Convert cubic meters (CBM) to liters and back. 1 CBM = 1,000 liters, and 1 liter = 0.001 CBM.
Liters
1,000L
Rule: 1 m³ = 1,000 L
One CBM (cubic meter) holds exactly 1,000 liters. To convert CBM to liters, multiply by 1,000; to convert liters to CBM, divide by 1,000.
Formulas: liters = CBM × 1,000 · CBM = liters ÷ 1,000
That works because a liter is defined as one cubic decimeter (10 × 10 × 10 cm), and a cubic meter contains 10 × 10 × 10 = 1,000 cubic decimeters.
| CBM (m³) | Liters |
|---|---|
| 0.001 | 1 |
| 0.01 | 10 |
| 0.2 | 200 (a standard drum holds about 200 to 210 L) |
| 0.5 | 500 |
| 1 | 1,000 (a standard IBC tote) |
| 5 | 5,000 |
| 24 | 24,000 (a common flexitank size) |
| 33.2 | 33,200 (inside a 20 ft container) |
Divide liters by 1,000. A 20,000 liter tank is 20 CBM; a 750 liter tote is 0.75 CBM. Remember that the CBM a forwarder charges is the outside volume of the package or tank, not the liquid inside, so measure the drum, tote or carton itself with the CBM calculator when you book freight.
One CBM is 1,000,000 cubic centimeters (100 × 100 × 100). To convert cm³ to CBM, divide by 1,000,000. A carton of 50 × 40 × 30 cm is 60,000 cm³, which is 0.06 CBM or 60 liters.
| Unit | In one CBM |
|---|---|
| Liters | 1,000 |
| Cubic centimeters (cm³ or ml) | 1,000,000 |
| Cubic feet | 35.3147 |
| US gallons | 264.172 |
| Imperial (UK) gallons | 219.969 |
Liters measure volume, not weight. One liter of water weighs about 1 kg, so 1 CBM of water weighs about 1,000 kg, but oils, chemicals and syrups differ. For the weight of liquid cargo, multiply the liters by the product's density from its data sheet. Need cubic feet instead? Use the CBM to CFT converter.
Exactly 1,000 liters. A cubic meter is 1,000 cubic decimeters, and one liter is one cubic decimeter.
Divide liters by 1,000. For example 2,500 liters is 2.5 CBM.
Divide cubic centimeters by 1,000,000. 60,000 cm³ is 0.06 CBM.
About 1,000 kg, because a liter of water weighs about 1 kg. Other liquids weigh more or less depending on their density.
A standard 20 ft container has about 33.2 CBM of inside volume, which is about 33,200 liters.