Learn the Units
1Small amounts → millilitres.
Teaspoons (5 ml), medicine doses, cups and glasses.
2Larger amounts → litres.
Bottles, cartons, buckets, baths, fuel tanks.
3The key fact.
1000 millilitres = 1 litre. ('milli' means a thousandth.)
Worked Example
Choose the sensible capacity.
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Quick clarity: capacity is how much a container CAN hold; the liquid inside is its volume. A 1 l bottle half-full holds 500 ml.
Wrong! 1000 ml = 1 l. (100 ml is just a small yoghurt pot.)
Not always! A tall thin glass can hold less than a short wide one. Capacity depends on the whole shape, not the height.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- 1000 ml = 1 litre.
- ml: spoons, glasses, cans.
- litres: bottles, buckets, baths.
- Capacity = what it CAN hold; volume = what's in it.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Capacity is measured in millilitres (ml) and litres (l); 1000 ml = 1 l.
- Anchors: teaspoon 5 ml, glass 250 ml, milk carton 1 l, bath 150 l.
- Capacity is what a container can hold; volume is what's actually in it.
- 'Milli' means a thousandth of the base unit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between millilitres and litres?
A litre is 1000 millilitres. Millilitres suit small amounts (a teaspoon is 5 ml); litres suit bottles, buckets and baths.
What is the difference between capacity and volume?
Capacity is the most a container can hold; volume is the amount of liquid actually in it. A 1-litre bottle half full contains 500 ml.
What anchors help children estimate capacity?
A teaspoon (5 ml), a glass of juice (250 ml), a milk carton (1 l) and a bathtub (about 150 l).
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