Convert flow rate units — m³/s, L/s, L/min, ft³/s, gallon/min and more.
| Unit | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| m³/s | Cubic Meter/Second | 0.000472 |
| m³/min | Cubic Meter/Minute | 0.028319434 |
| m³/h | Cubic Meter/Hour | 1.6978417 |
| L/s | Liter/Second | 0.472 |
| L/min | Liter/Minute | 28.319434 |
| ft³/s | Cubic Foot/Second | 0.016668432 |
| gal/min | Gallon/Minute (US) | 7.4813758 |
| gal/h | Gallon/Hour (US) | 448.88255 |
Formula: L/min = CFM × 28.32
Multiply any CFM value by 28.32 to get L/min.
Reverse: CFM = L/min × 0.03531
Common flow rate values — factor: 1 CFM = 28.32 L/min
| CFM (CFM) | L/min (L/min) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 CFM | 0.2832 L/min | Tiny |
| 0.1 CFM | 2.832 L/min | Small fan |
| 1 CFM | 28.32 L/min | Small room fan |
| 10 CFM | 283.2 L/min | Room ventilation |
| 50 CFM | 1416 L/min | Bathroom exhaust |
| 100 CFM | 2832 L/min | Small HVAC |
| 500 CFM | 1.416e+04 L/min | Commercial HVAC |
| 1000 CFM | 2.832e+04 L/min | Large HVAC |
| 5000 CFM | 1.416e+05 L/min | Data center |
| 1e+04 CFM | 2.832e+05 L/min | Large plant |
| 5e+04 CFM | 1.416e+06 L/min | Arena ventilation |
| 1e+05 CFM | 2.832e+06 L/min | Stadium |
| 5e+05 CFM | 1.416e+07 L/min | Very large |
| 1e+06 CFM | 2.832e+07 L/min | Extreme |
| 1e+07 CFM | 2.832e+08 L/min | Max |
1 CFM = 28.32 L/min.
m³/s × 1000 = L/s × 60 = L/min. Use this chain for quick conversions.
Multiply result by 0.03531 to recover the original CFM value.
Designs pumps, pipes, and water distribution systems with flow rates in m³/s, L/s, and GPM.
Specifies air handling units and ductwork in CFM (ft³/min) and m³/h for North American and European projects.
Monitors and controls treatment processes with flow rates in m³/h, L/s, and MGD.
Designs sprinkler systems with required flows in GPM and L/min per NFPA standards.
Measures river and groundwater flows in m³/s (m) and ft³/s (cfs) for flood modeling and water resource planning.
Configures ventilators and oxygen delivery systems with flow rates specified in L/min.
Cubic feet per minute (CFM) is the dominant airflow unit in North American HVAC, ventilation, and pneumatic systems. One CFM = 0.000472 m³/s = 28.32 L/min.
HVAC systems in the US are universally specified in CFM: a typical bedroom requires 50–100 CFM of ventilation; a commercial kitchen exhaust hood needs 300–1,500 CFM; a large data center cooling system may require 100,000+ CFM.
Interesting fact: The term CFM is so entrenched in US building practice that even metric-preferring engineers typically specify airflows in CFM for North American projects. Air compressors are rated in CFM at a specified pressure (e.g., '10 CFM @ 90 psi').
Liters per minute (L/min) is the standard flow unit in medicine, laboratory equipment, gas regulators, and small pump specifications. It is the most practical scale for flows measured in minutes.
Medical oxygen is prescribed in L/min (1–15 L/min depending on condition). IV drip rates are controlled in mL/min (0.001–1 L/min). Laboratory peristaltic pumps are rated in L/min. Vehicle fuel consumption during testing is measured in L/min.
Interesting fact: A healthy adult kidney filters about 120 mL/min (0.12 L/min) of blood through the glomerulus — this glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a key indicator of kidney function and decreases with age and disease.
Converting CFM to L/min is essential across hydraulic engineering, HVAC, water treatment, fire protection, and medicine. SI units (m³/s, L/s) are standard in science; European engineering uses m³/h; US systems use GPM and CFM; medical applications use L/min.
Quick reference: 10 CFM = 283.2 L/min. Reverse: 1 L/min = 0.03531 CFM. Factor: 1 CFM = 28.32 L/min.
All conversions use IEEE 754 double-precision arithmetic, accurate to at least 8 significant figures.