Volumetric flow rate measures the volume of a fluid that passes through a given cross-section per unit of time. In engineering, two of the most common units are Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and Cubic Meters per Hour (m³/h).
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute): Primarily used in the United States and within the HVAC industry, this unit quantifies the volume of air moving through a system, such as a ventilation duct or a compressor intake.
m³/h (Cubic Meters per Hour): The standard SI-derived unit for volumetric flow, widely utilized in international industrial processes, chemical engineering, and fluid dynamics.
To convert between these units, we utilize the relationship where \(1 \text{ ft}^3 \approx 0.0283168 \text{ m}^3\) and \(1 \text{ hour} = 60 \text{ minutes}\). By combining these, we derive the conversion factor: \(1 \text{ CFM} \approx 1.6990107948 \text{ m}^3/\text{h}\).
Cubic foot per minute to Cubic meter per hour Conversion Reference Table
Cubic foot per minute (CFM)
Cubic meter per hour (m³/h)
0.1
0.1699
0.5
0.8495
1.0
1.699
2.0
3.398
5.0
8.4951
10.0
16.9901
20.0
33.9802
50.0
84.9505
100.0
169.9011
500.0
849.5054
1000.0
1699.0108
Conversion Example: 10 CFM to m³/h
To convert a flow rate from CFM to m³/h, multiply the given value by the conversion factor of 1.6990107948.
Rounding to two decimal places, 10 CFM is equivalent to 16.99 m³/h.
The factor 1.6990107948 is derived by converting cubic feet to cubic meters (1 ft³ = 0.0283168466 m³) and minutes to hours (60 minutes per hour). Multiplying 0.0283168466 by 60 yields the precise conversion constant.
While they measure the same physical quantity, they are not interchangeable in technical specifications. Always ensure your equipment documentation matches the unit system required by your local regulatory standards or project specifications.
"On fait la science avec des faits, comme on fait une maison avec des pierres ; mais une accumulation de faits n'est pas plus une science qu'un tas de pierres n'est une maison." "Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." — Henri Poincaré (French Mathematician, Theoretical Physicist & Mining Engineer)