# cubic meter

Physical unit
Unit name cubic meter
Unit symbol ${\ displaystyle \ mathrm {m ^ {3}}}$
Physical quantity (s) volume
Formula symbol ${\ displaystyle V}$
dimension ${\ displaystyle {\ mathsf {L ^ {3}}}}$
system International system of units
In SI units ${\ displaystyle \ mathrm {1 \, m ^ {3} = 1 \, m \ cdot 1 \; m \ cdot 1 \; m}}$
In CGS units ${\ displaystyle \ mathrm {1 \, m ^ {3} = 1 \, 000 \, 000 \, cm ^ {3}}}$
Derived from meter

The cubic meter (or 'meter high 3') is the unit of measurement for volume in the International System of Units (SI) , usually the symbol m 3 is used. One cubic meter corresponds to the volume of a cube with an edge length of 1 meter.

1 cubic meter is 1000 cubic decimeters (also 1,000,000 cubic centimeters ) and since the 12th CGPM (1964) also exactly 1,000 liters (or 1 kiloliter ). One cubic meter of water has a mass of almost 1  ton (t) , at a temperature of 277.13 K (3.98 ° C) and the standard air pressure of 101325  Pascal (1013.25 hPa = 101.325 kPa) it is 999.975  kg .

## Different spellings

In addition to the unit symbol m³, the abbreviations cbm or CBM are also used, more rarely cm , as there is a risk of confusion with the unit of length centimeters.

When working on the computer, modern word processors allow you to enter 3 as a superscript number ³. Some typesetting programs or formula editors require input in the form m ^ 3.

## Frequent variations of the unit cubic meter

By putting a corresponding SI prefix between cubic and cubic meters , you can also define other dimensions for volume. The prefix is ​​placed directly in front of the base unit according to the international system of units (SI).

### Cubic millimeter

The cubic millimeter (unit symbol: mm 3 ) is an SI unit for volume (see also: measure). A cubic millimeter or 'millimeter high 3' corresponds to the volume of a cube with 1 millimeter = 0.1 centimeter edge length. 1 cubic millimeter is exactly one millionth of a liter (0.000001 liter), i.e. exactly 1 microliter (µl). Water of this volume weighs about 1 milligram (mg). The following applies: 1000 mm 3 = 1 cm 3 .

### Cubic centimeters (milliliters)

The cubic centimeter (unit symbol: cm 3 ; outdated: ccm) is an SI unit for volume . A cubic centimeter or 'centimeter high 3' corresponds to the volume of a cube with 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters edge length. With the spread of computers, the problem arose that the superscript '3' could not be displayed, which is why the makeshift spellings 'cm3', 'cm ^ 3', 'cm ** 3' or that which were considered out of date were and are still being used 'Ccm' is used. 1 cubic centimeter is one thousandth of a liter (0.001 l or L), i.e. 1 milliliter (ml). This amount of water weighs about 1 gram (g) .

The English abbreviation "cc" stands for cubic centimeter , which is not permitted in the SI.

### Cubic decimeter (liter)

The cubic decimeter (unit symbol: dm 3 ) is a measure of volume. A decimeter or "decimeter high 3" describes the volume of a cube with a decimeter edge length. An equivalent term for the cubic decimeter is ( also : the ) since 1964, approved for use with the SI connected liter .

### Cubic decameter

The cubic decameter (unit symbol: dam 3 ) is a measure of volume. One cubic decameter corresponds to the volume of a cube with an edge length of 10 meters. A cubic decameter is 1000 cubic meters or 1 million liters.

### Cubic hectometer

The cubic hectometer (unit symbol: hm 3 ) is a measure of volume. One cubic hectometer corresponds to the volume of a cube with an edge length of 100 meters. A cubic hectometer is 1 million (10 6 ) cubic meters.

### Cubic kilometers

A cubic kilometer (unit symbol: km 3 ) or 'kilometer to the power of 3' corresponds to the volume of a cube with an edge length of 1 kilometer. A cubic kilometer is one billion (10 9 ) cubic meters equals one trillion (10 12 ) cubic decimeters or liters equals one quadrillion (10 15 ) cubic centimeters or milliliters .