What Is Milliliter (mL)?
A milliliter is a unit used to measure how much space a liquid takes up. It is part of the metric system and is very common in science, medicine, and everyday life. When you see amounts on drink bottles, medicine spoons, or in science class, they are often written in milliliters.
Definition
A milliliter is a unit of volume. Volume means how much space something fills. One milliliter is one thousandth of a liter.
- 1 milliliter mL is 0.001 liter L
- 1 liter L is 1 000 milliliters mL
You can imagine 1 milliliter as about one small drop of water from a dropper, although real drops can be a bit bigger or smaller. Milliliters are used for small amounts of liquid, like medicine, perfume, or cooking ingredients.
History / Origin
The milliliter comes from the metric system, which was first created in France in the late 1700s. The metric system was made so that measurements would be simple and based on powers of ten.
The word milliliter has two parts.
- Milli means one thousandth or 1 divided by 1 000.
- Liter is the basic metric unit for liquid volume.
At first, people used another name called cubic centimeter cm3 or cc for very small volumes, especially in science and medicine. Later, milliliter became more common for everyday use, while cubic centimeter is still used in some scientific and medical settings. Today, the milliliter is an official unit in the International System of Units for volume related to the liter, which is accepted for use with SI.
Symbol & Abbreviation
The standard short way to write milliliter is mL.
- Name milliliter
- Symbol mL
- Plural milliliters
Notice that the m is lowercase and the L is uppercase. This helps avoid confusion with the number 1. You might also see ml with a lowercase l in older texts or on some packages, but mL is clearer and is widely accepted.
Current Use Around the World
Milliliters are used in many countries, especially where the metric system is standard.
- In science experiments in school and in laboratories use milliliters to measure liquids like water, chemicals, and solutions.
- In medicine doctors and nurses use milliliters to measure liquid medicines, vaccines, and drips.
- In cooking metric recipes list ingredients such as milk, oil, or water in milliliters.
- In everyday products drink bottles, shampoos, perfumes, and cleaning liquids often show volume in both milliliters and liters.
Even in countries that use some non metric units, such as the United States, you will still see milliliters on medicine labels, nutrition facts, laboratory work, and many food and drink packages.
Example Conversions
Here are some simple conversions to help you understand the size of a milliliter.
Milliliters and Liters
- 1 mL = 0.001 L
- 100 mL = 0.1 L
- 250 mL = 0.25 L
- 500 mL = 0.5 L
- 1 000 mL = 1 L
Milliliters and Cubic Centimeters
- 1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter = 1 cm3
- 5 mL = 5 cm3
- 10 mL = 10 cm3
This means that if a syringe says 5 cm3, it holds the same amount as 5 mL.
Milliliters and Common Kitchen Units
Kitchen units are not exact for science, but they help you imagine the size.
- 1 teaspoon tsp is about 5 mL
- 1 tablespoon Tbsp is about 15 mL
- 1 US cup is about 240 mL
- 1 metric cup is 250 mL
Milliliters and Fluid Ounces
- 1 US fluid ounce fl oz is about 29.6 mL often rounded to 30 mL
- 1 UK fluid ounce is about 28.4 mL
- 100 mL is about 3.4 US fl oz
- 500 mL is about 16.9 US fl oz roughly one typical water bottle
Related Units
These units are closely related to the milliliter because they also measure volume.
- Microliter µL a very small unit of volume. 1 000 µL = 1 mL.
- Centiliter cL a bit larger than a milliliter. 10 mL = 1 cL.
- Deciliter dL often used for blood test results. 100 mL = 1 dL.
- Liter L the main metric unit for liquid volume. 1 000 mL = 1 L.
- Cubic centimeter cm3 or cc another way to measure the same volume as a milliliter. 1 cm3 = 1 mL.
- Cubic meter m3 a very large unit of volume. 1 m3 = 1 000 000 mL.
- Teaspoon tsp about 5 mL in cooking.
- Tablespoon Tbsp about 15 mL in cooking.
- Fluid ounce fl oz non metric unit. About 30 mL in the US system.
FAQs
What is a milliliter used for
A milliliter is used to measure small amounts of liquid. It is common in medicine, cooking, science experiments, and on labels of drinks and household products.
Is mL the same as ml
Both mL and ml are used, but mL with a capital L is clearer. It helps you see the difference between the letter L and the number 1.
How many milliliters are in a liter
There are 1 000 milliliters in 1 liter. If you know the amount in liters, you can multiply by 1 000 to get milliliters.
How many milliliters are in a teaspoon
There are about 5 milliliters in one standard teaspoon. This is often used on medicine spoons and in recipes.
Is 1 mL the same as 1 cm3 or 1 cc
Yes. 1 milliliter is exactly the same volume as 1 cubic centimeter, written as 1 cm3 or 1 cc. They just use different names.
How can I measure milliliters without a measuring cup
You can use a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon for rough amounts. 1 teaspoon is about 5 mL, and 1 tablespoon is about 15 mL. For accurate measurements, use a proper measuring cup, syringe, or graduated cylinder.
Why do medicines use milliliters instead of teaspoons
Milliliters are more exact and the same in every country. Teaspoons at home are not always the same size, so using mL helps give the right and safe dose.
