What is a volume calculator?
A volume calculator tells you how much three-dimensional space an object takes up or how much liquid a container can hold. Pick a shape, enter its dimensions and the calculator gives the answer in cubic units, litres, cubic metres (m³), cubic feet, millilitres and gallons, along with the surface area and the formula it used. Use it as a volume calculator for tanks, boxes, pipes, aquariums, pools and concrete, or to check school geometry answers. It is free and works on mobile.
What is volume?
Volume is the amount of space inside a solid shape, measured in cubic units such as cm³, m³ or ft³. A cube 1 cm long on each side has a volume of 1 cm³, which is exactly 1 millilitre. In science and physics, volume describes how much room a substance occupies; in chemistry it is often measured in millilitres or litres. Capacity is the volume a container can hold, which is why tanks and bottles are labelled in litres.
How to use the volume calculator
- Select the shape: cube, cuboid (rectangular box or tank), cylinder (round tank or pipe), cone, sphere, hemisphere or rectangular pyramid.
- Select the unit you measured in: cm, m, mm, feet, inches or yards. Use the same unit for every dimension. For feet and inches, convert to decimal feet first (5 ft 6 in = 5.5 ft).
- Enter the dimensions. The volume appears in litres at the top, with the conversion into m³, cubic feet, ml and gallons below.
Volume formulas for every shape
| Shape | Volume formula | Surface area |
|---|---|---|
| Cube | V = a³ | 6a² |
| Cuboid / rectangular tank | V = l × w × h | 2(lw + wh + lh) |
| Cylinder | V = π r² h | 2πr(r + h) |
| Cone | V = ⅓ π r² h | πr(r + √(r² + h²)) |
| Sphere | V = 4⁄3 π r³ | 4πr² |
| Hemisphere | V = 2⁄3 π r³ | 3πr² (with base) |
| Rectangular pyramid | V = ⅓ × l × w × h | lw + slant faces |
Here a is the edge, l, w and h are length, width and height, r is the radius and π ≈ 3.14159. A general rule links several of these: the volume of any prism or cylinder is area of base × height. That is why a “volume calculator area × height” approach works for any straight-sided container: find the base area with our area calculator and multiply by the depth.
How to calculate the volume of a cube
Multiply the edge by itself three times. A cube with 10 cm edges has a volume of 10 × 10 × 10 = 1,000 cm³, which is exactly 1 litre. Our exponent calculator is handy for cubes of larger numbers.
How to calculate the volume of a cylinder
Square the radius, multiply by π and then by the height. For a round water tank with a 50 cm radius and 60 cm height: V = 3.14159 × 50² × 60 = 471,239 cm³ = 471.24 litres. If you know the diameter, halve it first.
Volume calculator in litres
Converting cubic units to litres is the most common need. These factors are exact or very close:
| Unit | Litres |
|---|---|
| 1 cm³ (1 ml) | 0.001 L |
| 1,000 cm³ | 1 L |
| 1 m³ | 1,000 L |
| 1 cubic foot (ft³) | 28.317 L |
| 1 cubic inch | 0.01639 L |
| 1 US gallon | 3.785 L |
| 1 imperial gallon | 4.546 L |
So the volume formula in litres is: dimensions in cm multiplied together, divided by 1,000; or dimensions in metres multiplied together, times 1,000; or cubic feet × 28.317.
How to calculate the volume of a water tank
Rectangular tank
Measure the inside length, width and water depth. A rectangular tank 100 cm × 50 cm × 60 cm holds 100 × 50 × 60 = 3,00,000 cm³ = 300 litres. In feet, a 4 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft sump holds 36 ft³ × 28.317 = about 1,019 litres. This is also how you work out the volume of a fish tank or aquarium: length × width × water height in cm, divided by 1,000.
Vertical round tank
Plastic overhead tanks are cylinders. Use the inside radius and the height. A tank with 1.1 m inside diameter (0.55 m radius) and 1.1 m height holds π × 0.55² × 1.1 ≈ 1.045 m³, or about 1,045 litres, which is why it is sold as a 1,000-litre tank.
Pipe
The volume of a pipe is a cylinder: π × (inner radius)² × length. A 100 m pipe with a 2.5 cm inner radius holds π × 0.025² × 100 ≈ 0.196 m³ = 196 litres of water.
Volume, density and mass
Density links mass and volume: volume = mass ÷ density, and mass = volume × density. Water has a density of about 1 kg per litre, so 300 litres of water weighs about 300 kg. Concrete is roughly 2,400 kg/m³, so 0.5 m³ of concrete weighs about 1,200 kg. Use the calculator to get the volume in m³, then multiply by the material’s density to estimate weight in kg.
Volumetric weight for courier shipments
Couriers such as India Post, DHL and domestic aggregators charge by the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. To calculate volumetric weight, multiply the box’s length × width × height in cm and divide by the courier’s divisor, commonly 5,000 (sometimes 4,000 or 6,000). A 40 × 30 × 20 cm box: 24,000 ÷ 5,000 = 4.8 kg. Check the divisor with your courier because it changes from service to service.
Unit tips and common mistakes
- Cube the conversion factor: 1 m = 100 cm, so 1 m³ = 100³ = 10,00,000 cm³.
- 1 ft³ = 1,728 in³ and 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ (useful for dirt, gravel and mulch sold by the cubic yard).
- Use inside measurements for capacity and outside measurements for the space a box occupies.
- For a cone or pyramid use the vertical height, not the slant height; the Pythagorean theorem calculator converts one into the other.
Volume calculator for a rectangle box: area × height
A "rectangle" is flat, so a volume calculator for a rectangle really means a rectangular box (cuboid). The volume calculator rule is area x height (base area × height): find the area of the base (length × width) and multiply by the height or depth. A box 40 × 30 × 25 cm has a base of 1,200 cm² and a volume of 1,200 × 25 = 30,000 cm³ = 30 litres. For a pond or trench, the same area x depth method works.
Volume calculator for rectangular tank: m3 and litres
Choose metres and enter length, width and height. A tank 2 × 1.5 × 1.2 m holds 3.6 m³, which is 3,600 litres, because 1 m³ = 1,000 litres. That is how the volume calculator in m3 (cubic metres) turns into tank capacity.
Volume calculator in cm and inches
For small objects, the volume calculator in cm gives cm³ (1 cm³ = 1 ml). The volume calculator in inches gives cubic inches: a 10 × 8 × 6 in box is 480 in³, about 7.87 litres (1 in³ = 16.387 cm³).
Volume calculator with feet and inches
Convert inches to feet (÷ 12) before multiplying. A 6 ft 6 in × 3 ft × 2 ft 3 in box is 6.5 × 3 × 2.25 = 43.9 cubic feet, about 1.24 m³.
Volume calculator: dirt, soil and gravel in cubic yards
Soil, gravel and concrete are sold by the cubic yard in the US. A volume calculator for dirt in yards: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.765 m³. A bed 20 × 10 ft filled 4 in deep is 20 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.7 ft³ = 2.47 cubic yards. Order about 10% extra for settling. In NZ and India, soil is sold by the cubic metre, so use the volume calculator in m3 there.
Volume calculator in quarts
1 US quart = 0.946 litres, and 1 cubic foot holds about 29.9 US quarts. A 12 × 8 × 6 in container is 576 in³ = 9.44 litres ≈ 9.97 quarts.
Volume calculator for courier parcels
Couriers charge by the larger of actual weight and volumetric weight. A volume calculator for courier parcels uses length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000 for many express services (some use 4,000 or 6,000). A 50 × 40 × 30 cm box is 60,000 ÷ 5,000 = 12 kg volumetric weight.
Volume calculator with density and mass
Mass = density × volume, so volume = mass ÷ density. 5 kg of cooking oil (density about 0.92 kg/l) is about 5.43 litres. A steel block 10 × 10 × 5 cm is 500 cm³; at 7.85 g/cm³ it weighs about 3.9 kg.
Volume calculator: radiology and USG reports
Ultrasound (USG), CT and MRI reports often estimate the volume of an organ or lesion with the ellipsoid formula: volume = length × width × height × 0.523 (0.523 is π ÷ 6). A prostate measuring 4.5 × 3.5 × 4 cm gives 63 × 0.523 ≈ 33 cm³ (ml). This is an estimate; your doctor interprets the result.
Volume calculator for a vessel or cylinder
For a round vessel, drum or pipe, pick Cylinder and enter the inside radius and height: V = πr²h. A drum with 28 cm inside radius and 85 cm height holds π × 28² × 85 ≈ 209,356 cm³ ≈ 209 litres.
Volume calculator and converter
The result shows the volume in several units at once (litres, m³, cubic feet, cubic yards and US and UK gallons), so this volume calculator and converter saves a step. As a price per volume calculator, divide the price by the volume in one unit: ₹180 for 1.5 litres is ₹120 per litre; compare packs this way to find the better deal.
Volume non calculator questions
- A cube has sides of 4 cm. Volume? 4 × 4 × 4 = 64 cm³.
- A cuboid is 5 × 3 × 2 m. Volume? 30 m³.
- A cylinder has r = 2 cm, h = 10 cm. Leave π in the answer: π × 4 × 10 = 40π cm³.
- A cube has volume 125 cm³. Side length? ∛125 = 5 cm.
Volume calculator in JS
A volume calculator in JS for a box is one line: const v = l * w * h;. For a sphere use 4 / 3 * Math.PI * r ** 3. This page runs that kind of JavaScript in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate volume?
Multiply the area of the base by the height for boxes, prisms and cylinders. For a cube use a³, for a cuboid l × w × h, for a cylinder π r² h, for a cone ⅓ π r² h and for a sphere 4⁄3 π r³.
How do I calculate volume in litres?
Multiply length × width × height in centimetres and divide by 1,000. If you measured in metres, multiply the cubic metres by 1,000. One cubic foot is about 28.317 litres.
How do I calculate the volume of a cylinder?
Use V = π × r² × h. A cylinder with a 50 cm radius and 60 cm height has a volume of about 471,239 cm³, or 471.24 litres.
How do I calculate the volume of a water tank?
For a rectangular tank multiply the inside length, width and water depth. For a round tank use π × radius² × height. Convert cm³ to litres by dividing by 1,000.
What is the volume of a cube?
The volume of a cube is the edge length cubed, a³. A cube with 10 cm edges holds 1,000 cm³, which is 1 litre.
How do I calculate volumetric weight?
Multiply the box length, width and height in cm and divide by the courier’s divisor, usually 5,000. A 40 × 30 × 20 cm parcel has a volumetric weight of 4.8 kg.
How do I find volume from density and mass?
Divide the mass by the density. For example, 2 kg of a liquid with a density of 0.8 kg/L has a volume of 2.5 litres.
Is this volume calculator free?
Yes. The volume calculator is free, needs no download, and converts between litres, m³, cubic feet and gallons instantly.
How do I calculate the volume of a box?
Multiply length × width × height in the same unit. 30 × 20 × 10 cm = 6,000 cm³ = 6 litres.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet, because a yard is 3 feet and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
What is the volume calculator formula for each shape?
Cube s³, cuboid l × w × h, cylinder πr²h, cone ⅓πr²h, sphere ⁴⁄₃πr³, hemisphere ⅔πr³ and pyramid ⅓ × base area × height.
How do I use a volume calculator for a cylinder or pipe?
Choose Cylinder and enter the inside radius and length. A volume calculator for pipe capacity with 5 cm radius and 10 m length gives π × 25 × 1,000 ≈ 78,540 cm³, about 78.5 litres.
Can I use a concrete volume calculator in India for a slab?
Yes. Multiply length × width × thickness in metres: a 4 × 3 m slab 0.125 m thick needs 1.5 m³. As a concrete volume calculator for India, add about 5–10% for wastage.
How do I use the volume calculator for an aquarium?
Enter inside length, width and water depth in cm. A 60 × 30 × 35 cm tank holds 63,000 cm³, or 63 litres. The same volume calculator for a tank works for any box shape.
Can the volume calculator give gallons?
Yes. The volume calculator gallons row shows US gallons; 1 US gallon = 3.785 litres.
Can a volume calculator give kg?
A volume calculator in kg needs density: multiply the volume by the density. 1 litre of water is about 1 kg.
Last updated 2026-09-18