A cubic metre is a volume
One cubic metre represents a cube one metre long, one metre wide and one metre high.
Litres and cubic metres
1 m³ = 1,000 litres. This is useful for small-volume products and bag yields.
Volume is not weight
A cubic metre of topsoil, gravel and sand will not weigh the same. To estimate tonnes, multiply volume by an appropriate bulk density.
Use supplier data when ordering by weight
Bulk density varies with material type, grading and moisture. Treat any generic density as a planning assumption only.
Use the numbers in a calculator
Accuracy note
Where a figure depends on a product, supplier, installation method or project specification, use the current information for the exact material being purchased. The reference pages explain the maths and estimating logic; they are not a substitute for current technical data.