Cylinder Volume Calculator

Cylinder volume at a glance#

The volume of a cylinder is the space inside it, found by multiplying pi by the radius squared by the height: V = pi x r² x h. The radius is the distance from the center of a circular base to its edge, and the height is the distance between the two bases.

Worked example: for a radius of 2 and a height of 5, the volume is pi x 2² x 5, which is pi x 4 x 5, or pi x 20. Using pi as 3.14159, that comes to about 62.83 cubic units.

If you know the diameter instead of the radius, halve it first: the radius is the diameter divided by 2 (r = d/2). A cylinder with a diameter of 10 has a radius of 5.

Enter the radius and height in the calculator above for the exact volume in your chosen units. Results round to the decimal places you set, and the answer is always in cubic units (cubic inches, cubic centimeters, cubic meters) matching the units you measured in.

How to use the cylinder volume calculator#

Enter the radius of the base and the height, pick your unit, and the calculator returns the volume. It applies V = pi x r² x h, so the result comes out in cubic units that match your input (cubic inches, cubic centimeters or cubic meters). If you know the diameter instead of the radius, halve it first, since r = d / 2.

Example: a cylindrical water tank#

A tank with a base radius of 1.5 m and a height of 4 m holds pi x 1.5² x 4. That is pi x 2.25 x 4, or pi x 9, which is about 28.27 cubic meters. A smaller drum with a radius of 0.5 m and a height of 1 m holds pi x 0.25 x 1, about 0.79 cubic meters.

Hollow cylinders and pipes#

For a pipe or any hollow cylinder, subtract the inner volume from the outer volume: V = pi x (R² - r²) x h, where R is the outer radius and r is the inner radius. A pipe with an outer radius of 4 cm, an inner radius of 3 cm and a length of 20 cm holds pi x (16 - 9) x 20, about 439.8 cubic centimeters of material.

Oblique cylinders#

An oblique cylinder leans, so its sides are not perpendicular to the bases. The volume is still V = pi x r² x h, but h must be the perpendicular height between the two bases, not the slanted side length.

Frequently asked questions#

What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder?#

V = pi x r² x h. Square the base radius, multiply by pi for the base area, then multiply by the height. For r = 2 and h = 5, the volume is pi x 4 x 5, about 62.83 cubic units.

How do I calculate volume if I only know the diameter?#

Divide the diameter by 2 to get the radius, then use V = pi x r² x h. A cylinder with a diameter of 10 has a radius of 5.

Can I use different units?#

Yes, as long as the radius and height share the same unit. Measure both in centimeters and the volume is in cubic centimeters; measure both in meters and it is in cubic meters.

How do I find the volume of a hollow cylinder?#

Use V = pi x (R² - r²) x h with the outer radius R and inner radius r. This gives the volume of the solid wall, which is what a pipe is made of.

Does the formula work for an oblique cylinder?#

Yes. Use the same V = pi x r² x h, but measure h as the straight perpendicular distance between the bases rather than the slanted length.