m2 to m3 — Square Meters to Cubic Meters Converter

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Convert square meters to cubic meters by multiplying area by thickness, with material density presets (concrete, water, sand, gravel, soil, steel) that also output mass in kg, tons and liters. Supports metric and imperial inputs (m², ft², yd², cm, mm, ft, in) and works both ways — m² to m³ and m³ to m².

Material (optional) — shows mass
Volume
10 m² × 0.1 m = 1 m³
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    Quick reference: 10 m² at common thickness
    Thickness Volume Concrete mass
    5 cm (2")0.50 m³1.20 t
    10 cm (4")1.00 m³2.40 t
    15 cm (6")1.50 m³3.60 t
    20 cm (8")2.00 m³4.80 t
    25 cm (10")2.50 m³6.00 t
    30 cm (12")3.00 m³7.20 t

    Frequently asked questions

    No. Square meters measure area (2D) and cubic meters measure volume (3D). You always need a third dimension — thickness, depth or height — to compute volume. The formula is V = S × h, where S is the area in m² and h is the thickness in meters.
    Multiply the slab area in m² by its thickness in meters. Example: a 24 m² garage floor with a 15 cm slab needs 24 × 0.15 = 3.6 m³ of concrete, which weighs roughly 3.6 × 2.4 = 8.64 tons. Select "Concrete" in the Material dropdown above to see mass automatically.
    1 m³ equals 1,000 liters. Useful for pool, tank, and water-storage calculations. A 32 m² pool with an average depth of 1.5 m holds 32 × 1.5 = 48 m³ = 48,000 liters.
    Switch the thickness unit dropdown to "in" or "ft". For example, a 4 in slab over 400 ft² = 400 × (4/12) = 133.3 ft³ ≈ 3.78 m³ ≈ 4.94 yd³. Select "ft²" in the area dropdown and the calculator handles the conversion for you.
    1 cubic yard ≈ 0.7646 m³, and 1 m³ ≈ 1.308 yd³. In the US, ready-mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard; the calculator shows both units so you know what to order.
    Standard ready-mix concrete weighs about 2,400 kg per cubic meter (2.4 metric tons). Wet mortar is about 2,100 kg/m³, gravel is 1,680 kg/m³, dry sand is 1,600 kg/m³, and water is 1,000 kg/m³. Pick a material in the dropdown to see mass output for your volume.
    Results are approximate. Verify quantities and densities against supplier specifications before ordering materials.

    How It Works

    The formula is V = S × h, where V is the volume in cubic meters, S is the area in square meters, and h is the thickness in meters. Enter the area, pick a thickness unit (mm, cm, m, ft or in) and the result updates instantly. Select a material from the dropdown to see the mass in kilograms, tons and pounds based on typical density. Use the m³ → m² tab when you already know the volume and want to find the area covered at a given thickness.

    Examples

    Concrete slab: 24 m² garage floor at 15 cm thick → 24 × 0.15 = 3.6 m³ of concrete ≈ 8.64 tons.

    Pool volume: 32 m² surface × 1.5 m average depth = 48 m³ = 48,000 liters of water.

    Imperial slab: 400 ft² × 4 in = 133.3 ft³ ≈ 3.78 m³ ≈ 4.94 yd³ of concrete.

    Gravel driveway: 50 m² × 10 cm = 5 m³ of gravel ≈ 8.4 tons.

    Typical thickness by application

    • Concrete path / patio: 4 in (10 cm)
    • Residential slab: 4–6 in (10–15 cm)
    • Garage slab: 5–6 in (12–15 cm)
    • Driveway, light traffic: 4–5 in (10–13 cm)
    • Screed / self-leveller: 3–5 cm
    • Gravel sub-base: 10–20 cm

    FAQ

    Can I convert m² directly to m³?

    No. Square meters measure area and cubic meters measure volume. You always need a third dimension — thickness, depth or height — to calculate volume.

    How many liters is 1 m³?

    1 m³ = 1,000 liters. A 48 m³ pool holds 48,000 liters of water.

    How much does 1 m³ of concrete weigh?

    About 2,400 kg (2.4 metric tons) for standard ready-mix. Pick “Concrete” in the Material dropdown to get mass output for your volume automatically.

    How do I convert m³ to cubic yards?

    1 m³ ≈ 1.308 yd³, and 1 yd³ ≈ 0.7646 m³. The calculator shows both units when an imperial area unit is selected.

    What if my area is in cm² or mm²?

    Select cm² or ft²/yd²/in² from the area unit dropdown — conversion to m² happens automatically before computing volume.

    See also: m³ to m² Converter

    Misha Noyr, M.Eng.

    Misha Noyr, M.Eng.

    Civil Engineer · 15+ yrs · structural design, geotechnics. Full bio ↓