Specific Volume Converter

Specific volume (v) is the volume one unit of mass takes up: the inverse of the density, v = 1 / ρ. Its SI unit is the cubic meter per kilogram (m³/kg). It is used in thermodynamics, in steam and refrigerant tables, and for gases, whose volume changes a lot with pressure and temperature.

Water is about 0.001 m³/kg (1 L/kg), air at sea level about 0.83 m³/kg, and dry saturated steam at atmospheric pressure about 1.67 m³/kg.

How to convert specific volume units

Type a value into any field, and every other unit is calculated at once. For example, steam at 1.67 m³/kg:

1. In ft³/lb: multiply by 16.0185.

   1.67 * 16.0185 = 26.75 ft³/lb

2. In L/kg: multiply by 1,000.

   1.67 * 1,000 = 1,670 L/kg

To turn a specific volume into a density, divide 1 by it: 1.67 m³/kg is 1 / 1.67 = 0.6 kg/m³.

Common conversions

Specific volume units

• Meter³ / kilogram (m³/kg): Cubic meters per kilogram is the standard unit of specific volume. It represents the volume occupied by one kilogram of a substance in cubic meters.
  Conversion Factor: 1 m³/kg = 1,000 cm³/g = 1,000 l/kg = 1 l/g = 16.02 ft³/lb = 119.83 gal/lb (US) = 99.78 gal/lb (UK)

• Centimeter³ / gram (cm³/g): Cubic centimeters per gram represents the volume occupied by one gram of a substance in cubic centimeters.
  Conversion Factor: 1 cm³/g = 0.001 m³/kg = 1 l/kg = 0.001 l/g = 0.016 ft³/lb = 0.1198 gal/lb (US) = 0.0998 gal/lb (UK)

• Liter / kilogram (l/kg): Liter per kilogram represents the volume occupied by one kilogram of a substance in liters. It is equivalent to 1 cm³/g.
  Conversion Factor: 1 l/kg = 0.001 m³/kg = 1 cm³/g = 0.001 l/g = 0.016 ft³/lb = 0.1198 gal/lb (US) = 0.0998 gal/lb (UK)

• Liter / gram (l/g): Liter per gram represents the volume occupied by one gram of a substance in liters. It is equivalent to 1 m³/kg.
  Conversion Factor: 1 l/g = 1 m³/kg = 1,000 cm³/g = 1,000 l/kg = 1 l/g = 16.02 ft³/lb = 119.83 gal/lb (US) = 99.78 gal/lb (UK)

• Foot³ / kilogram (ft³/kg): Cubic feet per kilogram represents the volume occupied by one kilogram of a substance in cubic feet.
  Conversion Factor: 1 ft³/kg = 0.0283 m³/kg = 28.3 cm³/g = 0.4536 ft³/lb = 3.3931 gal/lb (US) = 2.8254 gal/lb (UK)

• Foot³ / pound (ft³/lb): Cubic feet per pound represents the volume occupied by one pound of a substance in cubic feet.
  Conversion Factor: 1 ft³/lb = 7.4805 gal/lb (US) = 6.2288 gal/lb (UK) = 0.0624 m³/kg = 62.4 cm³/g

• Gallon / pound (US) (gal/lb): U.S. gallons per pound represents the volume occupied by one pound of a substance in U.S. gallons.
  Conversion Factor: 1 gal/lb (US) = 0.8327 gal/lb (UK) = 0.1337 ft³/lb = 0.00835 m³/kg = 8.35 cm³/g

• Gallon / pound (UK) (gal/lb): U.K. gallons per pound represents the volume occupied by one pound of a substance in Imperial gallons.
  Conversion Factor: 1 gal/lb (UK) = 1.2 gal/lb (US) = 0.16 ft³/lb = 0.01 m³/kg = 10 cm³/g