–40,000 L; standard 25 m lap pool ≈ 250,000–400,000 L. Chemical dosing: chlorine (liquid sodium hypochlorite) typically dosed at 10–20 mL per 1,000 L; pH reducer at 10–15 mL per 1,000 L; algaecide at 50–100 mL per 10,000 L. Water testing requires 10–25 mL samples. Spa/hot tub volume: typically 1,000–3,000 L — chemical doses are accordingly in small mL quantities. Irrigation systems: drip emitter flow rates in mL/hr (e.g., 2,000 mL/hr = 2 L/hr); field irrigation in L/min and L/hr. Water utility billing in many countries in kilolitres (kL = 1,000 L) — converting household tank levels in L to mL for precise daily use tracking. Municipal water treatment dosing: coagulants and disinfectants calculated from mg/L concentrations with volumes in L or kL.
1 L = 1,000 mL (exact). 1 mL = 0.001 L = 1 cm³ = 1 cc. 1 L = 10 dL = 100 cL = 1,000 mL. 1 m³ = 1,000 L = 1,000,000 mL. 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L = 3,785.41 mL (exact). 1 US fl oz = 29.5735 mL. 1 UK (imperial) fl oz = 28.4131 mL. Common bottles: 330 mL (can) = 0.33 L; 500 mL = 0.5 L; 750 mL (wine) = 0.75 L; 1,000 mL = 1 L; 1,500 mL = 1.5 L; 2,000 mL = 2 L. Kitchen spoons: teaspoon = 5 mL; tablespoon = 15 mL; cup = 250 mL = 0.25 L. Quick rule: L × 1,000 = mL; mL ÷ 1,000 = L. Exact powers of 10 — no approximation ever needed.
The fluid ounce (fl oz) is a source of common confusion because the US and UK versions differ slightly: 1 US fluid ounce = 29.5735 mL while 1 UK (imperial) fluid ounce = 28.4131 mL — a difference of about 4%. A US cup (8 US fl oz) = 236.6 mL, while a UK/AU cup (8 imperial fl oz) = 227.3 mL (though the metric cup used in Australia/Canada = 250 mL exactly). This means US recipes and UK recipes using "cups" or "fluid ounces" produce different volumes if the regional standard is not confirmed. This converter uses US fluid ounces. For UK/AU imperial fluid ounces: multiply litres by 35.1951 instead of 33.8140. Similarly, US pints (473 mL) differ from UK pints (568 mL) — always verify the regional standard when converting fluid ounce or pint measurements between countries.
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) recognises the litre as a non-SI unit accepted for use with the SI, defined as exactly 1 cubic decimetre (1 dm³ = 10⁻³ m³). The millilitre (1 cm³) and centilitre, decilitre follow from the SI milli- and centi- prefixes. The 9th edition SI Brochure (2019) confirms all SI prefix multipliers and the exact relationship 1 L = 1 dm³ = 10⁻³ m³, making litre-millilitre conversion perfectly exact within the metric system.
Visit BIPM →Metric cooking measures standardise kitchen volumes across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and metric-adopting countries. The metric teaspoon = 5 mL, metric tablespoon = 15 mL (20 mL in Australia), and metric cup = 250 mL are legally defined standards used on food labels, recipes, and measuring equipment. Understanding L-to-mL conversion is fundamental for scaling recipes, calculating ingredient costs per litre, adjusting serving sizes, and following international recipe standards across metric and US customary measurement systems.
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