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Specs & ConversionsEngine Displacement Converter — cc, Liters & CID
Convert an engine’s size between the three units people quote it in. Enter the displacement in cubic centimeters (cc) to get liters and cubic inches.
Divide cubic centimeters by 1,000 for liters and by 16.387 for cubic inches. A 1,998 cc engine is 2.0 liters (122 cu in), a 1.5L engine is about 1,500 cc (92 cu in), and a 350-cubic-inch V8 is 5,735 cc — sold as a 5.7L.
How this calculator works
Displacement is a volume. There are 1,000 cubic centimeters in a liter, so cc ÷ 1,000 gives liters — which is why a 1,998 cc engine is sold as a “2.0L.” One cubic inch is 16.387 cc, so cc ÷ 16.387 gives cubic inches (CID), the unit used for classic American V8s.
What changes the number
- Liters are usually rounded for marketing — a “2.0L” might actually be 1,984–1,998 cc.
- CID (cubic inch displacement) is the classic American measure — a 350 small-block is about 5.7L.
- Displacement is only one factor in power; turbocharging and tuning matter just as much.
Engine sizes in liters, cc, and cubic inches
Badges are rounded to the nearest tenth of a liter, so a real “2.0L” may measure anywhere from about 1,984 to 1,998 cc.
| Engine size | Cubic centimeters | Cubic inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0L | 1,000 cc | 61 cu in |
| 1.5L | 1,500 cc | 92 cu in |
| 1.6L | 1,600 cc | 98 cu in |
| 1.8L | 1,800 cc | 110 cu in |
| 2.0L | 2,000 cc | 122 cu in |
| 2.4L | 2,400 cc | 146 cu in |
| 2.5L | 2,500 cc | 153 cu in |
| 3.0L | 3,000 cc | 183 cu in |
| 3.5L | 3,500 cc | 214 cu in |
| 5.0L | 5,000 cc | 305 cu in |
| 5.7L | 5,700 cc | 348 cu in |
| 6.2L | 6,200 cc | 378 cu in |
Classic V8 cubic inches in cc and liters
| Cubic inches | Cubic centimeters | Exact liters | Usually badged as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 302 cu in | 4,949 cc | 4.95 L | 5.0L |
| 305 cu in | 4,998 cc | 5.00 L | 5.0L |
| 350 cu in | 5,735 cc | 5.74 L | 5.7L |
| 400 cu in | 6,555 cc | 6.55 L | 6.6L |
| 427 cu in | 6,997 cc | 7.00 L | 7.0L |
| 454 cu in | 7,440 cc | 7.44 L | 7.4L |
Frequently asked questions
How many cc in a liter?
Exactly 1,000. So a 1,498 cc engine is 1.5L, and a 2,998 cc engine is 3.0L — manufacturers round to the nearest tenth for the badge.
What is CID?
Cubic inch displacement, the traditional US measure of engine size. One cubic inch ≈ 16.39 cc, so a 5.0L engine is about 305 cubic inches.
Does bigger displacement mean more power?
Generally more potential, but not always — a small turbocharged engine can out-power a larger naturally aspirated one. Displacement is just the volume the cylinders sweep.
What size is a 1998 cc engine?
2.0 liters. 1,998 ÷ 1,000 = 1.998, which rounds to the “2.0L” on the badge. In cubic inches it’s about 122.
How many cc is a 1.5L engine?
A 1.5-liter engine is 1,500 cc by definition, but real 1.5L engines usually measure a little under — commonly in the 1,490s — because the badge is rounded to the nearest tenth of a liter. That’s about 91–92 cubic inches.
How do I convert cubic inches to cc?
Multiply by 16.387. A 350 cu in V8 is 350 × 16.387 ≈ 5,735 cc, or 5.7 L; a 302 is 4,949 cc, which is why it was sold as the “5.0.” To go the other way, divide cc by 16.387.
How many cc is 114 cubic inches?
About 1,868 cc (1.87 L): 114 × 16.387 = 1,868. The same rule converts any motorcycle or V-twin figure — 107 cu in is about 1,753 cc and 117 cu in about 1,917 cc. Manufacturers round the cubic-inch name, so a spec sheet can list a cc figure a few cc off the straight conversion.