Cubic Foot to Cubic Meter Calculator
Enter a volume in cubic feet and instantly see it in cubic meters, liters, US gallons, and cubic yards — built for anyone comparing US customary and metric volume measurements.
Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Meters
Enter a value in either field — the other updates instantly.
0.0283 m³
Why Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Meters?
The cubic foot is a standard volume unit in the US customary system, commonly used for shipping container capacity, air conditioning airflow, concrete and soil quantities, and appliance interior volume (like refrigerators). The cubic meter is the metric standard for volume, used almost everywhere else in the world for the same kinds of measurements. Whenever a volume figure crosses between a US-based spec and an international one, this conversion is what bridges the gap.
One cubic foot equals exactly 0.0283168466 cubic meters, because a foot is internationally defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, and a cubic foot is that length cubed (0.3048³). Since this relationship is derived from a fixed international standard rather than an approximation, the conversion is always exact and never depends on context or region.
The Cubic Foot to Cubic Meter Formula
Converting cubic feet to cubic meters is a single multiplication, since both units are fixed relative to each other by international definition.
Cubic Feet → Cubic Meters
m³ = ft³ × 0.0283168
Multiply the number of cubic feet by 0.0283168 to get the equivalent volume in cubic meters.
Example: 10 ft³ × 0.0283168 = 0.2832 m³
Cubic Meters → Cubic Feet
ft³ = m³ × 35.3147
Multiply the number of cubic meters by 35.3147 (or divide by 0.0283168) to get the equivalent volume in cubic feet.
Example: 2 m³ × 35.3147 = 70.63 ft³
Cubic Foot to Cubic Meter Conversion Table
A ready reference for common volume measurements, from 1 cubic foot up to 1,000 cubic feet.
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Meters | Liters | US Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ft³ | 0.0283 m³ | 28.32 L | 7.48 gal |
| 5 ft³ | 0.1416 m³ | 141.58 L | 37.40 gal |
| 10 ft³ | 0.2832 m³ | 283.17 L | 74.81 gal |
| 27 ft³ | 0.7646 m³ | 764.55 L | 201.97 gal |
| 50 ft³ | 1.4158 m³ | 1,415.84 L | 374.03 gal |
| 100 ft³ | 2.8317 m³ | 2,831.68 L | 748.05 gal |
| 500 ft³ | 14.1584 m³ | 14,158.42 L | 3,740.26 gal |
| 1,000 ft³ | 28.3168 m³ | 28,316.85 L | 7,480.52 gal |
For a value not listed here, the calculator at the top of this page computes the exact figure instantly, including fractional cubic feet like 12.5.
Worked Examples: Step by Step
Example 1: Convert 15 cubic feet (a small chest freezer) to cubic meters
- Formula: m³ = ft³ × 0.0283168
- 15 × 0.0283168 = 0.4248
- Answer: 15 ft³ ≈ 0.4248 m³
Example 2: Convert 2.5 cubic meters (a delivery van's cargo volume) to cubic feet
- Formula: ft³ = m³ × 35.3147
- 2.5 × 35.3147 = 88.29
- Answer: 2.5 m³ ≈ 88.29 ft³
Example 3: Convert 1 cubic yard (a landscaping mulch order) to cubic feet, then to cubic meters
- 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ (since a yard is 3 feet, cubed)
- 27 × 0.0283168 = 0.7646
- Answer: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ ≈ 0.7646 m³
Where This Conversion Comes Up
Shipping and Freight
Shipping container and cargo volume is often quoted in cubic feet by US-based freight companies, while international shipping documents and customs paperwork typically use cubic meters — converting between the two is essential for accurate freight cost estimates.
HVAC and Airflow
Air conditioning and ventilation systems measure airflow in cubic feet per minute (CFM) in the US, while metric HVAC specifications use cubic meters per hour — engineers working across both standards convert regularly.
Concrete, Soil, and Landscaping Materials
US suppliers sell concrete, mulch, and soil by the cubic yard or cubic foot, while metric-standard countries order the same materials by the cubic meter — this conversion helps compare quantities and pricing across suppliers.
Appliance and Refrigerator Capacity
US appliance listings advertise refrigerator and freezer interior volume in cubic feet, while international listings for the same models often use liters or cubic meters, making this conversion useful for comparing product specs.
Construction and Real Estate
Room and building volume calculations (for material estimates or ventilation requirements) may be given in either unit depending on the country, and this conversion helps reconcile plans drafted under different standards.
Common Mistakes When Converting
- Using the linear foot-to-meter ratio instead of the cubic one. 1 foot = 0.3048 m, but 1 cubic foot is NOT 0.3048 m³ — it's 0.3048³ = 0.0283168 m³. Volume conversions require cubing the linear ratio, not using it directly.
- Mixing up multiply and divide. Cubic feet to cubic meters is always a multiplication by a small number (× 0.0283168); cubic meters to cubic feet is always a multiplication by a much larger number (× 35.3147) — mixing the two up produces wildly wrong results.
- Confusing cubic feet with square feet. Cubic feet measure volume (length × width × height); square feet measure area (length × width only) — treating a volume figure as an area, or vice versa, is a common and serious error.
- Forgetting to convert cubic yards to cubic feet first. Since 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (not 3, which is the linear ratio), skipping this step before converting to cubic meters introduces a large error.
Cheat Sheet: Common Round Numbers
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 ft³ | 0.0283168 m³ |
| 1 m³ | 35.3147 ft³ |
| 35.3147 ft³ | 1 m³ (round-trip check) |
| 27 ft³ | 1 yd³ |
| 1 ft³ | 28.3168 L |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic meters is 1 cubic foot?
1 cubic foot equals 0.0283168 cubic meters, or about 28.32 liters.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic meters?
Multiply the number of cubic feet by 0.0283168. For example, 20 ft³ × 0.0283168 = 0.566 m³.
Is the cubic foot to cubic meter conversion exact or approximate?
It's exact. Because a foot is internationally defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, cubing that ratio gives an exact cubic foot-to-cubic meter factor, so there is never any rounding involved beyond the displayed decimal places.
What is 100 cubic feet in cubic meters?
100 cubic feet equals approximately 2.8317 cubic meters.
How do I convert cubic meters back to cubic feet?
Multiply the number of cubic meters by 35.3147. For example, 3 m³ × 35.3147 = 105.94 ft³.
Why isn't the cubic foot to cubic meter ratio just the foot-to-meter ratio?
Volume is a three-dimensional measurement, so converting a volume unit requires cubing the linear conversion factor. Since 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 ft³ = 0.3048³ m³ = 0.0283168 m³, not 0.3048 m³.
Does this calculator work in reverse, from cubic meters to cubic feet?
Yes. Enter a value into the Cubic Meters field and the Cubic Feet field updates automatically — the swap button lets you jump straight to entering cubic meters instead.