Cubic meter to Milliliter Converter
Convert cubic meters to milliliters with our free online volume converter.
Quick Answer
1 Cubic meter = 1000000 milliliters
Formula: Cubic meter × conversion factor = Milliliter
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Cubic meter to Milliliter Calculator
How to Use the Cubic meter to Milliliter Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Cubic meter).
- The converted value in Milliliter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Volume category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Cubic meter to Milliliter: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Cubic meter to Milliliter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Cubic meter = 1.0000e+6 millilitersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 cubic meters: 10 × 1.0000e+6 = 1.0000e+7 milliliters
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other volume units?
View all Volume conversions →What is a Cubic meter and a Milliliter?
The SI Coherent Derived Unit
The cubic meter is defined as the volume of a cube with edges of exactly 1 meter.
Mathematical expression:
1 m³ = 1 m × 1 m × 1 m
Physical dimensions:
- Length: 100 cm = 1,000 mm = 3.28084 feet
- Width: 100 cm = 1,000 mm = 3.28084 feet
- Height: 100 cm = 1,000 mm = 3.28084 feet
Volume: 1,000,000 cm³ = 1,000 L
Relationship to the Liter
The liter (L), while not an official SI base unit, is universally accepted for use with SI:
1 m³ = 1,000 liters (exactly)
1 liter = 1 cubic decimeter (dm³) = 0.001 m³
This relationship is exact by definition: 1 L = 1 dm³ = (0.1 m)³ = 0.001 m³
Water Mass Relationship
One of the metric system's most elegant features:
At 4°C (maximum water density):
- 1 m³ of water = 1,000 kg = 1 metric ton (tonne)
- 1 L of water = 1 kg
- 1 mL of water = 1 gram
This relationship was intentional in the metric system's original design, though modern definitions are based on physical constants rather than water properties.
Metric Prefixes Applied to Volume
Cubic meter subdivisions and multiples:
Smaller volumes:
- 1 cubic decimeter (dm³) = 0.001 m³ = 1 L
- 1 cubic centimeter (cm³) = 0.000001 m³ = 1 mL
- 1 cubic millimeter (mm³) = 0.000000001 m³ = 1 µL
Larger volumes:
- 1 cubic kilometer (km³) = 1,000,000,000 m³ = 10⁹ m³
Note: Unlike linear measurements, volume scales with the cube of the length multiplier. For example, 1 km = 1,000 m, so 1 km³ = (1,000 m)³ = 1,000,000,000 m³ (billion cubic meters).
The milliliter (symbol: mL or ml) is a unit of volume equal to exactly one-thousandth of a liter (1/1000 L or 0.001 L). Critically, 1 milliliter equals exactly 1 cubic centimeter (1 cm³ or 1 cc).
The milliliter is part of the International System of Units (SI) and uses the metric prefix "milli-" meaning one-thousandth (from Latin mille, "thousand").
Mathematical Relationships
1 milliliter equals:
- 0.001 liters (L)
- 1 cubic centimeter (cm³ or cc) exactly
- 0.000001 cubic meters (m³)
- 0.033814 US fluid ounces (fl oz)
- 0.035195 UK fluid ounces (imperial)
- 0.202884 teaspoons (tsp)
- 0.067628 tablespoons (tbsp)
Key water relationship:
- 1 mL of water weighs 1 gram (at 4°C, maximum density)
This elegant relationship makes metric conversions trivial for water-based solutions.
Milliliter = Cubic Centimeter (cc)
Perfect equivalence: 1 mL = 1 cm³ = 1 cc (all three are identical)
Why this matters:
- Medical syringes often marked in "cc" (cubic centimeters) = milliliters
- Engine displacement: "2000 cc engine" = 2000 mL = 2.0 L
- Laboratory glassware uses both mL and cm³ interchangeably
- A cube with 1 cm sides (1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm) holds exactly 1 mL
Symbol variations:
- mL (preferred in scientific publishing—avoids confusion with number "1")
- ml (common in everyday use)
- cc (common in medical and automotive contexts)
Why Milliliters?
While the liter is the base metric unit for volume, milliliters are more practical for everyday measurements:
Perfect human scale: Most cooking ingredients, medications, and beverage servings fall into the 5-500 mL range, avoiding decimals.
Avoids decimal confusion: "250 milliliters of milk" is clearer than "0.25 liters of milk" for most people.
Universal adoption: Used in 195+ countries for recipes, medicine, beverages, and laboratory work.
Note: The Cubic meter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Milliliter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Cubic meter and Milliliter
The French Revolution and the Birth of the Meter (1789-1795)
Pre-revolutionary chaos: Before 1789, France had over 250,000 different local units of measurement, creating economic havoc. Volume measures like the pinte (pint), setier (bushel), and muid varied from town to town, making trade and taxation nearly impossible to standardize.
Revolutionary solution: The National Assembly commissioned the French Academy of Sciences (1791) to create a universal measurement system based on:
- Natural phenomena (not royal decrees)
- Decimal division (base-10, like currency)
- International applicability
The meter's original definition: One ten-millionth (1/10,000,000) of the distance from the North Pole to the equator, measured along the meridian passing through Paris.
The Méchain-Delambre Survey (1792-1798)
The mission: Astronomers Pierre Méchain and Jean-Baptiste Delambre were tasked with measuring the meridian arc from Dunkirk (northern France) to Barcelona (Spain) to establish the meter's precise length.
Seven-year expedition:
- Conducted during the French Revolution and Reign of Terror
- Used triangulation with specialized instruments
- Faced political upheaval, war, and personal hardship
- Measured 115 triangulation stations across France and Spain
Result: Determined the meter as 39.37008 inches (very close to modern value). The cubic meter logically followed as this length cubed.
Legal Adoption of the Metric System (1795-1799)
Law of 18 Germinal, Year III (April 7, 1795): France legally adopted the metric system, including the cubic meter for volume measurements.
Initial resistance: Traditional merchants and citizens resisted the new system. Napoleon temporarily restored old units in 1812 before reimposing the metric system permanently in 1840.
Prototype meter bar: The platinum Mètre des Archives (1799) became the physical standard, defining the meter (and thus cubic meter) for the next century.
International Spread (1800s-1900s)
European adoption:
- Netherlands (1816): First country after France to adopt the metric system
- Belgium (1820)
- Spain, Italy, Portugal (1850s-1860s)
- Germany (1872, unified after becoming a nation)
Latin America: Most countries adopted the metric system in the 19th century, facilitated by independence from Spain and Portugal.
Scientific community: The British Association for the Advancement of Science recommended metric adoption (1863), though official UK adoption took another century.
Meter Convention and BIPM (1875)
Treaty of the Meter (Convention du Mètre): Signed by 17 nations in Paris (1875), establishing:
- Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM): International standards organization
- International prototypes: Platinum-iridium meter bar (1889) and kilogram
- Regular conferences (CGPM): To update definitions
Impact on cubic meter: Standardizing the meter internationally made the cubic meter a truly global volume unit.
Modern Redefinition: Speed of Light (1983)
Problem with physical artifacts: The platinum-iridium meter bar could degrade, limiting precision.
New definition (17th CGPM, 1983): The meter is defined as "the length of the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second."
Impact:
- The meter is now defined by physical constants (speed of light, atomic time)
- Invariant and reproducible anywhere in the universe
- The cubic meter inherits this precision: (299,792,458 m/s)³
Practical result: The cubic meter is no longer dependent on any physical object—it's a fundamental constant of nature.
SI System Formalization (1960)
11th CGPM (1960): Established the Système International d'Unités (SI), modernizing and standardizing the metric system.
Cubic meter's role: Designated as the coherent derived unit for volume in SI, meaning it's formed from base units (meter) without conversion factors.
French Revolution: Birth of the Liter (1795)
Metric System Creation: The milliliter's story begins with the French Revolution's creation of the liter in 1795.
Water-Based Definition: One liter was originally defined as the volume occupied by one kilogram of pure water at maximum density (approximately 4°C or 39°F).
Elegant Interconnection:
- 1 liter of water = 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
- 1 milliliter of water = 1 gram
- 1 milliliter = 1 cubic centimeter
This made the metric system beautifully self-consistent—volume, mass, and spatial dimensions all linked through water.
Etymology: The word "liter" comes from the obsolete French unit "litron," which was derived from Medieval Latin "litra" (a unit of mass).
The Medieval Litron: A Pre-Metric Precursor
Before the French Revolution standardized the liter, the "litron" was a measure for grain and salt.
- The Royal Litron: In the 17th century, the litron was roughly equivalent to 0.81 liters. However, because it was often measured using wooden boxes that could warp with humidity, the volume of a litron changed with the seasons.
- The Tax Man's Litron: French peasants often had to pay their taxes in litrons of grain. This created a massive incentive for the crown to "expand" the litron while the peasants tried to "shrink" it, a measurement war that only ended with the precision of the metric milliliter.
The Milliliter in 19th Century Pharmacy
As "Apothecary" shops evolved into modern pharmacies, the "Drop" became a liability.
- The Graduated Minim: Pharmacists used a 1-minim dropper, which was supposed to be 1/60th of a fluid dram. However, because the viscosity of oils versus tinctures resulted in different drop sizes, pharmacists pushed for the adoption of the milliliter as the only legally defensible unit for liquid drugs.
The Prefix "Milli-"
Latin Origin: "Milli-" comes from the Latin "mille" meaning "thousand."
Meaning: Milli- means one-thousandth (1/1000 or 0.001).
Other milli- units:
- Millimeter: 1/1000 meter
- Milligram: 1/1000 gram
- Millisecond: 1/1000 second
- Milliliter: 1/1000 liter
19th Century: Global Spread
1875: Metre Convention: The Treaty of the Metre established international cooperation on measurement standards. The liter (and milliliter) became recognized internationally.
Scientific Adoption: Laboratories worldwide embraced milliliters for precise liquid measurements, replacing inconsistent local units.
Medical Use: By the late 1800s, medicine had standardized on milliliters (or cubic centimeters/cc) for drug dosages and liquid medicines.
1901: Redefinition
Precision Refinement: In 1901, the liter was redefined as the volume of 1 kg of pure water at maximum density under standard atmospheric pressure. This made the liter slightly larger than 1 cubic decimeter (by about 28 parts per million).
1964: Modern Definition
CIPM Decision: The International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) redefined the liter as exactly one cubic decimeter (1 dm³).
Impact on milliliters: 1 milliliter = exactly 1 cubic centimeter (1 cm³), eliminating any tiny discrepancy.
Current definition: The milliliter is now purely geometric—the volume of a cube with 1 cm sides—rather than water-based.
Common Uses and Applications: cubic meters vs milliliters
Explore the typical applications for both Cubic meter (metric) and Milliliter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for cubic meters
1. Construction and Building Materials
Concrete volume: Construction projects specify concrete in cubic meters. A typical residential driveway requires 5-10 m³ of concrete.
Example specifications:
- Foundation slab: 20 m³
- Building foundation: 150 m³
- High-rise floor: 800 m³
- Dam construction: 500,000 m³
Other materials:
- Gravel, sand, soil: Landscaping and earthworks measured in m³
- Lumber: Though often measured in board feet, large orders calculated by volume
2. HVAC and Room Ventilation
Air volume calculations: HVAC engineers calculate room volumes in m³ to size heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
Air changes per hour (ACH): Formula: ACH = (airflow rate in m³/h) / (room volume in m³)
Example:
- Office room: 200 m³
- Required ACH: 6 (per building code)
- Required airflow: 200 m³ × 6 = 1,200 m³/h
3. Water and Gas Utilities
Water consumption: Utilities meter water usage in cubic meters. Typical household consumption: 10-20 m³/month.
Billing:
- Residential water: $2-5 per m³ (varies by region)
- Commercial rates: $3-8 per m³
Natural gas: Though often billed in therms or kWh, gas consumption is fundamentally measured in m³. Standard conditions: 1 m³ of natural gas ≈ 10.4 kWh.
4. Shipping and Logistics
Cargo capacity: Shipping containers, trucks, and cargo ships specify capacity in m³.
Standard containers (TEU - Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit):
- 20-foot container: 33 m³ internal volume
- 40-foot container: 68 m³ internal volume
- 40-foot high cube: 76 m³
Freight charges: Shipping costs often calculated by volumetric weight, using m³ to determine chargeable weight.
5. Environmental and Water Management
Reservoir capacity: Dams and reservoirs measured in millions of cubic meters.
Flow rates:
- River discharge: m³/s (cubic meters per second)
- Amazon River: ~209,000 m³/s average discharge
- Mississippi River: ~16,800 m³/s
Wastewater treatment: Treatment plant capacity specified in m³/day.
6. Scientific and Engineering Calculations
Fluid dynamics: Engineering calculations use m³ for volume, m³/s for flow rate (coherent with SI).
Gas laws: Ideal gas law: PV = nRT, where V is typically in m³ for industrial applications.
Density calculations: Density (kg/m³) is the standard SI unit, making cubic meters natural for mass-volume relationships.
When to Use milliliters
Medicine and Pharmacology
Prescription Medications: Liquid medications measured in milliliters:
- Antibiotics: "Take 10 mL twice daily"
- Cough syrup: "Take 15 mL every 4-6 hours"
- Pain relievers: "Give 5 mL per dose for children"
Dosing Precision: Milliliters allow accurate dosing:
- Pediatric doses often require precision to 0.5 mL
- Adult doses typically 5-30 mL range
- Measuring spoons or syringes marked in mL
IV Fluids: Hospital IV bags measured in mL:
- Saline drip: 1,000 mL bag, infused over hours
- Medication delivery: 50-250 mL piggyback bags
- Fluid intake/output: tracked in mL for patient monitoring
Cooking Worldwide
Global Recipe Standard: Most countries use milliliters for liquid ingredients:
- "Add 250 mL milk"
- "Mix in 30 mL soy sauce"
- "Drizzle with 45 mL olive oil"
Kitchen Measuring Tools:
- Liquid measuring cups: marked in mL (and fluid ounces in US)
- Measuring spoons: 1.25 mL, 2.5 mL, 5 mL, 15 mL
- Kitchen scale with liquid mode: measures mL for water-based liquids
Precision Baking: Professional bakers prefer milliliters for consistency:
- Eliminates meniscus reading errors
- Repeatable results
- Easy scaling (double recipe = double all mL measurements)
Beverage Industry
Product Labeling: Beverages worldwide labeled in milliliters:
- "Contents: 355 mL (12 fl oz)"
- "Serving size: 250 mL"
- "Servings per container: 4 (1,000 mL bottle)"
Alcohol Content: "Standard drink" defined in mL in many countries:
- Australia: 10 mL pure alcohol = 1 standard drink
- UK: 8 mL (10g) pure alcohol = 1 unit
- US: 14 mL (17.7g) pure alcohol = 1 standard drink
Bartending: Cocktail recipes use milliliters:
- Jigger: 30 mL (1 oz) or 45 mL (1.5 oz)
- Recipes: "45 mL vodka, 15 mL lime juice, 10 mL simple syrup"
Laboratory Science
Chemistry: Milliliters essential for chemical reactions:
- Titrations: measuring acid/base volumes to 0.1 mL
- Solution preparation: "Dissolve in 500 mL solvent"
- Concentration: moles per liter (mol/L or M)
Biology: Cell culture and biological assays:
- Cell culture media: 10-50 mL per flask
- PCR reactions: measured in microliters (µL), 1 µL = 0.001 mL
- Biological samples: typically 0.5-5 mL volumes
Physics: Density measurements use mL:
- Density = mass (grams) ÷ volume (milliliters) = g/mL
- Water: 1 g/mL at 4°C
- Alcohol: 0.79 g/mL
- Mercury: 13.6 g/mL
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Product Packaging: Cosmetics labeled in milliliters:
- Perfume: 30 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL bottles
- Foundation: 30-50 mL bottles
- Shampoo: 250 mL, 500 mL, 1,000 mL bottles
- Travel sizes: typically 100 mL or less (TSA limit)
Additional Unit Information
About Cubic meter (m³)
How large is a cubic meter?
A cubic meter is the volume of a cube with edges of 1 meter (100 cm or 3.28 feet) on all sides.
Visualizations:
- Slightly larger than a typical refrigerator or washing machine
- About 264 US gallons or 1,000 liters
- A swimming pool area of 10 m² with 10 cm depth = 1 m³
Physical comparison: Stand with arms outstretched. A cube from floor to chest height, and arm-span width/depth, is roughly 1 m³.
Is cubic meter the same as meter cubed?
Yes, they're identical.
- Cubic meter (common parlance)
- Meter cubed (mathematical expression)
- m³ (symbol)
All refer to the same unit: the volume of a 1 m × 1 m × 1 m cube.
How many liters are in a cubic meter?
Exactly 1,000 liters (L) = 1 cubic meter (m³)
This relationship is exact by definition:
- 1 L = 1 dm³ (cubic decimeter)
- 1 dm = 0.1 m
- 1 dm³ = (0.1 m)³ = 0.001 m³
- Therefore: 1 m³ = 1,000 L
Why use cubic meters instead of liters?
Cubic meters are preferred for:
- Very large volumes: Using liters would create unwieldy numbers (e.g., 50,000 L vs. 50 m³)
- Engineering calculations: m³ is coherent with SI (works seamlessly with kg, Pa, J, W)
- Construction: Concrete, gravel, excavation measured in m³
- International standards: Official SI unit for volume
Liters are preferred for:
- Everyday quantities: Beverages, fuel, household products
- Small to medium containers: Easier to visualize (1 L milk carton)
How do I calculate room volume in cubic meters?
Formula: Volume = Length × Width × Height (all in meters)
Example:
- Room: 5 m long × 4 m wide × 2.5 m high
- Volume = 5 × 4 × 2.5 = 50 m³
If measurements are in other units:
- Convert to meters first
- Then multiply
Example (feet to meters):
- Room: 15 ft × 12 ft × 9 ft
- Convert: 15 ft ÷ 3.28 = 4.57 m; 12 ft ÷ 3.28 = 3.66 m; 9 ft ÷ 3.28 = 2.74 m
- Volume = 4.57 × 3.66 × 2.74 = 45.8 m³
How much does a cubic meter of water weigh?
At 4°C (maximum density): exactly 1,000 kg (1 metric ton)
This was intentionally designed into the metric system.
At other temperatures:
- 0°C (freezing): 999.84 kg/m³
- 20°C (room temp): 998.2 kg/m³
- 25°C: 997.0 kg/m³
- 100°C (boiling): 958.4 kg/m³
Ice (0°C): ~917 kg/m³ (less dense than liquid water—why ice floats!)
What is the difference between m³ and m³/h?
m³ is a unit of volume (static quantity)
- "The tank holds 10 m³"
m³/h is a unit of volumetric flow rate (volume per time)
- "The pump delivers 5 m³/h" (5 cubic meters per hour)
Other common flow rates:
- m³/s: Cubic meters per second (river discharge, large industrial flows)
- m³/min: Cubic meters per minute
- L/min: Liters per minute (smaller flows, pumps)
How many cubic meters in an Olympic swimming pool?
Minimum Olympic pool dimensions:
- Length: 50 m
- Width: 25 m
- Minimum depth: 2 m
Volume: 50 × 25 × 2 = 2,500 m³ (2.5 million liters)
This is often used as a reference for large volumes: "This reservoir holds the equivalent of 1,000 Olympic pools" = 2,500,000 m³.
Can I use cubic meters for gases?
Yes, cubic meters are standard for gas volumes.
Gas utility billing:
- Natural gas consumption: measured in m³
- 1 m³ of natural gas ≈ 10.4 kWh energy content
Standard conditions: Gas volumes are often specified at STP (Standard Temperature and Pressure):
- 0°C, 101.325 kPa
Or NTP (Normal Temperature and Pressure):
- 20°C, 101.325 kPa
Ideal gas law: PV = nRT uses m³ for V in SI calculations.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic meters?
Formula: m³ = ft³ × 0.0283168
Examples:
- 10 ft³ = 10 × 0.0283168 = 0.283 m³
- 100 ft³ = 2.832 m³
- 1,000 ft³ = 28.32 m³
Reverse (m³ to ft³): ft³ = m³ × 35.3147
Quick approximation:
- 1 m³ ≈ 35 ft³
- 30 ft³ ≈ 1 m³
Conversion Table: Cubic meter to Milliliter
| Cubic meter (m³) | Milliliter (mL) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 500,000 |
| 1 | 1,000,000 |
| 1.5 | 1,500,000 |
| 2 | 2,000,000 |
| 5 | 5,000,000 |
| 10 | 10,000,000 |
| 25 | 25,000,000 |
| 50 | 50,000,000 |
| 100 | 100,000,000 |
| 250 | 250,000,000 |
| 500 | 500,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 1,000,000,000 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Cubic meter to Milliliter?
To convert Cubic meter to Milliliter, enter the value in Cubic meter in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our volume converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Cubic meter to Milliliter?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Cubic meter and Milliliter. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Milliliter back to Cubic meter?
Yes! You can easily convert Milliliter back to Cubic meter by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Milliliter to Cubic meter converter page. You can also explore other volume conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Cubic meter and Milliliter?
Cubic meter and Milliliter are both standard units used in volume measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our volume converter for more conversion options.
For more volume conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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📚 How to Convert Units
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⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
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⚠️ Common Mistakes
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All Volume Conversions
Other Volume Units and Conversions
Explore other volume units and their conversion options:
- Liter (L) • Cubic meter to Liter
- Gallon (US) (gal) • Cubic meter to Gallon (US)
- Gallon (UK) (gal) • Cubic meter to Gallon (UK)
- Quart (qt) • Cubic meter to Quart
- Cup (cup) • Cubic meter to Cup
- Fluid ounce (fl oz) • Cubic meter to Fluid ounce
- Cup (US) (cup) • Cubic meter to Cup (US)
- Pint (US) (pt) • Cubic meter to Pint (US)
Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Standards for volume measurements
Last verified: February 19, 2026