Measuring capacity

Capacity is a measure of how much something can hold in total.

Capacity can be measured using different units. It can be measured in litres (l) and millilitres (ml).

If you look at what units you are measuring in, you can work out capacity in that unit.

Complete this interactive activity to understand how to measure capacity. Then put your knowledge to the test.

Volume and capacity are not the same thing.

• Volume is a measure of how much liquid there is in a container.

• Capacity is how much liquid a container can hold.

You can measure capacity in litres and millilitres.

There are 1,000 millilitres in a litre.

So 0.5 litres is the same as 500ml and 0.1 litres is the same as 100ml.

Sometimes capacity is expressed in millilitres only (eg 1,200ml).

Sometimes it is expressed in both millilitres and litres (eg 1 litres, 200 millilitres).

Sometimes it is expressed in only litres (eg 1.2 litres).