Cubic Metre Calculator (m³)

Cubic metres from metres and millimetres for any area: rectangles, circles and triangles added together, in m³ and litres with an optional weight.

A cubic metre (cubic meter, m³) is a cube 1 metre on each side, which is 1,000 litres, 35.3 cubic feet or 1.31 cubic yards. Concrete, soil, gravel and mulch are sold by the cubic metre in the UK, Australia and most of the world. Multiply length × width × depth, all in metres; with the depth in millimetres, divide it by 1,000 first. A 4 × 3 m area 100 mm deep is 4 × 3 × 0.1 = 1.2 m³. Enter one area or several, in rectangles, circles or triangles, and this calculator gives the total in cubic metres, litres, cubic yards and cubic feet. Pick a material to see the weight in tonnes.

Units
Area
m
m
mm
%
Cubic metres
1.2

m³

Litres
1,200

L

Cubic yards
1.57

yd³

Cubic feet
42.38

ft³

How it was worked out
  1. Area: 4 m × 3 m = 12 m²; × 100 mm (0.1 m) deep = 1.2 m³

Common use cases

  • Order concrete, soil, sand or mulch by the cubic metre
  • Work out the volume of a skip, trench or hole
  • Convert a bag size in litres to the number of bags for a job
  • Check a supplier's or builder's quantity

How to use

  1. Enter the length and width in metres and the depth in millimetres.
  2. Switch the shape to a circle, a triangle or a known area if needed, and add more areas for complicated spaces.
  3. Read the cubic metres, along with litres, cubic yards and cubic feet.
  4. Choose a material to see the weight in tonnes, and add a price per m³ for a cost.

FAQ

How do I calculate cubic metres?

Multiply length × width × depth, all in metres. Convert millimetres to metres by dividing by 1,000 (100 mm is 0.1 m) and centimetres by dividing by 100.

How many litres are in a cubic metre?

1,000 litres. So a cubic metre fills 20 bags of 50 litres or 40 bags of 25 litres.

How much area does a cubic metre cover?

10 m² at 100 mm deep, 13.3 m² at 75 mm, 20 m² at 50 mm and 40 m² at 25 mm.

How do I convert cubic metres to cubic yards?

Multiply by 1.308. One cubic yard is 0.7646 m³, so divide cubic metres by 0.7646 to get the same answer.

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