Convert Liters to Cubic Inches

Liter

Definition: A liter (symbol: L) is a unit of volume that is accepted for use with the International System of Units (SI) but is technically not an SI unit. One liter is equal to 1 cubic decimeter (dm³), 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³), or 1/1,000 cubic meters (m³).

History/origin: There was a point from 1901 to 1964 when a liter was defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under the conditions of maximum density at atmospheric pressure. However, due to the mass-volume relationship of water being based on a number of factors that can be cumbersome to control (temperature, pressure, purity, isotopic uniformity), as well as the discovery that the prototype of the kilogram was slightly too large (making the liter equal to 1.000028 dm³ rather than 1 dm³), the definition of the liter was reverted to its previous, and current definition.

Current use: The liter is used to measure many liquid volumes as well as to label containers containing said liquids. It is also used to measure certain non-liquid volumes such as the size of car trunks, backpacks and climbing packs, computer cases, microwaves, refrigerators, and recycling bins, as well as for expressing fuel volumes and prices in most countries around the world.

Cubic Inch

Definition: The cubic inch (symbol: in³) is a unit of volume in the Imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is the volume of a cube with measurements 1 in × 1 in × 1 in. It is equal to 16.387064 cm³ or mL.

History/origin: The cubic inch is derived from the inch, a unit of length within the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since the 1950s and 1960s, with the adoption of the international yard, the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm.

Current use: The cubic inch and cubic foot are still used in the United States, and to some extent in the United Kingdom. However, SI (International System of Units) units of measurement are also widely used throughout these countries.

In the US, the automotive and aircraft industries in particular use the cubic inch to some extent, though the SI derived or SI accepted units of volume (liter, milliliter, and cubic meter) are also used.

In the UK, automotive model numbers are sometimes denoted in cubic inches.