What is volumetric flow rate?

Volumetric flow rate is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time. It is used to measure the movement of a liquid or gas through a pipe, duct, or other channel. Common units include Gallons per Minute (GPM) and Liters per Second (L/s).

What is GPM (Gallons Per Minute)?

GPM, or Gallons Per Minute, is an imperial unit of volumetric flow rate. It is commonly used in the United States to measure the output of pumps, showerheads, and irrigation systems.

What is CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute)?

CFM, or Cubic Feet Per Minute, is another imperial unit of flow rate, but it is typically used for measuring the flow of gases like air. It is the most common unit for rating the capacity of HVAC systems, fans, and air compressors.

Where is a flow rate converter used?

A flow rate converter is essential in many fields, including plumbing (to size pipes and pumps), HVAC (to determine air exchange rates), mechanical engineering (for fluid dynamics calculations), and agriculture (for designing irrigation systems).

Free Volumetric Flow Rate Converter tool

Instantly convert between imperial and metric flow rate units like GPM, CFM, L/s, and m³/h.

Imperial Metric

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About the Volumetric Flow Rate Converter

Volumetric flow rate is a critical measurement in any field that deals with the movement of fluids, whether liquid or gas. It defines the volume of a substance that passes through a specific point per unit time. The Volumetric Flow Rate Converter from TechnoCodex is a professional-grade tool designed to simplify these essential calculations. It allows engineers, technicians, and students to accurately convert between all major imperial and metric flow rate units, including GPM, CFM, Liters per second, and more.

Our flow rate calculator has been enhanced for a superior user experience. With a new dynamic interface, you can select between Imperial and Metric unit systems. The dropdowns will instantly update to show only the relevant units, eliminating clutter and making your selection process faster and more intuitive. Whether you need a quick GPM to L/min conversion for a plumbing project or a CFM conversion for an air handling system, our tool provides the instant, reliable answers you need.

How to Use the Flow Rate Converter

Our tool is designed for an efficient and straightforward user experience. Get your conversion in four steps:

Select Your Unit System: Choose between “Imperial” (GPM, CFM, etc.) and “Metric” (L/s, m³/h, etc.) using the radio buttons. The dropdowns will update automatically.
Enter Your Value: Type the flow rate you wish to convert into the “Amount” field.
Select Your Units: Choose your starting unit and target unit from the dynamically populated dropdown menus.
Click “Convert”: The accurate converted flow rate will immediately appear in the result box. Use the “Reset” button to clear the fields and return to the default imperial settings.

Understanding the Key Units of Flow Rate

A clear understanding of the different units makes this converter an even more powerful resource:

Gallons per Minute (GPM) / Gallons per Day (GPD): These are imperial units for liquid flow. GPM is the standard in the US for pumps, faucets, and nozzles. GPD is often used in water treatment and for measuring daily consumption.
Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) / Cubic Feet per Second (ft³/s): These imperial units are almost exclusively used for gases, especially air. CFM is the primary unit for rating HVAC systems and fans, while ft³/s may be used in more granular engineering calculations.
Liters per Second (L/s) / Liters per Minute (L/min) / Liters per Hour (L/h): These are the most common metric units for liquid flow, offering different scales for various applications, from small pumps (L/min) to larger systems (L/s).
Cubic Meters per Hour (m³/h) / Cubic Meters per Second (m³/s): These are larger metric units for significant volumes of both liquid and gas, often used in industrial processes, large-scale water management, and high-capacity ventilation systems.

Common Use Cases and Applications

This volumetric flow rate converter is a vital tool for professionals in many fields:

HVAC and Building Management: Technicians use CFM conversion to size ducts, select fans, and ensure proper air changes per hour for healthy indoor air quality.
Plumbing and Irrigation: Plumbers rely on GPM to L/min conversion to select the correct size of pipes, pumps, and valves to ensure adequate water pressure and flow.
Mechanical and Chemical Engineering: Engineers use flow rate calculations daily for fluid dynamics, process control, and designing systems that move liquids or gases.
Agriculture: Farmers and irrigation specialists use flow rate to calculate the amount of water delivered to crops over time.
Pool and Spa Maintenance: Determining the proper GPM or L/min is crucial for sizing pumps and filters to ensure the entire volume of water is circulated correctly.

By providing a reliable and dynamic platform, the TechnoCodex Flow Rate Converter is the essential resource for anyone who needs to work with the measurement of moving fluids.