One cubic foot per second is exactly 0.02831684659 cubic meters per second, so converting cubic feet per second to cubic meters per second is a single multiplication. Enter any figure and the result appears as you type — the arithmetic runs in your browser, so nothing is sent anywhere.
The cusec — how American river gauges and water rights report flow. The SI unit of volumetric flow, used for rivers and large ducts.
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 second- The amount you are converting, in cubic feet per second
0.028316846592- The exact number of cubic meters per second in one cubic foot per second
cubic meters per second- The converted result
How it works, step by step
- Enter the value in cubic feet per second.
- It is multiplied by 0.028316846592, 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
The Thames at London: 2300 cfs in cubic meters per second
At 2300 cfs (the thames at london), the same quantity in cubic meters per second is 2300 × 0.0283168 = 65.1287 m³/s. One cubic foot per second is 0.0283168 cubic meters per second, so the numbers shrink as expected.
A fire hydrant: 2.12 cfs in cubic meters per second
A fire hydrant comes to about 2.12 cfs. Multiplying by the factor: 2.12 × 0.0283168 = 0.0600317 m³/s. Dividing the answer back by 0.0283168 returns the figure you started with, which is the quickest way to check you have the factor the right way up.
How to read your score
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic meters per second are in one cubic foot per second?
Exactly 0.028316846592. 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 second to cubic meters per second?
cubic meters per second = cubic feet per second × 0.028316846592. Reversed, cubic feet per second = cubic meters per second ÷ 0.028316846592, which is the same as multiplying by 35.3146667215.
Which is the bigger unit, the cubic foot per second or the cubic meter per second?
The cubic meter per second. One cubic foot per second is only 0.0283168 of a cubic meter per second, so it takes 35.3147 cubic feet per second 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 second?
The cusec — how American river gauges and water rights report flow.
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 cfs to m³/s in my head?
Plenty of people do this in their head: divide by 35 instead of using the exact factor 0.02831684659. At 100 that shortcut gives 2.8571429 cubic meters per second, off by 0.02546 cubic meters per second or about 0.90%. Fine for a rough estimate, not fine for anything you are cutting to size or dosing.
Cubic Feet Per Second to cubic meters per second reference tables
| Cubic Feet Per Second | Cubic Meters Per Second |
|---|---|
| 0.5 cfs | 0.0141584 m³/s |
| 1 cfs | 0.0283168 m³/s |
| 2 cfs | 0.0566337 m³/s |
| 3 cfs | 0.0849505 m³/s |
| 5 cfs | 0.141584 m³/s |
| 10 cfs | 0.283168 m³/s |
| 20 cfs | 0.566337 m³/s |
| 25 cfs | 0.707921 m³/s |
| 50 cfs | 1.41584 m³/s |
| 75 cfs | 2.12376 m³/s |
| 100 cfs | 2.83168 m³/s |
| 250 cfs | 7.07921 m³/s |
| 500 cfs | 14.1584 m³/s |
| 1000 cfs | 28.3168 m³/s |
| 5000 cfs | 141.584 m³/s |
Exact factor: 1 cubic foot per second = 0.028316846592 cubic meters per second.
| Quantity | cfs | m³/s |
|---|---|---|
| A dripping tap | 3.531e-06 cfs | 1e-07 m³/s |
| A bathroom tap | 0.003531 cfs | 0.0001 m³/s |
| A shower head | 0.00565 cfs | 0.00016 m³/s |
| A garden hose | 0.01059 cfs | 0.0003 m³/s |
| A fire hydrant | 2.119 cfs | 0.06 m³/s |
| The Thames at London | 2295 cfs | 65 m³/s |
Published reference values, converted with the same factor this page uses.