Cubic Feet Calculator
Calculate cubic feet from dimensions or convert between cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters, liters, and gallons.
Cubic Feet Calculator
Calculator
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Formula: Cubic Feet = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Height (ft)
Additional inputs: US Gallons.
Worked example — 960 cubic feet = 35.56 cubic yards = 27.18 cubic meters
Formula
Cubic Feet = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Height (ft)
Multiply three dimensions in feet to get cubic feet. When dimensions are in other units, convert to feet first (inches / 12, yards x 3, meters x 3.28084). For unit conversions: 1 cu ft = 1,728 cu in = 7.48 gal = 28.317 L.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Room Volume Calculation
Problem:Calculate the cubic footage of a room that is 12 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 8 feet high.
Solution:Volume = Length x Width x Height Volume = 12 ft x 10 ft x 8 ft = 960 cubic feet Conversions: Cubic yards: 960 / 27 = 35.56 cu yd Cubic meters: 960 x 0.0283168 = 27.18 cu m Liters: 960 x 28.3168 = 27,184 liters Gallons: 960 x 7.48052 = 7,181 gallons
Result:960 cubic feet = 35.56 cubic yards = 27.18 cubic meters
Example 2: Shipping Box in Inches
Problem:A shipping box measures 24 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 16 inches high. What is the volume in cubic feet?
Solution:Convert to feet: 24/12 = 2 ft, 18/12 = 1.5 ft, 16/12 = 1.333 ft Volume = 2 x 1.5 x 1.333 = 4.0 cubic feet Or: Volume in cubic inches = 24 x 18 x 16 = 6,912 cu in Convert: 6,912 / 1,728 = 4.0 cubic feet Gallons: 4.0 x 7.48 = 29.9 gallons
Result:4.0 cubic feet = 6,912 cubic inches = 29.9 gallons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cubic foot and how is it measured?
A cubic foot is a unit of volume in the imperial and US customary measurement systems. It represents the volume of a cube with sides that each measure one foot in length, which equals 12 inches on each side. One cubic foot contains exactly 1,728 cubic inches (12 x 12 x 12) and equals approximately 7.48 US gallons or 28.317 liters. Cubic feet are commonly used in the United States for measuring shipping volumes, room sizes, refrigerator capacities, storage unit dimensions, concrete quantities, and HVAC airflow. To calculate cubic feet from dimensions, simply multiply length by width by height when all measurements are in feet.
How do you convert cubic inches to cubic feet?
To convert cubic inches to cubic feet, divide the number of cubic inches by 1,728. This conversion factor comes from cubing the linear relationship between inches and feet. Since there are 12 inches in one foot, and volume is a three-dimensional measurement, you must cube 12 to get the conversion factor: 12 x 12 x 12 = 1,728. For example, 5,000 cubic inches divided by 1,728 equals approximately 2.894 cubic feet. Conversely, to convert cubic feet to cubic inches, multiply by 1,728. This conversion is frequently needed when measuring oddly shaped objects in inches but needing the volume in cubic feet for shipping or storage calculations.
How do you calculate cubic feet for irregularly shaped objects?
For irregularly shaped objects, several methods can approximate cubic footage. The water displacement method involves submerging the object in a container of known dimensions and measuring how much the water level rises, then calculating the volume of displaced water. For objects that roughly approximate standard shapes, break them into simpler geometric components like cylinders, cones, and rectangles, calculate each volume separately, and add them together. For cylindrical objects, use pi times radius squared times height. For triangular cross-sections, use one-half times base times height times length. Professional applications often use 3D scanning or CAD software for precise volume measurements of complex shapes.
What is the difference between cubic feet and board feet?
Cubic feet and board feet are both volume measurements but used in different contexts. A cubic foot measures a three-dimensional space of one foot on each side. A board foot, used specifically in the lumber industry, measures a piece of wood one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick, equaling 144 cubic inches or exactly one-twelfth of a cubic foot. To convert board feet to cubic feet, divide by 12. Lumber is sold in board feet because wood thickness is standardized in nominal sizes like one inch, two inches, and four inches. Knowing both measurements helps when estimating how much lumber fits in a truck or storage space measured in cubic feet.
How many cubic feet are in common containers and spaces?
Understanding common volumes helps with practical estimation. A standard moving box is about 3 to 4.5 cubic feet. A typical refrigerator ranges from 18 to 25 cubic feet. A standard clothes dryer holds about 7 cubic feet. A 5x5x8 storage unit is 200 cubic feet. A standard 20-foot shipping container holds approximately 1,170 cubic feet. A full-size pickup truck bed holds about 50 to 80 cubic feet depending on the model. A typical bathtub holds about 13 cubic feet of water. A room measuring 10x12x8 feet contains 960 cubic feet. These reference points make it easier to visualize and estimate cubic footage for moving, storage, and construction projects.
What is the difference between US gallons and imperial gallons per cubic foot?
One cubic foot holds about 7.48052 US liquid gallons but only about 6.22884 imperial gallons, because the imperial gallon is the larger vessel at roughly 1.201 US gallons. A tank quoted as 50 gallons therefore holds 6.69 cubic feet if the figure is US and 8.03 cubic feet if it is imperial. Since US and UK specifications for tanks, fuel capacity and irrigation equipment both circulate widely online, confirm which gallon a source means before converting.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards for ordering bulk materials?
Divide cubic feet by 27, since a yard is 3 feet and 3 cubed is 27. A trench holding 960 cubic feet is 960 / 27 = 35.56 cubic yards. Concrete, topsoil, mulch and gravel are commonly sold by the cubic yard in the US, while the excavation itself is usually measured in feet, so this division is the last step before placing an order. Suppliers normally sell in fractional-yard increments, so round up rather than down.
How does room volume in cubic feet relate to ventilation airflow?
Ventilation is specified either as cubic feet per minute of airflow or as air changes per hour, and the two are linked by the room volume. CFM equals the room volume in cubic feet multiplied by the target air changes per hour and divided by 60 minutes. A 960 cubic foot room at 6 air changes per hour needs 960 x 6 / 60 = 96 CFM. This is why sizing a bathroom or workshop fan starts with a length by width by height calculation.
How is dimensional weight worked out from a package volume?
Carriers charge on whichever is greater, actual weight or a volumetric weight derived from the box size, so that light bulky freight pays for the space it occupies. The volumetric figure comes from multiplying the three outside dimensions and dividing by a divisor the carrier publishes for that service and unit system. Cubic feet is useful for planning how many boxes fill a truck or container, but the billed figure uses the carrier stated divisor, so check the current tariff.
Why does loose material occupy more cubic feet than its solid volume?
Granular material such as gravel, sand, soil or wood chips contains void space between particles, so its bulk volume exceeds the volume of the solid grains. Excavated soil also swells when it is dug out and shrinks again when compacted, which is why earthworks estimates carry separate swell and compaction factors. A hole of 100 cubic feet does not produce 100 cubic feet of spoil, nor is 100 cubic feet of delivered fill enough to refill it after compaction.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator · Editorial policy
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