How engine displacement is calculated
Displacement is the total volume swept by all the pistons as they move from the bottom to the top of their stroke. Each cylinder is a cylinder in the geometric sense: its volume is the area of the bore times the length of the stroke.
Displacement formula
1 cubic inch = 16.387 cc; 1,000 cc = 1 liter
Worked examples
- Classic small-block V8: 4.00 in bore, 3.48 in stroke, 8 cylinders = 349.8 cubic inches, or 5.73 liters. That is the famous "350".
- Modern 2.0 liter four: 86 mm bore and 86 mm stroke, 4 cylinders = 1,998 cc.
Oversquare, square and undersquare
- Oversquare (bore larger than stroke) engines rev higher and suit high-RPM power.
- Undersquare (stroke longer than bore) engines usually make more low-end torque.
- Square engines have equal bore and stroke, a common balance for modern four-cylinders.
Building an engine? Calculate the compression ratio next, and estimate output with the horsepower calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate engine displacement?
Multiply pi divided by 4 by the bore squared, the stroke and the number of cylinders. With inches you get cubic inches; with centimeters you get cc.
How many cubic inches is a 5.7 liter engine?
About 348 cubic inches. Multiply liters by 61.024 to get cubic inches, or divide cubic inches by 61.024 to get liters.
How many cc is 1 cubic inch?
One cubic inch is 16.387 cubic centimeters.
Does a bigger bore increase displacement more than a longer stroke?
Yes, proportionally. Displacement grows with the square of the bore but only linearly with the stroke, so a 1% larger bore adds about 2% displacement.
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Last updated October 2026.