Convert cubic inches to cubic centimeters in seconds
1 in³ x 16.387064 = 16.387064 cm³
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Ever tried buying a car part from overseas or reading an old machinery manual? You’ve probably seen measurements in cubic inches while your tools use cubic centimeters. This mismatch feels like trying to read a recipe with metric and imperial units – confusing and error-prone. Let’s bridge that gap.
Unit definitions
What is a cubic inch (in³)?
A cube measuring 1 inch long × 1 inch wide × 1 inch tall. Originally based on barleycorns in medieval England, it’s now standardized as:
- Symbol: in³
- Common uses: Engine displacement in older American cars, refrigeration units
- Definition: Exactly 16.387064 cubic centimeters
What is a cubic centimeter (cm³)?
A cube measuring 1 centimeter per side. Part of the metric system developed during the French Revolution:
- Symbol: cm³ or cc
- Common uses: Medical dosages, motorcycle engines, chemistry labs
- Definition: Volume of a cube with 10mm edges (1mL = 1cm³)
Conversion formula
The golden rule for conversion: 1 in³ = 16.387064 cm³
Multiply cubic inches by 16.387064 to get cubic centimeters. For reverse conversions, divide cm³ by the same number. This exact ratio comes from the 1959 international yard agreement that standardized inches to 2.54 centimeters.
Example calculations
- Vintage engine conversion: A classic 1967 Mustang has a 289 in³ engine. To find its metric equivalent: 289 in³ × 16.387064 = 4,735.86 cm³ (usually rounded to 4.7L)
- Medical syringe: A 10 cm³ vaccine dose converts to: 10 cm³ ÷ 16.387064 ≈ 0.6102 in³
Conversion tables
Cubic inches to cubic centimeters
| Cubic Inches | Cubic Centimeters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 16.3871 |
| 2 | 32.7741 |
| 3 | 49.1612 |
| 4 | 65.5483 |
| 5 | 81.9353 |
| 6 | 98.3224 |
| 7 | 114.7094 |
| 8 | 131.0965 |
| 9 | 147.4836 |
| 10 | 163.8706 |
Cubic centimeters to cubic inches
| Cubic Centimeters | Cubic Inches |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.6102 |
| 20 | 1.2205 |
| 30 | 1.8307 |
| 40 | 2.4410 |
| 50 | 3.0512 |
| 60 | 3.6614 |
| 70 | 4.2717 |
| 80 | 4.8819 |
| 90 | 5.4921 |
| 100 | 6.1024 |
Historical background
The cubic inch dates back to teh British Imperial system (established 1824), originally used for trade and land measurement. Cubic centimeters emerged with the metric system in 1790s France, designed for scientific precision. The automotive industry caused their collision – American cars used in³ for engines while Europe adopted cm³. Since the 1970s, most countries switched to liters (1L=1000cm³) for engines, but tooling specifications still use both units.
Interesting facts
- Engine evolution: The last production car using cubic inches was the 2010 Dodge Viper (8.4L = 512.6 in³)
- Medical precision: 1 cm³ = 1mL, making syringes exact for medications
- Space oddity: NASA’s Saturn V rocket had fuel tanks measured in millions of cubic inches
- DIY crossover: Woodworking plans often mix in³ for lumber and cm³ for finishes
- Global oddity: Some UK hydraulic systems still use in³ alongside metric units
FAQ
This conversion is essential for international engineering projects, automotive work (especially engine displacement), and scientific research where metric measurements dominate.
Yes! 1 cubic inch equals exactly 16.387064 cubic centimeters due to standardized definitions of both units.
Primarily the United States and United Kingdom for legacy applications like engine sizes. Most industries worldwide use cubic centimeters.
Always use cubic centimeters (cc) with 2 decimal places in medical contexts for accurate dosage calculations.
Absolutely. Just divide the cubic centimeter value by 16.387064. Our converter handles both directions automatically.