# Flow Rate Converter

Free flow rate converter. Convert between liters/minute, gallons/minute, cubic meters/hour, cubic feet/minute, and more flow rate units.

## What this calculates

Convert between all common volumetric flow rate units including liters per minute, US gallons per minute (GPM), cubic feet per minute (CFM), and cubic meters per hour. Essential for plumbing, HVAC, and fluid dynamics.

## Inputs

- **Value** — min 0
- **From** — options: Liters/second (L/s), Liters/minute (L/min), Liters/hour (L/h), Cubic meters/hour (m³/h), Cubic meters/second (m³/s), US gallons/minute (GPM), US gallons/hour (GPH), Cubic feet/minute (CFM), Cubic feet/second (CFS)
- **To** — options: Liters/second (L/s), Liters/minute (L/min), Liters/hour (L/h), Cubic meters/hour (m³/h), Cubic meters/second (m³/s), US gallons/minute (GPM), US gallons/hour (GPH), Cubic feet/minute (CFM), Cubic feet/second (CFS)

## Outputs

- **Result** — The converted flow rate value.
- **Conversion** — formatted as text — Step-by-step conversion explanation.

## Details

Flow rate measures the volume of fluid passing a point per unit time. It is critical in plumbing, HVAC, hydraulics, and process engineering.

Key Conversion Factors

- 1 L/min = 0.2642 US GPM

- 1 US GPM = 3.7854 L/min

- 1 CFM = 28.317 L/min

- 1 m³/h = 16.667 L/min

- 1 m³/h = 4.403 US GPM

- 1 CFS = 448.8 US GPM

Common Flow Rates

- Kitchen faucet: 8-9 L/min (2.0-2.2 GPM)

- Shower head: 7.6-9.5 L/min (2.0-2.5 GPM)

- Garden hose: 23-38 L/min (6-10 GPM)

- Fire hydrant: 950-5,700 L/min (250-1,500 GPM)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How do I convert GPM to liters per minute?**

A: Multiply the GPM value by 3.7854. For example, 5 GPM = 5 × 3.7854 = 18.93 L/min. This uses the US gallon (3.785411784 liters). For imperial gallons, multiply by 4.546.

**Q: What is CFM and where is it used?**

A: CFM (cubic feet per minute) measures airflow volume. It is widely used in HVAC systems, ventilation design, air compressors, and dust collection. A typical bathroom exhaust fan is rated at 50-110 CFM, while a central HVAC system might move 1,200-2,000 CFM.

**Q: What is a good water flow rate for a shower?**

A: US federal standards limit shower heads to 2.5 GPM (9.5 L/min), while WaterSense-certified models use 2.0 GPM (7.6 L/min) or less. Older shower heads may flow at 5+ GPM. Low-flow models save water while maintaining adequate pressure.

**Q: How do I convert between volumetric and mass flow rate?**

A: Multiply volumetric flow rate by the fluid density. For water at room temperature: mass flow (kg/s) = volumetric flow (L/s) × 0.998 kg/L. For other fluids, use their specific density. This converter handles volumetric flow rates only.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/conversion/flow-rate-converter
Category: Conversion
Last updated: 2026-04-21