How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose shape.
- Enter or choose measurements in.
- The volume (your unit, cubed) updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Box L·W·H; Cube a³; Cylinder πr²h; Cone ⅓πr²h; Sphere ⁴⁄₃πr³; Pyramid ⅓·L·W·H; 1 L = 1,000 cm³; 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L
- L, W, H, a
- lengths of the edges
- r
- radius
- h
- perpendicular height
Worked example
- Volume = π × 5² × 10 = 250π ≈ 785.40 cm³.
- 1 litre is 1,000 cm³, so the cylinder holds 785.40 ÷ 1,000 ≈ 0.785 L.
- Surface = 2πr(r + h) = 2π × 5 × 15 = 150π ≈ 471.24 cm².
A cylinder 10 cm across (radius 5 cm) and 10 cm tall holds about 785 cm³, or 0.79 litres.
What the result means
Volume is in your unit cubed (cm³ if you measured in centimetres). For a container, measure the inside dimensions to get the capacity rather than the outside size.
Assumptions and limits
- Solids are ideal shapes: right cylinders and cones, a pyramid with its apex above the centre of the base.
- Wall thickness is not subtracted; use inside measurements for capacity.
Questions
Why is a cone exactly one third of a cylinder?
A cone with the same base and height as a cylinder always holds one third as much; the same is true of a pyramid and the box around it. Calculus proves it, and you can check it by filling one with the other.
How many litres are in a cubic metre?
Exactly 1,000. A cubic foot is about 28.32 litres.