Density tells you how much mass is packed into a given volume, and it shows up everywhere from chemistry and cooking to shipping and construction. The catch is that density can be written in a long list of units, and moving between them by hand is fiddly. Scientific work often uses kilograms per cubic metre, the SI unit, while a laboratory might prefer grams per cubic centimetre, a recipe might use grams per millilitre, and an engineering table might quote pounds per cubic foot or even pounds per cubic inch. This converter takes a density in any of these units and instantly shows the equivalent in all of the others, with a full reference list so you can read off whatever your work needs. Enter a value, choose the unit you are starting from, choose the unit you want, and the result updates immediately. The method is transparent. Every unit is expressed as a number of kilograms per cubic metre, which acts as the base. The calculator multiplies your value by the factor for the from unit to reach kilograms per cubic metre, then divides by the factor for the to unit. Water is the easiest reference to remember: at about 1000 kilograms per cubic metre it is also 1 gram per cubic centimetre, 1 gram per millilitre, 1 kilogram per litre, and roughly 62.4 pounds per cubic foot. Note that grams per millilitre and grams per cubic centimetre are the same, since a millilitre is exactly a cubic centimetre. The tool suits students, scientists, engineers, brewers and anyone who needs a quick, reliable density conversion.
Each unit is defined by how many kilograms per cubic metre it equals. To convert, the calculator multiplies your value by the factor for the unit you are converting from, which gives a value in kilograms per cubic metre, then divides by the factor for the unit you want.
value in kg/m³ = value × factor[from]
result = value in kg/m³ / factor[to]
| Unit | Kilograms per cubic metre per unit |
|---|---|
| Kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³) | 1 |
| Grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm³) | 1000 |
| Grams per millilitre (g/mL) | 1000 |
| Kilograms per litre (kg/L) | 1000 |
| Grams per litre (g/L) | 1 |
| Pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) | 16.018463 |
| Pounds per cubic inch (lb/in³) | 27679.9047 |
This converter is for students, scientists, engineers, brewers and anyone who needs to switch a density value between metric and imperial units, whether for lab work, recipes, shipping or material specifications.
Divide by 1000. Water at 1000 kg/m³ is 1 g/cm³.
Yes. One millilitre is exactly one cubic centimetre, so the two units are identical.
About 1000 kg/m³, which is 1 g/cm³, 1 kg/L, or roughly 62.4 lb/ft³. It varies slightly with temperature.
Divide by 16.018463. Water at 1000 kg/m³ is about 62.43 lb/ft³.
If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.
Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.
All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.
Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.
Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.
Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.
All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.
About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use
Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-06-07 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.
© 2026 Calculate.co.nz. All rights reserved. Building free NZ calculators since 2011.