1. Select Radius or Diameter
Choose radius when you know the distance from the centre of the base to its edge. Choose diameter when you know the full width of the circular base.
Geometry Calculator
Cylinder Volume Formula Calculator
Use the cylinder volume formula to calculate the space inside a cylinder from its radius or diameter and height. Get cubic-unit results, litre conversions and complete calculation steps.
Enter Cylinder Measurements
Choose radius or diameter and enter the cylinder height.
Cylinder volume formula
V = πr²h
Cylinder Volume Result
Your volume, conversions and calculation appear here.
Cylinder Volume
0
cm³
Enter the cylinder measurements and select Calculate.
Radius Used
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Diameter
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Circular Base Area
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Cubic Metres
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Litres
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US Gallons
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Formula substitution
V = πr²h
Calculation Steps
- Select whether you know the radius or diameter.
- Enter the base measurement and cylinder height.
- Select Calculate Cylinder Volume.
How to Use the Cylinder Volume Formula Calculator
Calculate cylinder capacity using radius or diameter in three simple steps.
2. Enter the Measurements
Enter the radius or diameter and the perpendicular height. Both measurements must use the same unit.
3. Review the Volume
View the volume in cubic units, cubic metres, litres and US gallons with complete calculation steps.
What Is the Cylinder Volume Formula?
The cylinder volume formula calculates the three-dimensional space inside a cylinder. It works by multiplying the area of the circular base by the cylinder’s perpendicular height.
The circular base area is found using πr². Multiplying that base area by the height gives the cylinder’s total volume.
Radius and Diameter
The radius is the distance from the centre of the circular base to its edge. The diameter is the full distance across the circle through its centre.
Radius is half of diameter. When diameter is entered, this calculator divides it by two before applying the cylinder volume formula.
Why Volume Uses Cubic Units
Volume measures space in three dimensions, so the result is expressed in cubic units such as cm³, m³, in³ or ft³. A result in cm³ can also be converted to millilitres.
Cylinder Volume Formula Example
Suppose a cylinder has a radius of 5 centimetres and a height of 12 centimetres.
V = πr²h
V = π × 5² × 12
V = π × 25 × 12
V = 300π
Volume ≈ 942.478 cm³
This is also approximately 0.942 litres.
Cylinder Volume Unit Conversions
The calculated volume can be converted between common metric and imperial capacity units.
| Volume Unit | Equivalent | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm³ | 1 millilitre | Small containers and laboratory measurements |
| 1,000 cm³ | 1 litre | Liquid capacity and storage containers |
| 1 m³ | 1,000 litres | Large tanks and construction |
| 1 m³ | 35.3147 ft³ | Metric-to-imperial conversion |
| 1 m³ | 264.172 US gallons | Water and liquid storage capacity |
| 1 ft³ | 28.3168 litres | Imperial tank and storage calculations |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about cylinder volume, radius, diameter and capacity conversions.
The cylinder volume formula is V = πr²h, where r is the circular base radius and h is the perpendicular height.
Divide the diameter by two to find the radius. Square the radius, multiply by π and then multiply by the cylinder height.
Cylinder volume is measured in cubic units, such as mm³, cm³, m³, in³, ft³ and yd³.
Multiply cubic metres by 1,000 to convert them to litres. One cubic centimetre is equal to one millilitre.
Only when internal measurements are used. To calculate usable tank capacity, enter the internal radius or diameter and internal height.
Yes. Convert both measurements to the same unit before calculating the cylinder volume.
Yes. Enter the internal radius or diameter and internal height of a cylindrical tank to estimate its maximum capacity.