I built the calculator above to give fast, accurate volume conversions between litres and millilitres (and related metric sub-/multiples). It uses the metric scale so conversions are exact there’s no approximating involved: every conversion is a simple power-of-ten multiplication or division.

What these units mean

A litre (L or l) is a metric volume unit equal to one cubic decimetre (dm³). It’s widely used for beverages, fuel and everyday containers. A millilitre (mL) is one-thousandth of a litre and is the same as one cubic centimetre (cm³), which makes it convenient for small quantities like medicine doses or recipes.

How the calculator works

1. The input value is converted to millilitres internally by multiplying by the unit’s factor (for litres, factor = 1000 mL per L).
2. If the target unit isn’t mL, the calculator divides the intermediate millilitre value by the target unit’s factor to produce the final result.
   Because every unit in the metric system differs by powers of ten, the math is exact and reversible.

Common uses

• Cooking and baking – scaling liquid ingredients between metric measures.
• Pharmaceuticals and lab work – precise dosing in mL.
• Fuel and automotive – litres are used for fuel volume; millilitres help when measuring additives.
• Packaging and product specifications – small containers and cosmetics are usually given in mL.

Quick reference table

• 0.01 L = 10 mL
• 0.1 L = 100 mL
• 1 L = 1000 mL
• 2 L = 2000 mL
• 5 L = 5000 mL

Related conversions you might need

• mL ↔ L (this calculator)
• L ↔ dL (decilitre = 0.1 L)
• L ↔ cL (centilitre = 0.01 L)
• L ↔ kL (kilolitre = 1,000 L)
• L ↔ cm³ (1 mL = 1 cm³) — useful for lab and engineering contexts.

FAQs

Q1. Is 1 L exactly 1000 mL?

A: Yes – by definition 1 litre = 1,000 millilitres.

Q2. Which symbol should I use, L or l?

A: The SI symbol is an uppercase “L”; lowercase “l” is widely recognized too, but uppercase avoids confusion with the numeral 1 in some fonts.

Q3. Why does my result show many decimal places?

A: The calculator preserves precision. Round the displayed result to the number of significant figures appropriate for your use (recipe vs. lab measurement).