How to Calculate Volume
Volume measures the amount of three-dimensional space inside a solid object. It is used when filling a fish tank, sizing a water heater, planning a concrete pour, or calculating shipping capacity. This volume calculator supports six common shapes, including cubes, cuboids, cylinders, spheres, cones, and pyramids, and converts results between liters, gallons, cubic feet, and cubic meters.
Common Volume Formulas
The volume of a cube is the side length cubed, and a cuboid is length times width times height. A cylinder has a volume of pi times the radius squared times the height. A sphere is four thirds pi times the radius cubed. Both a cone and a square pyramid use one third of the base area times the height, which is why they hold one third the volume of a cylinder or box with the same base and height.
Converting Units of Volume
Volume conversions can be confusing because different fields use different units. One cubic meter equals 1,000 liters, about 264 US gallons, and about 35.3 cubic feet. This calculator performs the conversion automatically, so you can enter dimensions in feet and see the result in liters or gallons without doing the math yourself.
Real-World Uses
Aquarium hobbyists use volume to determine how many fish a tank can hold and how much water conditioner to add. Chefs and manufacturers calculate container volume to ensure their products fit. Construction workers estimate concrete volume to order the right amount of material, and logistics teams use volume to determine how much cargo fits in a truck.
Need to measure a flat surface instead of a solid? Our area calculator covers two-dimensional shapes with the same intuitive unit conversion.