# Volume Calculator

> Calculate the volume and surface area of a box, cube, cylinder, cone, sphere or pyramid, with the capacity in litres and US gallons.

Category: Algebra, geometry & advanced math · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/volume-calculator

Pick a solid, enter its dimensions in one unit, and see its volume, its surface area and how much liquid it would hold.

Also called: Capacity calculator.

## Inputs
- Shape (options: Box (rectangular prism), Cube, Cylinder, Cone, Sphere, Pyramid (rectangular base); default cylinder)
- Measurements in (options: Millimetres, Centimetres, Metres, Inches, Feet, Yards; default cm)
- Length (default 30)
- Width (default 20)
- Height (default 10)
- Edge length (default 10)
- Radius (default 5)
- Height (default 10)
- Base radius (default 3)
- Height (tip to base, vertically) (default 4)
- Radius (default 5)
- Base length (default 6)
- Base width (default 6)
- Height (apex to base, vertically) (default 4)

## Results
- Volume (your unit, cubed)
- Capacity in litres
- Capacity in US gallons
- Surface area (your unit, squared)

## Formula

```
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
```

Where:
- L, W, H, a: lengths of the edges
- r: radius
- h: perpendicular height

## Worked example
1. Volume = π × 5² × 10 = 250π ≈ 785.40 cm³.
2. 1 litre is 1,000 cm³, so the cylinder holds 785.40 ÷ 1,000 ≈ 0.785 L.
3. Surface = 2πr(r + h) = 2π × 5 × 15 = 150π ≈ 471.24 cm².

**Result:** 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.

## Related calculators
- [Area Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/area-calculator)
- [Concrete Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/concrete-calculator)
- [Triangle Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/triangle-calculator)

Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/volume-calculator