Volume Flow Unit Conversion

Enter a value in any unit below to instantly convert between various volume flow units.

Cubic feet per second (CFS)

ft³/s

Cubic feet per minute (CFM)

ft³/min

Cubic feet per hour (CFH)

ft³/h

Cubic meter per second (CMS)

m³/s

Cubic meter per minute (CMM)

m³/min

Cubic meter per hour (CMH)

m³/h

Liter per second (LPS)

L/s

Liter per minute (LPM)

L/min

Liter per hour (LPH)

L/h

Gallon per minute (GPM)

gal/min

Gallon per hour (GPH)

gal/h

US gallon per minute (GPM US)

gal/min US

US gallon per hour (GPH US)

gal/h US

Unit Conversion Relations

1 cubic feet per minute = 0.028 cubic meters per minute
1 CFM = 0.028 CMM
1 liter per minute = 0.22 gallons per minute = 0.26 US gallons per minute
1 LPM = 0.22 GPM = 0.26 GPM US

FAQ

What is volume flow rate and why is it important?
Volume flow rate measures how much volume of fluid passes through a given cross-sectional area per unit time. It's crucial in HVAC systems, pump sizing, pipeline design, and fluid distribution systems. Understanding flow rates helps ensure proper system performance and efficiency.
What's the difference between UK gallons and US gallons in flow measurements?
UK (Imperial) gallon = 4.546 liters, while US gallon = 3.785 liters. This means 1 UK GPM = 1.2 US GPM. Always specify which gallon system you're using, as this 20% difference significantly affects flow calculations and equipment sizing.
Why are there different time units in flow rate measurements?
Different applications require different time scales: seconds for laboratory measurements and rapid processes, minutes for HVAC and industrial systems, hours for large-scale processes and utility billing. The choice depends on the application's time scale and measurement convenience.
What are typical flow rates in different applications?
Kitchen faucet: 2-3 GPM (7-11 LPM), garden hose: 5-10 GPM (19-38 LPM), fire hydrant: 1000-1500 GPM (3800-5700 LPM), municipal water main: 1000-10000 GPM. These ranges help understand flow requirements in various systems.
How do I choose the right flow rate units for my application?
Use CFM for air handling systems, GPM for water systems in imperial countries, LPM for metric water systems, CMS/CMM for large industrial processes, and specialized units like gallons per hour for slow processes or chemical dosing systems.
How accurate are volume flow rate conversions?
Conversions use precise conversion factors based on internationally defined standards. For example, 1 m³ = exactly 35.3147 ft³. The calculator maintains precision suitable for engineering design, system sizing, and flow measurement applications in various industries.