A convenient reference density
1 g/mL equals 1000 kg/m³, or 1 kg/L. A 2 L sample at that entered density has a mass of 2 kg. This example is a convenient number, not a temperature-specific water measurement.
Convert mass per volume
Mass density only: kilograms or pounds of mass per volume. These units are different from weight per volume.
Converted amount
1 grams per milliliter (g/mL)
pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³)
2sample mass (kg)
1ratio to your reference density
Specific volume: 0.001 m³/kg. Relative density has no unit.
Equivalent units
| Unit | Amount |
|---|---|
| kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) | 1,000 |
| grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) | 1 |
| grams per milliliter (g/mL) | 1 |
| kilograms per liter (kg/L) | 1 |
| grams per liter (g/L) | 1,000 |
| milligrams per liter (mg/L) | 1,000,000 |
| pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) | 62.4279606 |
| pounds per cubic inch (lb/in³) | 0.036127292 |
| pounds per US gallon | 8.34540445 |
| pounds per Imperial gallon | 10.0224129 |
Displayed values are rounded. CSV uses the available JavaScript numeric precision; it cannot restore precision absent from the input.
Calculations and CSV generation run locally in your browser. No measurement data is uploaded by this tool.
How to use the Density Converter
- 01
Enter a nonnegative mass density and select the source and target units. Pounds mean avoirdupois mass throughout.
- 02
Set a sample volume in liters to calculate its mass. Set a positive reference density in kg/m³ for a relative-density ratio.
- 03
Read the unit conversion and sample results. Copy the selected conversion or export the density table; scenario outputs remain separate.
Examples
A lighter sample
At 800 kg/m³, a 2 L sample has a mass of 1.6 kg. Relative to an explicitly chosen 1000 kg/m³ reference, its relative density is 0.8.
Different gallon definitions
A given density has different numerical lb/gal values for US and Imperial gallons because the volumes differ. Choose the same gallon convention as the source specification before comparing readings.
Mass density and its dimensions
Density here means mass divided by volume. A gram per cubic centimeter, gram per milliliter, and kilogram per liter have the same density scale. Pounds are mass units, so lb/ft³ is not pound-force per cubic foot. The latter is a weight-density quantity and would require a gravitational reference.
Reference density must be stated
Relative density is sample density divided by reference density, with both expressed in the same units. Its value has no unit. The default reference of 1000 kg/m³ is editable and is not presented as the density of water at a particular temperature. A specification for specific gravity may require stated reference temperatures and test conditions.
Using density to find mass
The sample calculation converts liters to cubic meters and multiplies by kg/m³. It assumes the entered density applies uniformly to the sample at the same conditions. Temperature, pressure, composition, porosity, and how a bulk material is packed can affect the relevant density. The converter does not select a material value for you.
What to know
- This is a unit conversion and user-input sample model, not a material-density database.
- Reference and sample densities must refer to compatible conditions for a meaningful relative-density ratio.
- Decimal and scientific notation are supported; commas and unit text are not. Calculations use JavaScript floating-point numbers and displayed results are rounded.
Common questions
Is density the same as specific gravity?
Density carries mass-per-volume units. Specific gravity or relative density is a ratio to a specified reference. Use the reference control only when you know the appropriate reference density and conditions.
Is 1 g/mL always the density of water?
No. Water density depends on conditions. The 1 g/mL example is an illustrative reference; this tool does not contain a temperature-dependent water-property model.
Can density be zero?
Zero is accepted as a mathematical input. Sample mass is then zero, but specific volume, the reciprocal of density, is undefined and is labeled accordingly.
Does mg/L mean parts per million?
Not universally. mg/L is mass per volume, while parts per million may refer to a mass or volume ratio. A conversion needs the mixture density and a defined ppm convention.