How to Convert Inches to Cubic Feet
The cubic foot is a non-metric unit for measuring volume. The definition of a cubic foot is the volume of a cube with sides that measure 1 linear foot. As you make the mathematical conversion, remember that 1 cubic foot equals 1,728 cubic inches.
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Instructions
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The Formula
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1
Multiply the length times the width times the height (sometimes referred to as depth) of any three-dimensional figure. Picture a cube in your mind. This cube measures 1 linear foot in length, 1 linear foot in width and 1 linear foot in height.
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2
Convert the feet to linear inches. A single linear foot converts to 12 linear inches. The cube in your mind's picture measures 12 inches wide, 12 inches long and 12 inches deep.
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3
Calculate the volume of your cube in cubic inches by multiplying the length x the width x the depth. Therefore, 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches equals 1,728 cubic inches (or 1,728 inches cubed).
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4
Express your equation: 12³ = 1,728, or 12 x 12 x 12 = 1,728.
Test-drive the Formula
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5
Give your cube some dimensions so that you can try this out. Use this example: the three sides of the cube measure 100 linear inches, 30 linear inches and 40 linear inches. To get the figure for total linear inches, multiply 100 x 30 x 40. Your total comes to 120,000 total linear inches.
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6
Divide the total inches (120,000) by the number of cubic inches in a cubic foot (1,728). This is expressed like this: 120,000 / 1,728 = 69.444444 cubic inches.
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7
Round that final number down to two decimal places if you want, so your final calculation for the number of cubic inches in your cube is 69.44.
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8
Divide 69.44 by 12 (the number of inches in a foot). Expressed like this, 69.44 / 12 = 5.7866667 cubic feet.
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9
Round that number down to 2 decimal places if you want, so 69.44 cubic inches equal 5.78 cubic feet.
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Tips & Warnings
Double-check your calculations even if you are using a calculator.
Resources
- Photo Credit keypad image by vashistha pathak from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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According to this formula 1728 cubic inches (which is 1 cubic foot) would be.08 cubic feet. It isn't right. Once you multiply your inches together they are considered cubic inches. For example, 100x30x40 equals 120,000 which is considered cubic inches. To go from cubic inches to cubic feet you just divide the total number of cubic inches by 1728 and your done!
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jamesdoe
Mar 04, 2009
Step 4 and 5 in this article make the result incorrect. No need to divide by twelve, once you divide by 1,728 (or multiply by 1 cubic ft / 1,728 cubic inches) the inches are converted to cubic feet. -
jamesdoe
Mar 04, 2009
Step 4 and 5 in this article make the result incorrect. No need to divide by twelve, once you divide by 1,728 (or multiply by 1 cubic ft / 1,728 cubic inches) the inches are converted to cubic feet.
