What this calculator does
Change cubic feet into cubic meters, or back again, with the exact factor. These units measure larger volumes, like the space in a moving truck, a shipping container or a storage unit. They also cover the capacity of a refrigerator or the gas recorded by a meter. US suppliers usually quote cubic feet, while freight forwarders and most of the world quote cubic meters (often written CBM).
A cubic foot is a cube 0.3048 m on each side, so its volume is 0.3048³ = 0.028316846592 m³, an exact figure. A cubic meter is a much bigger unit: about 35.3 cubic feet. This page converts both ways using the exact cube of the foot.
Where it's used
Why this math matters outside the classroom:
- Moving trucks. A moving van with 1,000 ft³ of cargo space holds about 28.3 m³.
- Refrigerators. A 20 ft³ refrigerator has about 0.57 m³, or 566 liters, of storage.
- Natural gas. Gas meters in some places count hundreds of cubic feet, and 100 ft³ is about 2.83 m³.
- Shipping containers. A 20 ft shipping container's inside volume of about 33 m³ is roughly 1,165 ft³.
- Cubed factors. Students see that 1 m³ is 3.28084³ ≈ 35.3 ft³ because each of the three dimensions is converted.
Grade level and standards: Grades 6–7; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 6.RP.A.3.d. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.
How to use it
- Enter a volume in cubic feet or in cubic meters.
- Choose ft³ to m³, or m³ to ft³.
- Read the answer and steps; the table lists sizes from a few cubic feet up to container loads.
What the inputs mean
- Value to convert
- Cubic feet for ft³ → m³, or cubic meters for m³ → ft³.
- Direction
- Which unit you entered. The table reverses with it.
Formula and method
m³ = ft³ × 0.028316846592 ft³ = m³ ÷ 0.028316846592 ≈ m³ × 35.3146667
In the formulas, ft³ is the volume in cubic feet and m³ is the volume in cubic meters. Volume factors are the length factor cubed. With 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, 1 ft³ = 0.3048 × 0.3048 × 0.3048 m³ = 0.028316846592 m³, still exact.
The reverse factor, 35.3146667… cubic feet per cubic meter, has no finite decimal, so the calculator divides by the exact value instead.
Worked example
A moving company estimates 100 cubic feet of boxes. How many cubic meters is that?
- 1 ft³ is exactly 0.028316846592 m³, so multiply: 100 × 0.028316846592.
- 100 × 0.028316846592 = 2.8316846592 m³.
Result: 100 ft³ is about 2.83 m³.
Understanding the result
Mental shortcut: divide cubic feet by 35 to get cubic meters, or multiply cubic meters by 35 to get cubic feet. The error is under 1%. Do not use the length factor of 3.28 here; volume needs it cubed.
Appliances: a refrigerator advertised at 20 cu ft has about 0.566 m³ of rated space (566 L), and a 30 cu ft model about 0.85 m³.
Gas and water: utilities in the US often bill natural gas in CCF, meaning hundreds of cubic feet. One CCF is 2.83 m³, which helps when comparing with bills in cubic meters.
Water: a cubic foot of water weighs about 28.3 kg (62.4 lb), while a cubic meter weighs about 1,000 kg.
Assumptions and limitations
- The foot is the international foot, exactly 0.3048 m.
- It converts geometric volume only. Freight charged on volumetric (dimensional) weight uses separate divisors set by each carrier.
- The US survey foot, used in some older land records, differs by about 2 parts per million and is not included.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic meter?
About 35.3147 ft³. It is 1 ÷ 0.028316846592, or (1 ÷ 0.3048)³.
Why isn't it 3.28?
3.28 converts lengths. A cubic meter is 3.28 ft long, 3.28 ft wide and 3.28 ft tall, so its volume is 3.28 × 3.28 × 3.28 ≈ 35.3 cubic feet.
What does CBM mean on a shipping quote?
Cubic meters. To check a quote in cubic feet, multiply the CBM figure by 35.31.
How many liters is a cubic foot?
28.316846592 L, since one cubic meter is 1,000 L.
How this calculator is checked
Method: International foot = 0.3048 m (1959); 1 ft³ = 0.3048³ m³ = 0.028316846592 m³ exactly. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.
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