Convert Cubic Foot to Barrel (ft³ → bbl)
The cubic foot is the American standard for HVAC capacity, natural gas billing, and refrigerator volume.
Cubic Foot to Barrel Conversion Table
10 common values| Cubic Foot | Barrel |
|---|---|
| 1 ft³ | 0.178108 bbl |
| 2 ft³ | 0.356215 bbl |
| 5 ft³ | 0.890538 bbl |
| 10 ft³ | 1.781076 bbl |
| 20 ft³ | 3.562152 bbl |
| 50 ft³ | 8.90538 bbl |
| 100 ft³ | 17.810761 bbl |
| 200 ft³ | 35.621521 bbl |
| 500 ft³ | 89.053803 bbl |
| 1,000 ft³ | 178.10761 bbl |
How to Convert Cubic Foot to Barrel Manually
Step by StepConverting cubic feet to barrels is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in cubic feetStart with the number of cubic feet (ft³) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 0.178108The conversion factor from ft³ to bbl is 0.178108. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in barrelsThe result is your value in barrels (bbl).
Formula
Multiply the value in cubic feet by 0.178108. For the reverse direction, multiply by 5.614583.
bbl = ft³ × 0.178108ft³ = bbl × 5.614583Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- 1 ft³ = 28.317 L = 0.0283 m³.
- CFM to m³/h: multiply CFM by 1.699.
- 1 m³ ≈ 35.3 ft³.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Confusing ft³ with ft² in US real-estate contexts.
- Using 28 L instead of 28.32 L in precision HVAC calculations.
- Mixing CCF (100 cubic feet) with CFM (cubic feet per minute) on utility bills.
About Cubic Foot and Barrel
What is the Cubic Foot?
The cubic foot equals approximately 28.317 liters (or exactly 1,728 cubic inches) and is the American standard volume unit for HVAC capacity, natural-gas billing, refrigerator interior volume, and bulk material like concrete or mulch. American gas utilities measure delivered gas in 'CCF' (hundred cubic feet) or 'MCF' (thousand cubic feet), even when the customer thinks in terms of monthly bills. Refrigerators are advertised by their interior cubic-foot capacity (typical home unit: 18–25 ft³). Air-conditioning systems are rated in CFM (cubic feet per minute) airflow. Concrete is sometimes priced by the cubic yard (27 ft³), and mulch and topsoil are often sold by cubic foot bags. The cubic foot relates to the cubic yard (27 ft³ = 1 yd³), the cubic inch (1,728 in³ = 1 ft³), the cubic meter (1 ft³ ≈ 0.0283 m³), and the gallon (1 ft³ ≈ 7.481 US gal).
- US air-conditioning and ventilation flow (CFM)
- US natural gas consumption
- Refrigerator and freezer capacity in the US
A typical US fridge is 20 cu ft (566 L). US HVAC flow rated in CFM. US residential gas billed per 100 cu ft (CCF).
What is the Barrel?
The oil barrel equals exactly 42 US gallons (158.987 liters) and is the global benchmark unit for crude oil pricing and trading. The 42-gallon size dates to the 1860s Pennsylvania oil boom, when oil was shipped in repurposed wooden barrels of various sizes; the standard settled at 42 gallons as a practical industry compromise. Today, the oil barrel is virtually synonymous with crude oil — Brent crude and WTI prices are quoted per barrel ($/bbl), OPEC tracks production in barrels per day, and proven reserves are listed in billions of barrels. Despite metrication, the barrel persists in petroleum trading and journalism worldwide. It relates to the US gallon (1 bbl = 42 US gal), the cubic meter (1 bbl ≈ 0.159 m³), and the liter (1 bbl ≈ 159 L). Note that beer and wine barrels have different volumes.
- Crude oil international pricing (Brent, WTI)
- Petroleum product reporting (OPEC, EIA)
- Energy-sector financial reporting
Brent crude and WTI oil are priced in US dollars per barrel. Global oil demand is about 100 million barrels per day.