CFM is a US-origin unit used to express airflow rate, especially in ventilation and HVAC systems.
Derived from the imperial foot, it became the standard measurement unit in the North American HVAC and fan industry.
Measurement system: Imperial/US customary system (non-SI). SI equivalent: 1 CFM ≈ 0.000472 m³/s.
Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) facts
- Unit name
- Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM)
- Symbol
- cfm
- Category
- Volumetric Flow Rate
- Measurement system
- Imperial/US customary system (non-SI)
- SI equivalent
- 1 CFM ≈ 0.000472 m³/s
- Common uses
- Fan and ventilation system capacity, HVAC design, air filtration systems
Definition of the cubic feet per minute (cfm)
CFM is a US-origin unit used to express airflow rate, especially in ventilation and HVAC systems.
Measurement system and SI relationship
Imperial/US customary system (non-SI)
SI equivalent: 1 CFM ≈ 0.000472 m³/s
History of the cubic feet per minute (cfm)
Derived from the imperial foot, it became the standard measurement unit in the North American HVAC and fan industry.
Where is the cubic feet per minute (cfm) used?
Fan and ventilation system capacity, HVAC design, air filtration systems