A cubic meter is the space of a box one meter on each side, and everything from shipping to soil is priced by it. A crate 2.5 × 1.2 × 0.8 m holds 2.5 × 1.2 × 0.8 = 2.4 m³: 84.8 ft³, 3.14 yd³ or 2,400 liters. Type the sides in any unit – mixed if you like – or the diameter and height of a round shape, add how many there are, and the calculator gives the volume in five units and what it would weigh full of water or of a material whose density you know.
Volume units side by side
| Unit | m³ | ft³ | yd³ | Liters | US gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m³ | 1 | 35.315 | 1.308 | 1,000 | 264.17 |
| 1 yd³ | 0.7646 | 27 | 1 | 764.55 | 201.97 |
| 1 ft³ | 0.02832 | 1 | 0.03704 | 28.32 | 7.481 |
| 1,000 L | 1 | 35.315 | 1.308 | 1,000 | 264.17 |
Because the foot is exactly 0.3048 m, every factor here is exact; the calculator keeps full precision and rounds only for display.
Everyday volumes
| What | Measurements | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| A room | 4 × 3.5 × 2.5 m | 35 m³ |
| A trench for a footing | 10 m × 0.4 m × 0.6 m | 2.4 m³ |
| A raised garden bed | 8 × 4 × 1 ft | 32 ft³ (1.19 yd³) |
| A round water tank | 1.2 m across, 1.5 m tall | 1.70 m³ (1,696 L) |
| A 20 ft shipping container, inside | about 5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | about 33 m³ |
The room’s volume is what ventilation is worked out from (air changes per hour); the trench and the bed are what a concrete plant or a garden center asks for.
From volume to weight
Water weighs about 1,000 kg per m³. Other materials vary much more with moisture and how tightly they are packed, so ask the supplier for the density and type it in kg/m³ (a figure in lb/yd³ times 0.593 gives kg/m³). Loose material settles and compacts when spread, so order a little more than the bare volume.
Measuring a trench in a field? The calculator works offline once the site is saved.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic meters?
Multiply length × width × height, all in meters. A crate 2.5 × 1.2 × 0.8 m holds 2.4 m³. If a side is in centimeters, divide it by 100 first, or let the calculator convert.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic meter?
35.315. One cubic foot is exactly 28.316846592 liters, and a cubic meter is 1,000 liters.
How many cubic yards are in a cubic meter?
1.308. A cubic yard is 27 ft³, exactly 0.764554857984 m³; concrete, mulch and gravel are often sold by the cubic yard in the US.
How do I find the volume of a round tank?
π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height. A tank 1.2 m across and 1.5 m tall holds 1.70 m³, or 1,696 liters.
How much does a cubic meter of water weigh?
About 1,000 kg, a metric ton (998 kg at 20 °C). For sand, gravel, soil or wood, use the density from the supplier: it changes a lot with moisture and compaction.
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