Select a category and enter your values below
For all Volume converters, choose units using the From/To dropdowns above.
A liter (l) is a fundamental unit used to measure volume in the metric system.
In simple terms, it measures the amount of space a substance occupies, like the amount of soda in a bottle. The plural form is liters.
The liter was introduced in France in 1795 during the French Revolution.
It was created as part of a movement toward a more logical and universal system of measurement, which later evolved into the modern metric system.
Initially, the definition of a liter was based on the weight of one kilogram of pure water.
While the original definition was based on the mass of water, it was updated for greater precision and consistency.
Today, the official definition directly connects the liter to a unit of length, making it easier to understand.
So, how big is a liter?
A liter is officially defined as exactly one cubic decimeter (1 dm3).
This means a liter is the volume of a perfect cube with sides that are each 10 centimeters long (10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm).
The difference between "liter" and "litre" is simply a regional spelling choice—the volume they represent is precisely the same!
Both spellings are correct, and the one you use depends on where you are.