Volume Calculator
Choose a 3D shape, enter its dimensions in any unit and get the volume instantly in cubic units, liters and US or imperial gallons. The formula is worked out with your numbers, and the surface area comes along as a bonus.
Distance between the centers of the two hemispheres
How to use the Volume Calculator
- Choose the shape that matches your object or container.
- Pick the length unit you measured in.
- Enter the dimensions. For round shapes choose whether you know the radius or the diameter.
- Read the volume in cubic units, liters and gallons.
- Use the table for other units, or copy the results.
Volume formulas
All lengths must use the same unit. The result is in that unit cubed (cm³, ft³…), which the calculator then converts to liters and gallons.
| Shape | Volume | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cube | V = s³ | s = 10 cm → 1,000 cm³ = 1 L |
| Box (rectangular prism) | V = l × w × h | 60 × 30 × 35 cm → 63,000 cm³ = 63 L |
| Cylinder | V = π r² h | r = 10, h = 25 cm → 7,853.98 cm³ ≈ 7.85 L |
| Sphere | V = 4/3 π r³ | r = 12 cm → 7,238.23 cm³ ≈ 7.24 L |
| Cone | V = ⅓ π r² h | r = 3, h = 4 → 37.70 |
| Rectangular pyramid | V = ⅓ l w h | 4 × 4 × 6 → 32 |
| Capsule | V = π r² a + 4/3 π r³ | r = 1, a = 2 → 10.47 |
Volume unit conversions
| Unit | Liters | Other equivalents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic centimeter (cm³) | 0.001 L | 1 milliliter |
| 1 cubic inch (in³) | 0.016387 L | 16.387 mL |
| 1 US gallon | 3.785412 L | 231 in³ · 4 US quarts · 128 US fl oz |
| 1 imperial gallon (UK) | 4.54609 L | 1.20095 US gallons |
| 1 cubic foot (ft³) | 28.316847 L | 1,728 in³ · 7.48052 US gallons |
| 1 cubic yard (yd³) | 764.554858 L | 27 ft³ · 201.97 US gallons |
| 1 cubic meter (m³) | 1,000 L | 35.3147 ft³ · 264.172 US gallons |
Tip: measure containers on the inside to get their real capacity. Wall thickness can easily take 5–10% off the volume of a small tank.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate volume?
Volume is the space inside a 3D object, measured in cubic units. For prisms and cylinders multiply the base area by the height (box: l × w × h, cylinder: π × r² × h). Cones and pyramids hold exactly one third of the matching prism. A sphere is 4/3 × π × r³.
How many liters are in a cubic foot or cubic meter?
One cubic meter is exactly 1,000 liters, one liter is 1,000 cubic centimeters (1 cm³ = 1 mL), and one cubic foot is about 28.317 liters or 7.48 US gallons.
How do I find the volume of a tank in gallons?
Measure the tank in inches or feet, calculate the volume with the matching shape (box for rectangular tanks, cylinder for round ones), then convert. One US gallon is 231 cubic inches (3.785 L); one imperial gallon is 4.546 L. The calculator does the conversion for you.
What is the difference between radius and diameter?
The diameter is the full width of a circle through its center; the radius is half of that. Formulas use the radius, so if you measured across the object choose “Diameter” and the calculator halves it.
Why is a cone one third of a cylinder?
A cone with the same base and height as a cylinder holds exactly one third of the cylinder's volume. The same is true of a pyramid and a prism with the same base and height, which calculus (or Cavalieri's principle) proves.
What is a capsule shape?
A capsule is a cylinder with a hemisphere on each end, like a pill or a propane tank. Its volume is the cylinder part (π r² a, where a is the straight length) plus one whole sphere (4/3 π r³).