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Volume Calculator

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Volume measures the amount of three-dimensional space an object or substance occupies. Whether you need to fill a tank, pour concrete, or estimate soil for a garden bed, this volume calculator gives you a fast answer.

Pick your shape, enter the dimensions, and the calculator computes the result in the unit you choose. It covers cylinders, cones, spheres, cubes, boxes, rectangular tanks, and triangular prisms.

Volume is always expressed in cubic units (cubic feet, cubic meters, cubic centimeters, liters, and more). If you have ever wondered "is volume squared or cubed?", the answer is cubed, because you are measuring space in three dimensions.

How to Calculate Volume With This Calculator

  1. Select the shape you want to calculate from the dropdown menu.
  2. Enter the required dimensions. Each shape asks for different inputs (radius, height, length, width, etc.).
  3. Choose your preferred volume units (cubic inches, cubic feet, cubic meters, liters, gallons, or others).
  4. Click Calculate. The result appears instantly.

The tool works for any common shapes you encounter in construction, landscaping, cooking, or homework. If you need to calculate the volume of a container, just match it to the closest geometric form and enter the measurements.

What units can I use in the volume calculator? You can switch between metric and imperial units. The calculator handles cubic centimeters, cubic meters, cubic inches, cubic feet, liters, gallons, and more. It converts automatically so you never have to do the math by hand.

Volume Formulas for Every Shape

Every volume calculation starts with dimensions and applying the right formula. Below are the formulas the calculator uses. Knowing them helps you double-check results or calculate volume by hand when needed.

Volume of a Cylinder

A cylinder has a circular base and a uniform height. Think of a soup can or a pipe.

Formula: V = π × r² × h

  • r = radius of the circular base
  • h = height of the cylinder

Multiply the area of the circle (π × r²) by the height of the cylinder to get the volume.

How do I calculate the volume of a cylinder? Measure the radius of the circular base and the height. Square the radius, multiply by π (approximately 3.14159), then multiply by the height. The result is in cubic units matching your input (centimeters in, cubic centimeters out).

Volume of a Cone

A cone has a circular base that tapers to a point. It holds exactly one-third the volume of a cylinder with the same base and height.

Formula: V = (1/3) × π × r² × h

  • r = radius of the circular base
  • h = height from base to tip

Volume of a Sphere and Spherical Cap

Sphere: A sphere is perfectly round in every direction.

V = (4/3) × π × r³

  • r = radius of the sphere

What is the formula for the volume of a sphere? It is (4/3) × π × r³. You only need one measurement: the radius.

Spherical cap: A spherical cap is a portion of a sphere sliced by a flat plane. Imagine slicing the top off a spherical water balloon.

V = (π × h² / 3) × (3r − h)

  • r = radius of the original sphere
  • h = height of the cap (the depth from the flat slice to the top of the dome)

Volume of a Cube

A cube has six equal square faces. Every edge is the same length.

Formula: V = s³

  • s = length of one edge

What is the volume of a cube? Simply cube the side length. A cube with 5 cm edges has a volume of 125 cubic centimeters.

Volume of a Box and Volume of a Rectangle

A box (also called a rectangular prism or cuboid) is the most common shape people need to calculate. Shipping boxes, rooms, and garden beds are all rectangles in three-dimensional space.

Formula: V = length × width × height

This is the classic length times width times height formula. Each dimension is easy to measure with a tape measure.

Need to calculate the volume of a box? Measure the inside length, width, and depth or height. Multiply all three. Done.

The term "volume of a rectangle" usually refers to this same calculation. A rectangle is a flat, two-dimensional shape with no volume on its own. Once you add a third dimension (height or depth), you have a rectangular prism, and the formula above applies.

Volume of a Rectangular Tank

A rectangular tank uses the same formula as a box:

V = length × width × height

The difference is practical. With tanks, you often care about the volume of water or another liquid the space the container can hold. The calculator lets you specify fill height separately from total tank height so you can find partial volumes.

Triangular Prism Formula

A triangular prism has two identical triangular faces and three rectangular sides. Think of a tent shape or a Toblerone box.

Formula: V = (1/2) × b × h_triangle × l

  • b = base of the triangle
  • h_triangle = height of the triangle
  • l = length (depth) of the prism

First calculate the area of the triangular face, then multiply by the prism's length to get the total volume.

Tank Volume Calculator for Liquid

When you need to determine the volume of a liquid in a partially filled tank, the math changes slightly. You are no longer calculating the full geometric volume. Instead, you calculate based on the actual fill level.

Calculate the Volume of a Liquid in a Rectangular Tank

For a rectangular tank, the volume of a liquid is straightforward:

V_liquid = length × width × fill height

The fill height is how deep the liquid sits, not the total tank height. If your tank is 100 cm tall but the water line is at 60 cm, use 60 cm as the height.

How do I find the volume of a liquid? Measure the inside length and width of the container. Then measure the depth of the liquid. Multiply all three. Convert to liters or gallons if needed (1 liter = 1,000 cubic centimeters).

Find the Volume of a Cylinder Tank

Cylindrical tanks are common for water storage, fuel, and industrial use.

Vertical cylinder tank: V_liquid = π × r² × fill height

Measure the radius of the circular base and the current liquid height. The formula is the same as a full cylinder, but you substitute the fill height for the total height.

Horizontal cylinder tank: When a cylinder lies on its side, partial fill calculations are more complex. The filled cross-section is a circular segment, not a full circle. This calculator handles that geometry for you. Just enter the tank's radius, total length, and the liquid depth measured from the bottom of the tank.

How do you calculate volume in gallons? Calculate in cubic inches first, then divide by 231 (there are 231 cubic inches in one US gallon). Or calculate in liters and multiply by 0.264172. The calculator does this conversion automatically.

Volume Units and How to Convert Them

The SI unit for volume is the cubic meter (m³). In everyday use, liters and gallons are more common for liquids, while cubic feet and cubic yards dominate construction.

Here are the most common conversions:

  • 1 cubic meter = 1,000 liters
  • 1 cubic foot = 7.481 US gallons
  • 1 cubic foot = 28,316.8 cubic centimeters
  • 1 liter = 1,000 cubic centimeters (or 1,000 mL)
  • 1 US gallon = 231 cubic inches
  • 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

When switching between metric and imperial, convert each linear dimension first, then apply the formula. Or let the calculator handle the unit conversion after the calculation.

Tip: Mixing units is the most common source of errors. If your length is in feet and your width is in inches, convert everything to the same unit before multiplying.

Examples of Volume Calculations

Sphere Volume: Calculate Volume Step by Step

Problem: Find the volume of a sphere with a radius of 10 cm.

  1. Write the formula: V = (4/3) × π × r³
  2. Plug in the radius: V = (4/3) × 3.14159 × 10³
  3. Calculate 10³ = 1,000
  4. Multiply: (4/3) × 3.14159 × 1,000 = 4,188.79 cubic centimeters

The sphere has a volume of approximately 4,188.79 cm³, or about 4.19 liters.

Rectangular Volume Calculation

Problem: You need to fill a raised garden bed that measures 8 ft long, 4 ft wide, and 1.5 ft deep.

  1. Formula: V = length × width × height
  2. V = 8 × 4 × 1.5 = 48 cubic feet

That is about 1.78 cubic yards. Soil and mulch are typically sold by the cubic yard, so you would order roughly 1.8 cubic yards to fill the bed.

Volume Calculator for Concrete, Soil, and Water

Real-world volume calculations rarely involve perfect geometric shapes. This section covers common practical applications.

Concrete: Concrete is sold by the cubic yard in the US and by the cubic meter elsewhere. Measure the slab or footing as a rectangular prism (length × width × thickness). Add about 5% to 10% extra to account for uneven ground and waste.

How to calculate soil volume? Treat the planting area as a box. Measure length, width, and desired fill depth. Multiply all three. If the area is irregular, break it into smaller rectangles, calculate each one, and add the totals.

Water: Water volume matters for pools, aquariums, and tanks. One cubic foot of water weighs about 62.4 pounds. One liter of water weighs 1 kilogram. Use the tank calculator above to find the volume, then convert to weight if you need to know the load on a structure.

Can I calculate the volume of irregular shapes? For simple irregularities, break the object into smaller common shapes, calculate each, and add (or subtract) the results. For truly complex forms, professional methods like integral calculus or the finite element method are used, but those are beyond the scope of this calculator. For a quick real-world check, you can also use the water displacement method: submerge the object in water and measure how much liquid it displaces.

Calculate Volume: Limitations to Keep in Mind

This calculator provides estimates based on ideal geometric shapes. Keep these points in mind:

  • Real objects are not perfect. Walls have thickness, corners have curves, and surfaces are uneven. Your actual volume may differ from the calculated result.
  • Measurement accuracy matters. Small errors in radius or height get amplified when cubed. Measure carefully and double-check.
  • Material expansion and settling. Soil compacts over time. Concrete shrinks slightly as it cures. Water expands when frozen. Plan for a small buffer.
  • This is an estimate, not professional advice. For structural concrete pours, pool engineering, or industrial tank calibration, consult a qualified professional. This tool is a planning aid to help you easily calculate the volume for everyday projects.
  • Hollow or composite shapes. If your object is hollow (like a hollow cylinder or a box with thick walls), calculate the outer volume, then subtract the inner volume to find the material volume.

When precision matters, treat the calculator's output as a solid starting point, then verify with on-site measurements or a professional assessment.