What this calculator does
The volume of a cylinder is the amount of space enclosed inside a can, pipe, tank or drum shape, found by multiplying the circular base area by the height. It answers a very practical question: how much can this tube-shaped container actually hold or contain.
This calculator keeps that one question front and centre, taking just a radius and a height and returning the volume of cylinder as the headline result, with the base area and litre capacity given underneath. For surface area, wall thickness or material quantities, the dedicated surface area of a cylinder calculator handles that side of the same shape.
The formula
The cylinder volume formula is V = πr²h: the area of the circular base, πr², multiplied by the height. If the radius and height are measured in centimetres, dividing the result by 1,000 converts cubic centimetres to litres, since 1,000 cm³ equals 1 litre.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| V | Volume: the space enclosed inside the cylinder, πr²h. |
| r | Radius of the circular base. |
| h | Height, the perpendicular distance between the two circular ends. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Radius | The radius of the circular base or cross-section. |
| Height | The height of the cylinder, measured perpendicular to the base. |
When to use it
Sizing a tank or drum
Working out the volume of cylinder from its radius and height tells you the maximum capacity of a water tank, fuel drum or storage silo before any allowance for headspace.
Estimating concrete for a cylindrical post or footing
A round post hole or column footing is a cylinder, so its volume, converted to the appropriate units, gives the amount of concrete or fill needed.
Checking a can or pipe’s stated capacity
Comparing a manufacturer’s claimed capacity against the volume calculated from the measured radius and height is a quick way to sanity-check packaging or plumbing specifications.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How does cylinder volume change with radius?
The volume of cylinder formula applied at a fixed height of 20, across a range of radius values.
| Radius | Volume | Base area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 62.832 | 3.142 |
| 2 | 251.327 | 12.566 |
| 5 | 1,570.80 | 78.540 |
| 10 | 6,283.19 | 314.159 |
| 15 | 14,137.17 | 706.858 |
| 20 | 25,132.74 | 1,256.64 |
How does cylinder volume change with height?
The same radius of 5, across a range of height values.
| Height | Volume | Capacity in litres (if measured in cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 392.699 | 0.39 L |
| 10 | 785.398 | 0.79 L |
| 20 | 1,570.80 | 1.57 L |
| 40 | 3,141.59 | 3.14 L |
| 60 | 4,712.39 | 4.71 L |
| 100 | 7,853.98 | 7.85 L |
Questions
What is the volume of cylinder formula?
V = πr²h, the area of the circular base (πr²) multiplied by the height. It works for any right circular cylinder, from a drinking straw to a storage tank.
How do you find cylinder volume in litres?
Measure the radius and height in centimetres, calculate V = πr²h to get cubic centimetres, then divide by 1,000, since 1 litre equals 1,000 cubic centimetres.
Does a cylinder volume calculator need the diameter or the radius?
This one asks for the radius. If you only have the diameter, halve it first; using the full diameter in place of the radius will overstate the volume by a factor of four.
How does doubling the radius affect cylinder volume compared with doubling the height?
Doubling the height only doubles the volume, but doubling the radius roughly quadruples it, because radius enters the formula squared while height enters only once.
For total or curved surface area instead of volume, see the surface area of a cylinder calculator. For both volume and surface area from one set of inputs, see the full cylinder calculator.