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Elliptical cylinder calculator
An oval cross-section uses two semi-axes. Enter a, b and the height for the volume of an elliptical cylinder or oval tank.
Not every cylinder is perfectly round. An elliptical cylinder has an oval cross-section, and this elliptical cylinder calculator sizes it with the formula V = π a b h, where a and b are the two semi-axes of the oval.
How the calculation works
- Measure the two semi-axes a and b of the oval end.
- Measure the height (or length).
- The oval base area is π a b.
- Multiply by the height: V = π a b h.
Worked example. Take a cylinder with a diameter of 20 cm (so a radius of 10 cm) and a height of 40 cm. The base area is π × 10² = 314.16 cm², and multiplying by the height gives a volume of about 12.57 litres (12,566 cm³ · 3.32 US gallons).
For anything that holds liquid, measure the inside of the cylinder — the wall takes up space that the contents cannot.
Every elliptical cylinder page
Each page below targets a specific question and opens with the calculator ready to go:
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for an elliptical cylinder?
V = π a b h, where a and b are the semi-axes (half the width and half the depth of the oval) and h is the height.