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Cylinder volume calculator — all units

Enter a radius or diameter and a height to get an instant, accurate cylinder volume in any unit — with the formula and every step shown.

Getting the volume of a cylinder comes down to two measurements: how wide it is across, and how tall it is. This cylinder volume calculator does the arithmetic for you — type in a radius or diameter and a height, choose your units, and the answer appears with the working laid out underneath.

How the calculation works

  1. Measure across the circular end — the diameter or radius.
  2. If you measured the diameter, halve it to get the radius r.
  3. Square the radius and multiply by π to get the base area.
  4. Multiply the base area by the height h: V = π r² h.
  5. Convert the result into your preferred unit above.

Worked example. Take a cylinder with a diameter of 10 cm (so a radius of 5 cm) and a height of 25 cm. The base area is π × 5² = 78.54 cm², and multiplying by the height gives a volume of about 1.96 litres (1,963 cm³ · 0.52 US gallons).

For anything that holds liquid, measure the inside of the cylinder — the wall takes up space that the contents cannot.

Every cylinder volume page

Each page below targets a specific question and opens with the calculator ready to go:

Frequently asked questions

What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder?
The volume is V = π r² h — the area of the circular base (π r²) multiplied by the height (h). If you have the diameter instead of the radius, halve it first: r = d ÷ 2.
Do I use radius or diameter?
Either — just tell the calculator which you are entering. The radius is from the centre to the edge; the diameter is the full width across. The tool converts diameter to radius automatically.
What units can I use?
Any of millimetres, centimetres, metres, inches, feet or yards for the measurements, and you can read the result in litres, gallons, cubic feet, cubic inches and more.
Is the volume of a cylinder squared or cubed?
The result is in cubic units, because volume fills three dimensions. The radius is squared inside the formula only because it forms the flat circular base; multiplying by the height adds the third dimension.
Does this work for a tank or a pipe?
Yes. A solid tank uses the standard mode; for a pipe or tube use the hollow mode, which subtracts the bore. For a tank on its side, use the horizontal mode.

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