An oil barrel is 42 US gallons.
Oil barrels to Cubic Meters Converter — bbl to m3
Convert Oil barrel (bbl) to Cubic Meter (m3) using the exact conversion factor (1 oil barrel = 0.1589872949 cubic meter). See the formula, worked examples, conversion table, history, and common uses.
Oil barrels to Cubic Meters converter
Converter
Volume Converter
Convert metric, US customary, imperial, cooking, dry, and industrial volume units.
Context values
Some unit families need one extra value for a physically accurate result.
Cubic metric volume unit.
Result = input x 0.1589872949 / 1.
Volume uses the cubic meter as the base unit.
Reserved above the conversion cards and below the converter.
About Converting Oil barrels to Cubic Meters
Oil barrel and Cubic Meter appear side by side at fuel pumps and on beverage labels, since the US measures liquids in gallons while most of the world uses liters. Specifically: An oil barrel is 42 US gallons, and cubic metric volume unit.
Formula
cubic meters = oil barrels × 0.158987294928
This factor comes from each unit's defined relationship to the category's base unit: 1 oil barrel equals 0.158987294928 base units, and 1 cubic meter equals 1 base unit, so dividing one by the other gives the direct oil barrel-to-cubic meter factor of 0.158987294928.
Simple example
1 bbl × 0.1589872949 = 0.1589872949 m3
1 oil barrel = 0.1589872949 cubic meters.
Real-world example
10 bbl × 0.1589872949 = 1.589872949 m3
10 oil barrels = 1.589872949 cubic meters.
Conversion table
| Oil barrel (bbl) | Cubic Meter (m3) |
|---|---|
| 1 bbl | 0.1589872949 m3 |
| 5 bbl | 0.7949364746 m3 |
| 10 bbl | 1.589872949 m3 |
| 25 bbl | 3.974682373 m3 |
| 50 bbl | 7.949364746 m3 |
| 100 bbl | 15.89872949 m3 |
Reverse conversion: Cubic Meter to Oil barrel
0.1589872949 m3 × 6.28981077 = 0.9999999998 bbl
0.1589872949 cubic meters = 0.9999999998 oil barrels.
oil barrels = cubic meters × 6.28981077043
For a page dedicated to this direction, see Cubic Meter to Oil barrel.
Understanding the Oil barrel (bbl)
An oil barrel is 42 US gallons.
Understanding the Cubic Meter
Cubic Meter (m3) measures volume. The cubic meter is the SI derived unit of volume: the volume of a cube with 1-meter sides. It is classified as a SI derived unit.
Where it's used: Standard volume unit worldwide for large-scale measurement (construction, shipping, utilities)
Uses of the Cubic Meter today
- Concrete, excavation, and construction material volume
- Natural gas and water utility billing in many countries
- Shipping container and freight volume measurement
History of the Cubic Meter
Like the square meter, the cubic meter is a coherent SI derived unit that follows automatically from the meter rather than having an independent origin story of its own.
Historical origin. Cubic Meter was not the invention of a single named person; it developed through the process described above.
Cubic Meter — sources
- BIPM SI Brochure — Coherent derived units — Defines the cubic meter as the SI unit of volume.
Reserved between the cards and the FAQ so the page stays balanced.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic meters are in 1 oil barrel?
1 oil barrel equals 0.1589872949 cubic meters, using the exact defined conversion factor rather than an estimate.
How do I convert oil barrel to cubic meter?
Multiply the oil barrel value by 0.1589872949. The converter above does this instantly to whatever precision you set.
How do I convert cubic meter back to oil barrel?
Use the reverse factor: 1 cubic meter equals 6.28981077 oil barrels. You can also use the swap control in the converter above to flip the direction instantly.
What is a oil barrel?
Oil barrel (bbl) is a unit of volume.
What is a cubic meter?
Cubic Meter (m3) measures volume. The cubic meter is the SI derived unit of volume: the volume of a cube with 1-meter sides. It is classified as a SI derived unit.
Is the oil barrel to cubic meter conversion exact?
Yes. Both oil barrel and cubic meter are defined by fixed standards rather than physical artifacts, so the factor of 0.1589872949 used above is exact to as many digits as you choose to display.