How Heavy Is a Cubic Meter of Air?
a Cubic Meter of Air weighs about
1.23 kg (2.7 lb)
Computed value (volume × density); the inputs are cited under Sources below.
- a bowling ball7.26 kg
heaviest ball allowed in tenpin bowling (16 lb); USBC sets no minimum weight
- a domestic cat4.5 kg
adult domestic cat (Felis catus); males larger; range 4.1–5.4 kg
- a gallon of water3.78 kg
1 US gallon (3.785 412 L) of pure water at 4 °C
- a cubic meter of air1.23 kg
1 cubic meter (1,000 L) of dry air at 15 °C and 1 atm (101.325 kPa), density 1.225 kg/m³
- You
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Put it in perspective
- About 3.1× a gallon of water
- About 3.7× a domestic cat
- About 5.9× a bowling ball
Why weights differ
Air density falls with temperature and altitude; 1.225 kg/m³ is the standard sea-level value at 15 °C and 1 atm.
Sources
[1] National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for Units Listed AlphabeticallyStandard body
“liter (L) 19 cubic meter (m 3 ) 1.0 E-03”
Value as published: 1 liter = 0.001 m³ (exact) · accessed 2026-11-11.
[2] The Engineering ToolBox
Air Density, Specific Weight, and Thermal Expansion Coefficients at Varying Temperatures and PressuresScientific agency
“density and specific weight of air at 1 atmosphere pressure, at temperatures given as °C: ... 15 1.225 0.0765”
Value as published: 1.225 kg/m³ at 15 °C and 1 atm · accessed 2026-11-11.
How this value was computed
- volume-l: 1000 L — 来源 [1] (source [1])
- density-kg-per-l: 0.001225 kg/L — 来源 [2] (source [2])
Last updated 2026-11-11.Report a correction (please include a source link).
Related objects
- a 2-inch tungsten cube2.53 kg (5.58 lb)
- a 1-inch gold cube317 g (0.698 lb)
- a 1-inch tungsten cube316 g (0.697 lb)
- a 4-inch tungsten cube20.2 kg (44.6 lb)
- a cubic foot of gold547 kg (1,210 lb)
- a cubic meter of concrete2.4 t (2.65 US tons)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cubic meter of air weigh?
a Cubic Meter of Air weighs about 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) — 1 cubic meter (1,000 L) of dry air at 15 °C and 1 atm (101.325 kPa), density 1.225 kg/m³.
How much is a cubic meter of air in pounds and ounces?
2.7 lb, which is 43.2 oz. In metric terms: 1.23 kg.
Is a cubic meter of air heavier than a gallon of water?
No. a Cubic Meter of Air weighs about 1.23 kg (2.7 lb), while a gallon of water is about 3.78 kg (8.34 lb) — roughly 1/3.09.
Why do sources give different weights?
Air density falls with temperature and altitude; 1.225 kg/m³ is the standard sea-level value at 15 °C and 1 atm.
Where does this number come from?
Every source is listed at the bottom of this page with publisher, link, access date and a verbatim quote. Numbers are only published when a qualifying source can be verified.