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⚖️ Density Conversion Calculator 2026

Convert between 80+ density units — kg/m³, g/cm³, lb/ft³, and more

1 kg/m³ = 0.001 g/cm³
Formula: value × 0.001

📊 All Conversions

Common Density Values

Material kg/m³ g/cm³ lb/ft³
Water (4°C) 1,000 1.000 62.43
Water (20°C) 998.2 0.9982 62.32
Ice (0°C) 917 0.917 57.25
Air (sea level, 20°C) 1.204 0.001204 0.0752
Aluminum 2,700 2.70 168.6
Iron/Steel 7,850 7.85 490.1
Gold 19,300 19.30 1,205
Concrete 2,400 2.40 149.8

Understanding Density

📐 What is Density?

Density = Mass ÷ Volume. It measures how much mass is packed into a given space. Higher density means more mass per unit volume. SI unit is kg/m³.

🔬 Common Units

kg/m³ (SI), g/cm³ (CGS, same as g/mL), lb/ft³ (Imperial). Water at 4°C has density of exactly 1 g/cm³ or 1000 kg/m³.

🌊 Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is the ratio of a substance's density to water (4°C). It's dimensionless. SG of 2.5 means 2.5× denser than water.

💡 Applications

Quality control, material identification, buoyancy calculations, concentration measurements, pharmaceutical formulations, food science, petroleum, mining.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert density units?
Use our calculator above: enter a value, select the source unit, and choose the target unit. The formula is: Result = Value × (FromUnit factor ÷ ToUnit factor). All units convert through kg/m³ as the base.
How do I convert kg/m³ to g/cm³?
Divide by 1,000. Formula: g/cm³ = kg/m³ ÷ 1000. Example: 2,500 kg/m³ = 2.5 g/cm³. This is because 1 g/cm³ = 1,000 kg/m³.
How do I convert g/cm³ to kg/m³?
Multiply by 1,000. Formula: kg/m³ = g/cm³ × 1000. Example: 7.85 g/cm³ = 7,850 kg/m³. Water is 1 g/cm³ = 1,000 kg/m³.
How do I convert lb/ft³ to kg/m³?
Multiply by 16.0185. Formula: kg/m³ = lb/ft³ × 16.0185. Example: 62.4 lb/ft³ × 16.0185 = 999.6 kg/m³ (water).
What is the density of water?
Pure water at 4°C: 1,000 kg/m³ (1 g/cm³, 62.43 lb/ft³). At 20°C: 998.2 kg/m³. At 0°C (ice): 917 kg/m³. Maximum density occurs at 4°C.
What is the difference between density and specific gravity?
Density has units (kg/m³, g/cm³). Specific gravity is dimensionless — it's the ratio of density to water at 4°C. If SG = 2.7, density = 2.7 × 1000 = 2,700 kg/m³.
Is g/cm³ the same as g/mL?
Yes! 1 cm³ = 1 mL exactly. So g/cm³ = g/mL. Both equal 1,000 kg/m³. These are the most common density units in chemistry and laboratory work.
What is the formula for density?
Density (ρ) = Mass (m) ÷ Volume (V). Rearranged: Mass = Density × Volume. Volume = Mass ÷ Density. Units must be consistent.
How do I find mass from density?
Mass = Density × Volume. Example: Steel (7,850 kg/m³) with volume 0.5 m³ has mass = 7,850 × 0.5 = 3,925 kg.
How do I find volume from density?
Volume = Mass ÷ Density. Example: 500 g of water (density 1 g/cm³) has volume = 500 ÷ 1 = 500 cm³ = 500 mL.
What is bulk density?
Bulk density includes air spaces in granular/powder materials. It's lower than true density. Example: Sand true density ~2,650 kg/m³, bulk density ~1,500 kg/m³ due to air gaps.
Why does ice float on water?
Ice has lower density (917 kg/m³) than liquid water (1,000 kg/m³). Water expands ~9% when freezing due to hydrogen bonding, making ice less dense and able to float.
What are grains per gallon used for?
Grains per gallon (gpg) is used in water treatment to measure hardness and dissolved solids. 1 gpg = 17.1 mg/L. It's also used in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
How accurate is this density converter?
Calculations use precise conversion factors with up to 10 significant figures internally. Results are displayed with appropriate precision. For critical applications, verify with official standards.
What is API gravity?
API gravity is used for petroleum. Higher API = lighter oil. Formula: API = (141.5 ÷ SG at 60°F) - 131.5. Water = 10° API. Light crude >31° API.
What density units do scientists use?
SI: kg/m³ (official). CGS: g/cm³ (chemistry, materials). Others: g/L, kg/L, mg/mL. Imperial/US: lb/ft³, lb/gal. Choose based on application and regional standards.
How do I convert density for gases?
Same units apply, but gas density is much lower (~1 kg/m³ for air). Temperature and pressure significantly affect gas density. Standard conditions: 0°C, 1 atm or 25°C, 1 atm depending on standard.