Centiliters to Liters
Type a value in either box to convert between centiliters and liters. The factor is 0.01.
| Centiliters | Liters |
|---|---|
| 1 cL | 0.01 L |
| 2 cL | 0.02 L |
| 3 cL | 0.03 L |
| 5 cL | 0.05 L |
| 10 cL | 0.1 L |
| 25 cL | 0.25 L |
| 50 cL | 0.5 L |
| 100 cL | 1 L |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Centiliters field.
- The Liters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Liters field converts back to Centiliters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Centiliters to Liters formula
To convert centiliters to liters, multiply by 0.01.
L = cL × 0.01
Put another way, one centiliter is exactly 1/100 of a liter.
Why this factor: the centiliter and the liter are both defined against the liter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.01 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.01 — or use the Liters to Centiliters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Given 50 cL, multiplying by 0.01 yields 0.5 L.
50 cL × 0.01 = 0.5 L
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a centiliter?
A centiliter is one hundredth of a liter, or 10 milliliters.
Definition: Exactly 0.01 liter.
Where it is used: European beverage labeling, where wine and spirits bottles are marked in cl (a wine bottle is 75 cl).
What is a liter?
A liter is the everyday metric unit of volume, equal to the space in a 10 cm cube.
Definition: Exactly one cubic decimeter, so exactly 0.001 cubic meter. Accepted for use with SI but not an SI unit itself.
Where it is used: Fuel, beverages, engine displacement, and recipe volumes across the metric world.
Centiliters vs Liters
The centiliter and the liter belong to the same family of units, so converting between them is usually a matter of shifting a decimal point or applying a small whole-number factor.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters are in a centiliter?
One centiliter equals 0.01 liters.
What is the formula to convert centiliters to liters?
Multiply the number of centiliters by 0.01. To reverse it, divide by 0.01 instead.
How do I convert liters back to centiliters?
Divide by 0.01, which is the same as multiplying by 100.
How many liters are in 10 centiliters?
10 cL works out to 0.1 L.
How is the centiliter defined?
Exactly 0.01 liter.