m³

Units & Measurements abbreviation · Metric and SI Unit

m³
Stands forCubic meter
CategoriesUnits & Measurements

m³ stands for Cubic meter, a metric and SI unit abbreviation.

SI unit of volume, a cube 1 m on each side, holding 1,000 liters or about 264 US gallons. Utility bills in many countries measure water and gas in m³, and engineers use it for concrete, earthworks and river flow in m³/s.

Example: Our water bill shows 14 m³ used this month, up from 11 last month.

Usage notes

Also written cu m, m3 or, in freight, CBM. A cubic meter of fresh water has a mass of about one tonne. European gas bills convert the m³ reading into kilowatt-hours using a calorific value. Engineers distinguish "normal" or "standard" cubic meters, measured at fixed temperature and pressure, for gases.

More metric and SI unit abbreviations

  • mm – Millimeter
  • mmol – Millimole
  • mol – Mole
  • mSv – Millisievert
  • Mt – Megaton (TNT equivalent)
  • m² – Square meter
  • N – Newton
  • ng – Nanogram
  • nm – Nanometer
  • P – Peta- (quadrillion)
  • pc – Parsec
  • q – Quecto- (10^-30)

See all 64 metric and SI unit abbreviations →