Density Conversion Calculator

What is Density?

Density is defined as mass divided by volume, expressed by the simple formula:

Density = Mass / Volume

It measures how much matter is packed into a given space. For instance, water has a density of approximately 1 g/mL or 1000 kg/m³, meaning 1 milliliter of water weighs 1 gram.

The Density Conversion Calculator lets you instantly switch between various density units used in science, engineering, and everyday measurements.

Why Density Conversion Matters

Different countries and industries use different units — metric (SI), imperial, or U.S. customary. Engineers may need to convert from lb/ft³ to kg/m³ for design specifications, or chemists might convert g/mL to g/L for concentration comparisons.

Performing manual conversions can be error-prone, especially when working with cubic dimensions (since 1 ft³ = 1728 in³). That’s why automated tools make it simple to get accurate density conversions within seconds.

How to Convert Units of Density

Conversions are performed using conversion factors, which act as multipliers.
Use the formula:

S × C = E

Where:

• S = Starting value
• C = Conversion factor
• E = End result

Example 1:
Convert 50 lb/ft³ to kg/m³

→ 50 × 16.018463 = 800.92315 kg/m³

Example 2:
Convert 800.92315 kg/m³ back to lb/ft³

→ 800.92315 ÷ 16.018463 = 50 lb/ft³

You can also convert directly between any two non-metric units. For example, to convert lb/ft³ to g/mL, multiply by 0.016018463.

Understanding the Step-by-Step Conversion

Let’s say you want to convert lb/ft³ to lb/in³.
We know: 1 ft = 12 in, so 1 ft³ = 1728 in³

Conversion:
1 lb/ft³ = 1 lb ÷ 1728 in³ = 5.787037 × 10⁻⁴ lb/in³

And the reverse:
1 lb/in³ = 1728 lb/ft³

This logical chain ensures dimensional accuracy — one of the most common pitfalls in manual conversions.

Density Conversion

From Unit	Symbol	To (kg/m³)	Multiply by
Gram per cubic centimeter	g/cm³	kg/m³	1000
Kilogram per cubic centimeter	kg/cm³	kg/m³	1,000,000
Gram per cubic meter	g/m³	kg/m³	0.001
Kilogram per cubic meter	kg/m³	kg/m³	1
Gram per milliliter	g/mL	kg/m³	1000
Gram per liter	g/L	kg/m³	1
Kilogram per liter	kg/L	kg/m³	1000
Ounce per cubic inch	oz/in³	kg/m³	1729.994
Ounce per cubic foot	oz/ft³	kg/m³	1.001153
Pound per cubic inch	lb/in³	kg/m³	27679.90471
Pound per cubic foot	lb/ft³	kg/m³	16.018463
Ounce per gallon (Imperial)	oz/gal	kg/m³	6.236023
Ounce per gallon (U.S. fluid)	oz/gal	kg/m³	7.489151
Pound per gallon (Imperial)	lb/gal	kg/m³	99.776372
Pound per gallon (U.S. fluid)	lb/gal	kg/m³	119.826
Slug per cubic foot	slug/ft³	kg/m³	515.3788184
Ton per cubic yard (long)	l ton/yd³	kg/m³	1328.939
Ton per cubic yard (short)	sh ton/yd³	kg/m³	1186.553

This table lets you convert any density unit to kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), which is the SI base unit for density.

Practical Uses of Density Conversion

1. Engineering and Construction:
   Density affects material strength and load-bearing capacity. For instance, when calculating the mass of concrete or steel per cubic foot, accurate unit conversion prevents design errors.
2. Chemistry and Fluid Mechanics:
   Converting g/mL to kg/m³ is common in solution preparation and hydrodynamics calculations.
3. Manufacturing and Quality Control:
   Comparing densities of different substances helps determine purity, detect defects, and ensure consistency.
4. Cooking and Food Science:
   Recipes that involve ingredient substitutions often require volume-to-mass conversions — for that, you can also try the Cooking Conversion Calculator.

Related Conversions You Might Find Useful

If you work with density, you’ll often need to calculate or convert other physical properties too. For example:

• To handle temperature-related conversions during fluid property analysis, you can use the Celsius to Fahrenheit Calculator.
• To work with digital or data density in storage contexts, explore the Computer Storage Conversion Calculator.
• For dimensional conversions in engineering or 3D modeling, visit the Area Conversion Calculator.

Each of these tools complements the Density Conversion Calculator, offering a complete unit conversion ecosystem.

Common Density Conversion Formulas

Here are some plain-text formulas for quick reference:

1. lb/ft³ to kg/m³:
Density (kg/m³) = Density (lb/ft³) × 16.018463

2. g/mL to kg/m³:
Density (kg/m³) = Density (g/mL) × 1000

3. kg/m³ to g/cm³:
Density (g/cm³) = Density (kg/m³) ÷ 1000

4. lb/in³ to lb/ft³:
Density (lb/ft³) = Density (lb/in³) × 1728

Tips for Accurate Density Conversion

• Always check the system of measurement (Imperial vs. Metric).
• Ensure that volume dimensions (cubic meters, cubic feet, etc.) are properly converted — small differences compound quickly.
• Use consistent units when applying formulas to avoid mismatched calculations.
• Verify with a calculator to eliminate manual rounding errors.

The Density Conversion Calculator is a practical tool for anyone needing precise conversions across different units of mass and volume. From engineers and chemists to students and data scientists, mastering density conversions enhances both accuracy and efficiency.

Using simple formulas and verified conversion factors, you can convert confidently between kg/m³, lb/ft³, g/mL, and dozens of other units — ensuring your measurements always meet professional standards.

References

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NIST Guide for the use of the International System of Units – Appendix B, subsections B.8 Factors for Units Listed Alphabetically and B.9 Factors for Units Listed by Kind of Quantity or Field of Science.

Lide, David R., Daniel (Editor-in-Chief). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 89th Edition New York, NY: CRC Press, p. 1-28, 2008.

Wikipedia contributors. “Conversion of units” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last visited 26 Jun. 2011.