To convert cubic feet per hour to cubic meters per second, multiply by 7.86579072e-06. That factor is the whole relationship: both units measure volumetric flow, so the conversion is a proportion with no offset and no substance-specific constant.
The SI unit of volumetric flow, used for rivers and large ducts. Gas appliance and small-flow rating in the US.
Standard versus actual volume. Gas flow in CFM depends on pressure and temperature, which is why compressor ratings say SCFM and specify the reference conditions. Converting the number is exact; comparing two ratings measured at different conditions is not. Two tables follow: rounded steps for quick lookup, and a set of real reference quantities converted into cubic meters per second, which is usually more useful than the bare number.
The formula
cubic feet per hour- The amount you are converting, in cubic feet per hour
7.86579072e-06- The exact number of cubic meters per second in one cubic foot per hour
cubic meters per second- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in cubic feet per hour.
- It is multiplied by 7.86579072e-06, the exact factor between the two units.
- The answer is shown in cubic meters per second, with the reverse conversion beneath it.
- Check the reference table if you want a figure of comparable size.
Worked examples
A fire hydrant: 7630 CFH in cubic meters per second
Take a fire hydrant, roughly 7630 CFH. The conversion is a single multiplication — 7630 × 7.86579e-06 — giving 0.060016 m³/s. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 0.120032 m³/s.
The Thames at London: 8.26e+06 CFH in cubic meters per second
Take the thames at london, roughly 8.26e+06 CFH. The conversion is a single multiplication — 8.26e+06 × 7.86579e-06 — giving 64.9714 m³/s. Because the relationship is proportional, doubling the input doubles the answer to 129.943 m³/s.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic meters per second are in one cubic foot per hour?
Exactly 7.86579072e-06. Every figure on this page is that one number multiplied by your input, so the only rounding is at the display step.
What is the formula to convert cubic feet per hour to cubic meters per second?
cubic meters per second = cubic feet per hour × 7.86579072e-06. Reversed, cubic feet per hour = cubic meters per second ÷ 7.86579072e-06, which is the same as multiplying by 127,132.800197.
Which is the bigger unit, the cubic foot per hour or the cubic meter per second?
The cubic meter per second. One cubic foot per hour is only 7.86579e-06 of a cubic meter per second, so it takes 127,133 cubic feet per hour to make one cubic meter per second.
What does this quantity actually measure?
Both units measure volumetric flow. That is why a single factor is enough: there is no temperature offset and no material property involved, unlike conversions that cross between different quantities.
What is a cubic foot per hour?
Gas appliance and small-flow rating in the US.
What is a cubic meter per second?
The SI unit of volumetric flow, used for rivers and large ducts.
Why does my answer differ from another converter?
Almost always because the other tool rounded the factor before multiplying. This page keeps full double precision through the calculation and rounds only for display, and it prints the factor it used so you can see where any difference came from.
Is there a quick way to do CFH to m³/s in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 130,000 instead of using the exact factor 0.000008. At 100 that shortcut gives 0.00076923077 cubic meters per second, off by 0.000017 cubic meters per second or about 2.21%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Cubic Feet Per Hour to cubic meters per second reference tables
| Cubic Feet Per Hour | Cubic Meters Per Second |
|---|---|
| 0.5 CFH | 3.9329e-06 m³/s |
| 1 CFH | 7.86579e-06 m³/s |
| 2 CFH | 1.57316e-05 m³/s |
| 3 CFH | 2.35974e-05 m³/s |
| 5 CFH | 3.9329e-05 m³/s |
| 10 CFH | 7.86579e-05 m³/s |
| 20 CFH | 0.000157316 m³/s |
| 25 CFH | 0.000196645 m³/s |
| 50 CFH | 0.00039329 m³/s |
| 75 CFH | 0.000589934 m³/s |
| 100 CFH | 0.000786579 m³/s |
| 250 CFH | 0.00196645 m³/s |
| 500 CFH | 0.0039329 m³/s |
| 1000 CFH | 0.00786579 m³/s |
| 5000 CFH | 0.039329 m³/s |
Exact factor: 1 cubic foot per hour = 7.86579072e-06 cubic meters per second.
| Quantity | CFH | m³/s |
|---|---|---|
| A dripping tap | 0.01271 CFH | 1e-07 m³/s |
| A bathroom tap | 12.71 CFH | 0.0001 m³/s |
| A shower head | 20.34 CFH | 0.00016 m³/s |
| A garden hose | 38.14 CFH | 0.0003 m³/s |
| A fire hydrant | 7628 CFH | 0.06 m³/s |
| The Thames at London | 8.264e+06 CFH | 65 m³/s |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.