Engine Displacement Calculator
Calculate engine displacement in liters, cubic centimeters and cubic inches from the bore, stroke and number of cylinders.
Engine displacement
5.73 liters
- Cubic centimeters (cc)
- 5,733 cm³
- Cubic inches
- 349.8 in³
8 cylinders give a displacement of 5.73 liters, which is 5,733 cc or 349.8 cubic inches.
Calculation breakdown
| Step | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Volume of one cylinder | π ÷ 4 × 4² × 3.48 | 716.62 cm³ |
| Total displacement | 716.62 cc × 8 cylinders | 5,733.0 cm³ |
How it works
Enter the bore, the stroke and the number of cylinders, in inches or millimeters to match the unit toggle.
Worked example
A V8 with a 4.000 in bore and a 3.480 in stroke:
- One cylinder: π ÷ 4 × 16 × 3.48 = 43.74 cubic inches
- Eight cylinders: 43.74 × 8 = 349.8 cubic inches
- In cc: 349.8 × 16.387064 = 5,733 cc, which is 5.73 liters
Rounding
Liters are shown to two decimal places and cubic inches to one. Calculations use the unrounded values.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate engine displacement?
Multiply π ÷ 4 by the bore squared, the stroke and the number of cylinders. A V8 with a 4.000 inch bore and 3.480 inch stroke displaces π ÷ 4 × 16 × 3.48 × 8 = 349.8 cubic inches, which is 5.73 liters.
What are bore and stroke?
The bore is the diameter of a cylinder, and the stroke is the distance the piston travels from the bottom to the top of the cylinder. Together they give the swept volume of one cylinder.
How do I convert cubic inches to cc and liters?
An inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, so one cubic inch is exactly 16.387064 cubic centimeters. Multiply cubic inches by 16.387064 for cc, then divide by 1,000 for liters. So 350 cubic inches is about 5,735 cc or 5.7 liters.
Why does a "350" engine show as 349.8?
Engine names are usually rounded, and the exact swept volume from the bore and stroke is slightly different. Manufacturers also round liters, so a 5.7 liter engine is 5.73 liters from its dimensions.
Does displacement include the combustion chamber?
No. Displacement is only the swept volume, the space the piston moves through. The clearance volume above the piston at the top of the stroke is separate and is used for the compression ratio.
For information only. Published engine sizes are rounded and may differ slightly from the exact swept volume.