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Convert liters to cubic meters (L to m3)

To convert liters to cubic meters (L to m3): one liter is 0.001 cubic meters, so 1,000 L is 1 m3.

Swap units: m3 to L

In cubic meters1 m3

Conversion factor Exact by definition: within the metric system every step is a power of ten.
1 liter = 0.001 cubic meters
The other way
1 cubic meter = 1,000 liters
Working
1,000 x 0.001 = 1
1,000 L in every unit
1,000,000 ml 1,000 L 202,884 tsp 67,628 tbsp 33,814 fl oz 4,226.8 cup 2,113.4 pt 1,056.7 qt 264.17 gal 219.97 imp gal 35.315 cu ft 1.308 cu yd 1 m3
liters to cubic meters
Lm3
10.001
20.002
50.005
100.01
250.025
500.05
1000.1

How the Unit Converter works

One liter is exactly 0.001 cubic meters. The liter is defined as one cubic decimeter (a cube 10 cm on a side), and a cubic meter holds a thousand of them.

Worked through: 500 L x 0.001 = 0.5 m3.

Going the other way, one cubic meter is 1,000 liters.

For mental arithmetic: Move the decimal point three places left.

The rain-gauge fact is the one worth carrying away: one millimeter of rain on one square meter is exactly one liter, because a millimeter deep over a square meter is a thousandth of a cubic meter. So a 100 square meter roof in 20 mm of rain sheds 2,000 liters, or 2 cubic meters, which is how a rainwater tank is sized. The standard 1,000-liter IBC tote used for water and liquids is a cubic meter for the same reason, which makes it the most convenient unit of liquid volume there is.

Precision is worth matching to the input. A measurement given as 1 L carries one or two significant figures, and reporting its conversion to six implies a precision the original never had.

Unit Converter FAQ

How many cubic meters are in a liter?

0.001. One liter is exactly 0.001 cubic meters. The liter is defined as one cubic decimeter (a cube 10 cm on a side), and a cubic meter holds a thousand of them.

What is 1,000 L in cubic meters?

1 m3. Multiply by 0.001: 500 L x 0.001 = 0.5 m3.

How do I convert cubic meters back to liters?

Divide by 0.001, or equivalently multiply by 1,000. One cubic meter is 1,000 liters. The two factors are reciprocals, so you only need to remember one of them.

Is there a quick way to do this in my head?

Move the decimal point three places left. It is close enough for everyday use.

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