Site maths
Length, area & volume conversions
Explain this equation
This converts common site measurements between millimetres and metres, mm² and m², litres and cubic metres, and inches and millimetres.
A length in millimetres becomes metres. An area in mm² becomes m². A volume in litres becomes m³. A length in inches becomes millimetres.
There are 1000 mm in a metre. A square metre is 1000 × 1000 mm, so area uses 1 000 000, not 1000. A cubic metre holds 1000 litres. An inch is defined as exactly 25.4 mm.
1000 mm is 1 m, 1 000 000 mm² is 1 m², and 1000 litres is 1 m³. A 9 inch brick dimension is 228.6 mm.
Watch out: the commonest mistake is dividing an area by 1000 instead of 1 000 000. Each power of length needs its own factor.
Convert common metric site measurements without mixing dimensional powers.
Enter your values to see the result.
Good to know
Linear, area and volume conversions use different scale factors.
Sources
- Geometry / arithmetic
Estimates are not design approval or British Standards compliance checks. Structural arch, retaining-wall, wind, foundation, lintel and masonry-capacity design are not performed. Use the project engineer’s specification.