3 mL syringe (3 cc syringe)
A 3 mL syringe holds up to 3 mL of liquid, which is 3 cc, because a millilitre and a cubic centimetre are the same volume.[6] BD's 3 mL Luer-Lok syringe is listed with a 3 mL fill volume for general use, sterile and single-use.[1] It is also sold with a needle already attached, for example 25 G × 1 in.[2] In BD's conventional line the 3 mL size comes with a Luer-Lok or a slip tip.[5]
It suits volumes between 1 mL and 3 mL: more than an insulin syringe holds, less than a 5 mL barrel needs.
5 mL syringe
A 5 mL syringe holds up to 5 mL (5 cc). BD lists a 5 mL Luer-Lok syringe for general use; on the same listing, one 5 mL model (309649) is specified with minor graduations of 0.2 mL and major graduations of 1 mL.[3] On a barrel like that, each small line is 0.2 mL and each numbered line 1 mL, so 2.4 mL is two small lines past the 2. Other models may be marked differently, so check yours.
10 mL syringe (10 cc syringe)
A 10 mL syringe holds up to 10 mL (10 cc). BD's 10 mL Luer-Lok syringe is listed with a 10 mL fill volume for general use.[4] Its line spacing is not given on that listing; read it from the barrel by counting the lines between two numbers.
How to read a 3 mL syringe
Read a 3 mL syringe the same way as any other: find two numbered marks, count the small lines between them to get the value of one line, then line up the front edge of the plunger tip with your mark. BD does not publish the line spacing of its 3 mL syringes on the product pages we checked, so count the lines on yours rather than assuming.[1]
Which syringe holds your volume?
Choose the smallest size that holds the whole volume. The table uses BD's general sizes of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 mL.[5]
| Volume | cc | Smallest size |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 mL | 0.5 | 1 mL |
| 1.5 mL | 1.5 | 3 mL |
| 2 mL | 2 | 3 mL |
| 2.5 mL | 2.5 | 3 mL |
| 3 mL | 3 | 3 mL |
| 4 mL | 4 | 5 mL |
| 5 mL | 5 | 5 mL |
| 6 mL | 6 | 10 mL |
| 7.5 mL | 7.5 | 10 mL |
| 10 mL | 10 | 10 mL |
| 12 mL | 12 | 20 mL |
| 15 mL | 15 | 20 mL |
To work out the volume from a dose in mg, use the mg to mL calculator; for instructions written in cc, see cc to mL.
3, 5 and 10 mL syringes compared
| Size | Holds | Tips offered | Listed use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mL | 3 mL (3 cc) | Luer-Lok, luer slip | General use |
| 5 mL | 5 mL (5 cc) | Luer-Lok, luer slip | General use |
| 10 mL | 10 mL (10 cc) | Luer-Lok, luer slip | General use |
Larger sizes, 20 to 50 mL, add eccentric and catheter tips; the whole range is in the syringe sizes chart.
Not for insulin
These syringes are scaled in mL, so they are not insulin syringes. Insulin syringes stop at 1 mL and count units;[7] measuring insulin on mL-scale syringes has led to wrong doses.[8] See insulin syringe for how those are marked.
Your syringe comes from your instructionsThe syringe for a medicine is chosen by the prescriber or pharmacist. This page explains the sizes; it does not replace the one you were given.
Frequently asked questions
How many cc is a 3 mL syringe?
3 cc. One mL is one cc, so a 3 mL syringe and a 3 cc syringe are the same size.
What is a 3 mL syringe used for?
BD lists its 3 mL Luer-Lok syringe for general use. It suits volumes between 1 and 3 mL.
How much does a 10 mL syringe hold?
Up to 10 mL, which is 10 cc.
Is a 5 mL syringe the same as 5 cc?
Yes. 5 mL and 5 cc are the same volume.
Sources
- 3 mL BD Luer-Lok syringe (product 309657)
- 3 mL BD Luer-Lok syringe with attached needle 25 G × 1 in. (product 309581)
- BD Luer-Lok syringe, sterile, single use, 5 mL (product 309646)
- 10 mL BD Luer-Lok syringe (product 302995)
- BD conventional needles and syringes (product line)
- SI units: volume
- 7. Diabetes technology: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022
- ISMP Guidelines for Optimizing Safe Subcutaneous Insulin Use in Adults