Flow Rate Converter

Value

From

Result

Result166.666667
From unitcubic metre per hour
To unitlitre per minute
Conversion factor16.666667
Inverse factor0.06
In other unitslitre per second: 2.777778 litre per hour: 10000 cubic metre per second: 0.002778 US gallon per minute: 44.028677 cubic foot per minute: 5.885778

Pumps, ventilation and plumbing each count differently

Converts flow between cubic metres an hour, litres a minute and a second, and gallons a minute.

Pump output is normally quoted in cubic metres an hour, tap flow in litres a minute, ventilation again in cubic metres an hour, and imported equipment in gallons a minute. One quantity, four habits.

The anchor worth memorising: one cubic metre an hour is exactly 16.67 litres a minute. From there estimates are easy — a 3 m³/h pump gives about 50 litres a minute, enough for two outlets at once.

What this calculator shows

A conversion between the pair of flow units you pick
The conversion factor in both directions
The same quantity in the other units

What to keep in mind

The gallon is the US one: the imperial gallon is twenty percent larger, and specifications rarely say which they mean.
Flow is volume per unit time; it says nothing about pressure or head, and sizing a pump needs both.

FAQs

How many litres a minute in a cubic metre an hour?

16.67. The other way, 60 litres a minute is 3.6 cubic metres an hour.

What flow does an ordinary tap have?

6 to 10 litres a minute, a shower about 9, a washing machine up to 12 at peak. An aerator nearly halves the tap figure.

How do I convert gallons a minute?

One US gallon a minute is 0.227 cubic metres an hour, or 3.79 litres a minute.

How does flow differ from head?

Flow is how much water passes per unit time; head is how high a pump can lift it. A pump is chosen on both at once.

Worked example

Ten cubic metres an hour

Input: 10 m³/h into litres a minute

Output: 166.67 l/min

Note: An ordinary tap draws 6 to 10 litres a minute and a shower about 9. A ten-cubic-metre pump covers a large house comfortably — provided the pipes can carry the flow.

Useful links

All tools in Converters for units, temperature, weight, and cooking measures

Flow Rate Converter

Result

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