Cubic Feet Calculator: Volume Measurement for 3D Spaces
Calculate cubic feet easily by entering length, width, and height in various units. Perfect for moving, shipping, construction, and storage volume calculations.
Cubic Feet Calculator
Calculation Formula
Volume = Length × Width × Height
1.00 feet × 1.00 feet × 1.00 feet = 1.00 cubic feet
Documentation
Cubic feet calculator
A cubic foot is a unit of volume equal to the space inside a cube that measures one foot on every side. The cubic feet calculator finds the volume of a box-shaped space by multiplying its length, width, and height, after converting each measurement to feet.
How to calculate cubic feet
The formula is:
Cubic feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Height (ft)
Each dimension must be in feet before multiplying. If a measurement is in another unit, convert it to feet first.
Converting other units to feet
| Unit | How to convert to feet |
|---|---|
| Inches | Divide by 12 |
| Yards | Multiply by 3 |
| Meters | Multiply by 3.28084 |
| Centimeters | Multiply by 0.0328084 |
The calculator shows the result rounded to two decimal places.
Worked example
A shipping box measures 18 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 6 inches high.
First, convert each side to feet:
- Length: 18 ÷ 12 = 1.5 ft
- Width: 12 ÷ 12 = 1 ft
- Height: 6 ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft
Then multiply: 1.5 × 1 × 0.5 = 0.75.
The box holds 0.75 cubic feet. The large inch numbers can make the volume look bigger than it is, so it helps to convert first and multiply second.
Why cubic feet matter
Moving and storage
A sofa that is 7 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high takes up 52.5 cubic feet (7 × 3 × 2.5 = 52.5). Moving and storage companies use figures like this to choose the right truck or storage unit and to estimate cost, since many charge by volume.
Construction and gardening
A garden bed that is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 1.5 feet deep holds 48 cubic feet of soil (8 × 4 × 1.5 = 48). Builders use the same kind of calculation to order concrete, gravel, or fill.
Shipping
The 18 × 12 × 6 inch box from the example above has a volume of 0.75 cubic feet. Shipping carriers often use a package's cubic feet, alongside its weight, to work out the cost of shipping.
Rooms and air volume
A room that is 12 feet long, 10 feet wide, with an 8-foot ceiling holds 960 cubic feet of air (12 × 10 × 8 = 960). This kind of figure is used to size heating and cooling equipment.
Aquariums
A tank measuring 36 inches long, 18 inches wide, and 24 inches high converts to 3 ft × 1.5 ft × 2 ft, for a volume of 9 cubic feet (3 × 1.5 × 2 = 9). Since 1 cubic foot holds about 7.48 US gallons, the tank holds roughly 67.3 gallons of water (9 × 7.48 ≈ 67.3).
Cubic feet compared with other volume units
| Unit | Relationship to cubic feet |
|---|---|
| Cubic inches | 1 ft³ = 1,728 in³ |
| Cubic yards | 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ |
| Cubic meters | 1 m³ ≈ 35.31 ft³ |
| US gallons | 1 ft³ ≈ 7.48 gallons |
| Liters | 1 ft³ ≈ 28.32 liters |
Frequently asked questions
What is a cubic foot?
A cubic foot is the volume of a cube that measures one foot on every side. It is a standard unit of volume in the US customary system, often written as ft³.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic meters?
Multiply the cubic feet value by 0.0283168. For example, 100 cubic feet equals about 2.83 cubic meters (100 × 0.0283168 = 2.83168).
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, because a yard is 3 feet on each side (3 × 3 × 3 = 27). To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27.
What is the difference between square feet and cubic feet?
Square feet measure area, a flat, two-dimensional space found by multiplying length by width. Cubic feet measure volume, a three-dimensional space found by multiplying length, width, and height.
How do I find the cubic feet of an irregular shape?
Split the shape into simple rectangular sections, find the cubic feet of each section, then add the results together.
How many gallons are in a cubic foot?
About 7.48 US gallons. Multiply a volume in cubic feet by 7.48 to convert it to gallons.