Supported units
- Liter (L)
- Milliliter (mL)
- Cubic meter (m³)
- Cubic centimeter (cm³)
- Cubic foot (ft³)
- Cubic inch (in³)
- US gallon (gal)
Conversion tool
Volume Converter
Select a category, enter a value, and convert between compatible units.
Volume units explained
Volume measures the three-dimensional space occupied by a substance or object. Cubic units and capacity units such as litres are both commonly used.
Common engineering uses
Volume conversion is useful for tanks, fluid quantities, storage capacity, displacement and process calculations.
Formula
V = L × W × H
The volume of a rectangular solid equals length multiplied by width and height. Volume units are cubed, so their conversion factors are the cube of the corresponding length conversion factors.
- V = volume, measured in cubic metres (m³)
- L = length, measured in metres (m)
- W = width, measured in metres (m)
- H = height, measured in metres (m)
Common conversions
| From | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic metre (m³) | 1,000 litres (L) |
| 1 litre (L) | 1,000 millilitres = 0.001 m³ |
| 1 cubic centimetre (cm³) | 1 millilitre (mL) |
| 1 US liquid gallon (US gal) | 3.785411784 litres (L) |
| 1 Imperial gallon (Imp gal) | 4.54609 litres (L) |
| 1 cubic foot (ft³) | approximately 28.31685 litres (L) |
| 1 cubic inch (in³) | 16.387064 millilitres (mL) |
Convert 500 US gallons to litres
- Use the relationship 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L.
- Multiply 500 by 3.785411784.
- 500 × 3.785411784 = 1,892.705892 L.
500 US gal ≈ 1,892.71 L
This example uses the US liquid gallon. An Imperial gallon is larger and would produce a different result.
Engineering applications
- Sizing tanks, reservoirs and storage containers.
- Calculating fluid quantities in piping and process systems.
- Estimating concrete, excavation and bulk-material volumes.
- Comparing fuel, water and chemical capacities specified in different gallon or litre units.
- Calculating displacement and enclosed space in engineering design.
Common mistakes
- Confusing US liquid gallons with Imperial gallons.
- Using a linear length conversion factor instead of cubing it.
- Confusing litres with cubic metres; one cubic metre equals 1,000 litres.
- Mixing internal capacity with external geometric volume.
- Ignoring temperature effects when high-accuracy liquid volume measurements are required.
Frequently asked questions
How many litres are in one cubic metre?
One cubic metre equals exactly 1,000 litres.
Is one cubic centimetre equal to one millilitre?
Yes. One cubic centimetre equals exactly one millilitre.
What is the difference between US and Imperial gallons?
One US liquid gallon is exactly 3.785411784 L. One Imperial gallon is exactly 4.54609 L.
Why is 1 m³ equal to 1,000,000 cm³?
One metre equals 100 centimetres. Cubing that relationship gives 100 × 100 × 100 = 1,000,000.
Does a volume conversion account for fluid expansion?
No. It changes only the unit. Temperature and pressure corrections must be applied separately when relevant.