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Quick answer
One cubic metre is the volume of a cube 1 m long, 1 m wide and 1 m high. It equals 1,000 litres or 1,000,000 cm³. Multiply measured area by depth to obtain volume. Converting volume to weight, coverage or wheelbarrow loads needs the matching density, depth or usable capacity.
How it works
Use this Cubic Metre Calculator for South Africa to measure volume from dimensions or area and depth, or convert a known volume into m³. See litres and other volume units, with optional coverage, wheelbarrow loads, material mass and cost from your inputs. Depth, density and usable container capacity are separate quantities and must be confirmed.
Formula
Volume = length × width × depth, or area × depth, after unit conversion. 1 m³ = 1000 L = 1000000 cm³. Optional mass kg = m³ × density kg/m³; coverage m² = m³ ÷ depth m; nominal loads = litres ÷ usable litres per load.
Assumptions and common mistakes
Check units, input values and the method before relying on an estimate. Review the existing tool notes and official sources below.
Formula
Volume = length × width × depth, or area × depth, after unit conversion. 1 m³ = 1000 L = 1000000 cm³. Optional mass kg = m³ × density kg/m³; coverage m² = m³ ÷ depth m; nominal loads = litres ÷ usable litres per load.
| Conversion | Required information |
|---|---|
| m² to m³ | Area × depth in metres |
| m³ to litres | Multiply by 1000 |
| cm³ to m³ | Divide by 1000000 |
| m³ to tonnes | Multiply by density kg/m³, then divide by 1000 |
| m³ to coverage | Divide by layer depth in metres |
How to use the Cubic Metre Calculator
Choose dimensions, known area × depth, or a known volume and its unit. Convert each measurement using the correct linear, squared or cubed unit. Use identical-section count only for repeated matching shapes. This is measured geometry, without waste, compaction, supplier rounding or a concrete specification.
What is a cubic metre and how big is it?
A 1 m × 1 m × 1 m cube contains 1 m³. Other shapes can have the same volume: 2 m × 1 m × 0.5 m also gives 1 m³. Volume describes enclosed space or material quantity, not necessarily a cube’s physical shape. A skip or truck’s advertised capacity is not a permitted mass or a guarantee of usable load.
Litres, cubic centimetres and cubic feet
1 m³ equals 1,000 litres and 1,000,000 cm³. Cubed units do not use the same factor as linear measurements: 1 cm is 0.01 m, so 1 cm³ is 0.000001 m³. A cubic foot is 0.3048³ m³ and a cubic yard is 0.9144³ m³. The tool uses these exact length-based factors internally.
Square metres to cubic metres and back
Area alone does not establish volume. Multiply m² by depth in metres; divide mm by 1,000 to obtain metres. To convert a known volume back to coverage, divide by the specified depth. One m³ spread at an illustrative 100 mm depth covers 10 m², about 107.639 square feet. These dimensions are not a construction thickness recommendation.
How many wheelbarrows make a cubic metre?
Divide 1,000 litres by the actual usable litres per load. A hypothetical 65 litre fill gives about 15.385 loads, so allow 16 trips when counting a partly filled last load. Capacity, fill level, material and spillage matter. A nominal container size does not prove every practical load will contain that volume or be suitable to move.
Cubic metre to tonne conversion
Enter density in kg/m³ for the material in the same moisture, packing and compaction condition as the measured volume. Mass in tonnes = m³ × kg/m³ ÷ 1,000. There is no single conversion for soil, sand, concrete, water and timber. Water is often approximated at 1,000 kg/m³ for rough arithmetic, but its actual density varies with conditions. No density is assumed by the calculator.
Concrete, soil and ordering
Measured concrete volume can be transferred to the concrete or premix tools for a specified mix or finished bag yield. Soil and excavated material can change bulk volume between in-place, loose and compacted conditions. This tool does not add an automatic bulking factor, bag count or tonnage conversion. Confirm the quantity basis with the supplier.
Cost per cubic metre
Optional cost equals measured m³ multiplied by your current quote per m³, plus entered charges once. Use one consistent VAT and quantity basis. This is not a live concrete, soil, water or timber price. Concrete minimum loads, water tariff blocks and fixed charges, delivery and timber grading can require a different or more detailed quotation.
Skip bins, trucks and wood
A 2 m³ or 6 m³ bin describes nominal volume, not permitted waste mass or what can safely be filled above its limits. A truck described as 22 m³ still has its own dimensions, operating restrictions and payload. Timber may be quoted by solid volume or a stacking basis; air gaps change the relationship. Equipment rental and overseas oak pricing are not separate calculator pages.
Area, depth and concrete volume examples
| Illustrative area | Illustrative depth | Measured volume, no allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 20 m² | 75 mm | 1.5 m³ |
| 20 m² | 100 mm | 2 m³ |
| 20 m² | 150 mm | 3 m³ |
| 35 m² | 120 mm | 4.2 m³ |
These are arithmetic examples without allowance. The example depths are not design recommendations.
Last reviewed: 16 October 2026. Reviewed by the 99tools team. Editorial and corrections policy.
Quantity planning only. Confirm product suitability, concrete specification, reinforcement and site requirements for the actual project.
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- Cubic Metres, Litres and Area Conversions
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Frequently asked questions
How many litres are in a cubic metre?
Exactly 1,000 litres equal 1 m³. A litre is a volume unit; “cubic litre” is not the unit needed here.
How big is one cubic metre?
It is the volume of a 1 m × 1 m × 1 m cube. A different shape can have the same volume.
Can I convert square metres to cubic metres directly?
Depth is required. Multiply area in m² by depth in metres to obtain m³.
How many square feet does one cubic metre cover?
It depends on depth. At an illustrative 100 mm, one m³ covers 10 m², about 107.639 ft²; this is not a recommended layer depth.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic metre?
Divide 1,000 litres by the actual usable litres per load. Round up if counting trips with a partly filled final load.
How many tonnes is one cubic metre?
It depends on density and material condition. Tonnes = m³ × density in kg/m³ ÷ 1,000; the calculator does not assume a density.
How many concrete bags or cement bags make one m³?
Complete concrete premix needs its declared finished yield. Cement-only bags need a confirmed concrete recipe. Use the related tools rather than treating bag mass as volume.
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Helpful guides
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Measure a driveway or patio, check paver coverage and calculate waste and full packs with a worked paving example.
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Estimate concrete mix materials by scaling a confirmed batch recipe with a known finished yield. A generic volume ratio is not a verified concrete strength.