Cubic Foot per Minute to Liter per Second (CFM to LPS)
Convert CFM to LPS — Flow Rate converter
One cubic foot per minute equals 0.47194744 LPS, so to convert cubic feet per minute to liters per second you multiply the value by 0.47194744. A cubic foot per minute is smaller than a liter per second — going the other way, 1 LPS = 2.11888 CFM. For example, 10 CFM = 4.719474 LPS and 50 CFM = 23.597372 LPS.
1 CFM = 0.47194744 LPS
Cubic Foot per Minute to Liter per Second formula
1 Cubic Foot per Minute = 0.47194744 LPS
Worked examples
- 25 CFM = 11.798686 LPS
- 100 CFM = 47.194744 LPS
Cubic Foot per Minute to Liter per Second conversion table
| Cubic Foot per Minute (CFM) | Liter per Second (LPS) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.47194744 |
| 2 | 0.94389489 |
| 3 | 1.415842 |
| 5 | 2.359737 |
| 8 | 3.77558 |
| 10 | 4.719474 |
| 12 | 5.663369 |
| 15 | 7.079212 |
| 20 | 9.438949 |
| 25 | 11.798686 |
| 50 | 23.597372 |
| 100 | 47.194744 |
| 250 | 117.986861 |
| 500 | 235.973722 |
| 1000 | 471.947443 |
Which gallon, and which trade
The single most expensive mistake in flow conversion is the gallon. A US liquid gallon is 3.785411784 litres; an imperial gallon is 4.54609 litres. US GPM and imperial GPM differ by about 20%, and pump datasheets frequently do not say which one they mean. Check the manufacturer's country of origin before trusting a GPM figure.
Different trades default to different units for the same physical quantity: HVAC and compressed air work in CFM, plumbing and pumps in GPM or LPM, and process and water engineering in m³/h or L/s. A specification that mixes them is usually quoting different equipment, not different flows. On this page, 1 CFM = 0.47194744 LPS.
CFM to metric is worth memorising: one cubic foot is exactly 0.028316846592 m³, so 1 CFM = 1.699011 m³/h and 1,000 CFM ≈ 1,699 m³/h. Note that CFM on a compressor may be quoted as free air delivery (FAD) at inlet conditions rather than at working pressure — the two are not interchangeable.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters per second are in one cubic foot per minute?
One cubic foot per minute equals 0.47194744 liters per second (LPS).
How many cubic feet per minute are in one liter per second?
One liter per second equals 2.11888 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
How do you convert cubic feet per minute to liters per second?
1 Cubic Foot per Minute = 0.47194744 LPS. Use the calculator above for any value.
What is 5 CFM in LPS?
5 CFM = 2.359737 LPS.
What is 100 CFM in LPS?
100 CFM = 47.194744 LPS.
What is 10 CFM in LPS?
10 CFM = 4.719474 LPS.
What is 20 CFM in LPS?
20 CFM = 9.438949 LPS.
What is 50 CFM in LPS?
50 CFM = 23.597372 LPS.
What is 500 CFM in LPS?
500 CFM = 235.973722 LPS.
Is a cubic foot per minute bigger than a liter per second?
No. A cubic foot per minute is smaller — one cubic foot per minute equals 0.47194744 liters per second, while one liter per second equals 2.11888 cubic feet per minute.