Convert Cubic Decimeter (dm³) to Nanoliter (nL) instantly.
About these units
Cubic Decimeter (dm³)
A cubic decimeter is defined as 1 liter, since it is the volume of a cube 10 centimeters per side. Though equivalent to the liter, dm³ is often used in engineering and physics because it fits neatly into the SI geometric framework. This unit is convenient when working with densities (kg/dm³), where the equivalence of 1 dm³ and 1 L simplifies many calculations involving fluids and materials. While the liter dominates everyday usage, the cubic decimeter is favored in technical contexts where a strong geometric interpretation is needed—for example, in tank sizing, volumetric flow calculations, or experiments involving water displacement.
Nanoliter (nL)
A nanoliter equals 10⁻⁹ liters and is commonly used in molecular biology, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and analytical chemistry. Reaction volumes in high-throughput screening and micro-assays are frequently in nanoliters to conserve expensive reagents. In environmental science, trace samples of pollutants or micro-droplets in aerosols may be measured in nanoliters. Nanoliter volumes also arise in precision drug delivery systems and biomedical implants. The nanoliter represents a critical compromise between practical handling and microscopic precision, making it a cornerstone of modern microfluidic research.