Density Converter
Convert between different density units including metric, imperial, and specialized measurements
kg/m³ ↔ g/cm³
1000 kg/m³ = 1.000 g/cm³
7850 kg/m³ = 7.85 g/cm³ (Steel)
lb/ft³ ↔ kg/m³
62.43 lb/ft³ = 1000 kg/m³
490 lb/ft³ = 7850 kg/m³ (Steel)
g/mL ↔ lb/gal
1.000 g/mL = 8.345 lb/gal (US)
0.680 g/mL = 5.67 lb/gal (Gasoline)
lb/gal ↔ kg/m³
8.345 lb/gal = 1000 kg/m³
10.0 lb/gal = 1198 kg/m³
slug/ft³ ↔ kg/m³
1.94 slug/ft³ = 1000 kg/m³
15.2 slug/ft³ = 7850 kg/m³ (Steel)
Common Materials
Water: 1.00 g/cm³
Aluminum: 2.70 g/cm³
Understanding Density Measurement Systems
Density measures mass per unit volume and is fundamental to materials science, engineering, and scientific applications. Different unit systems serve specific industries: SI units (kg/m³) for engineering, g/cm³ for materials science, and Imperial units (lb/ft³) for construction and manufacturing.
The Fundamental Concept
Density = Mass ÷ Volume
This relationship is constant for pure substances at specific temperature and pressure conditions, making density a crucial identification and quality control parameter.
Core Conversion Formulas
Reference Density Standards
Unit System Applications
kg/m³
International engineering standard, building codes
g/cm³
Laboratory analysis, materials characterization
g/mL
Chemical solutions, pharmaceutical applications
lb/ft³
Construction materials, HVAC calculations
lb/gal
Liquid chemicals, fuel specifications
Materials Science & Engineering
- • Material selection and specification
- • Structural load calculations and safety factors
- • Composite material design and optimization
- • Quality control and material identification
- • Thermal and mechanical property correlations
Construction & Architecture
- • Building material specifications and codes
- • Structural load analysis and foundation design
- • Concrete mix design and quality control
- • Insulation material selection and thermal calculations
- • Seismic load calculations and building safety
Chemical & Process Engineering
- • Process design and equipment sizing
- • Separation process optimization
- • Quality control and product specifications
- • Safety calculations and hazard analysis
- • Environmental compliance and waste management
Laboratory & Analytical Chemistry
- • Solution preparation and concentration calculations
- • Sample preparation and analytical procedures
- • Quality assurance and method validation
- • Pharmaceutical formulation and drug development
- • Environmental testing and compliance monitoring
Manufacturing & Quality Control
- • Product specification and acceptance criteria
- • Process optimization and efficiency improvement
- • Raw material inspection and verification
- • Final product testing and certification
- • Yield calculations and cost optimization
Gases (at STP)
Liquids (at room temperature)
Common Building Materials
Advanced Materials
Material Weight Estimation
Weight = Volume × Density
Essential for shipping, structural loads, and material handling calculations.
Buoyancy and Flotation
Archimedes' principle applications in ship design, submarine operations, and fluid separation processes.
Concentration Calculations
Solution density relationships for chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and quality control applications.
Alloy and Mixture Density
Rule of mixtures for composite material design and quality verification in manufacturing processes.
Hazardous Material Classification
Density affects transportation regulations, storage requirements, and safety procedures for chemicals and waste materials.
Spill and Containment Design
Density differences determine separation strategies and containment system design for environmental protection.
Fire Safety Calculations
Material density affects fire load calculations, structural fire resistance, and evacuation planning in building design.
Why does density vary with temperature?
Thermal expansion changes material volume while mass remains constant, directly affecting density. Most materials become less dense when heated due to volume expansion.
What's the difference between density and specific gravity?
Specific gravity is the ratio of material density to water density (dimensionless). Density has units (kg/m³, g/cm³), while specific gravity is a pure number.
How accurate do density measurements need to be?
Accuracy requirements vary by application: laboratory analysis needs ±0.1%, engineering calculations accept ±1-2%, and industrial processes may allow ±5% depending on requirements.
Can density be used to identify materials?
Yes, density is a fundamental physical property useful for material identification, but it should be combined with other properties for definitive identification.
How does pressure affect density?
Gases show significant density changes with pressure (directly proportional). Liquids and solids show minimal density changes except under extreme pressures.