Cylinder Volume Calculator

Understanding the volume of a cylinder is crucial in many fields, from engineering and construction to packaging and even cooking. Whether you're calculating the capacity of a water tank, the amount of material needed for a cylindrical pillar, or the volume of a can, this calculator provides a quick and accurate solution.

What is a Cylinder?

A cylinder is a three-dimensional solid shape that has two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface. Imagine a can of soup or a roll of paper towels – these are common examples of cylinders. The key dimensions of a cylinder are its radius (the distance from the center of a circular base to its edge) and its height (the perpendicular distance between the two circular bases).

The Formula for Cylinder Volume

The volume of a cylinder is the amount of space it occupies. It is calculated by multiplying the area of its circular base by its height. The formula is:

V = π * r² * h

V represents the Volume of the cylinder.
π (Pi) is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14159.
r represents the Radius of the circular base.
h represents the Height of the cylinder.

In simpler terms, you first find the area of the circle at the bottom (or top) of the cylinder, which is π * r², and then you multiply that area by how tall the cylinder is (h).

How to Use the Cylinder Volume Calculator

Our calculator makes it easy to find the volume of any cylinder. Simply follow these steps:

Enter the Radius: Input the radius of the cylinder's base into the "Cylinder Radius" field. Make sure to use consistent units (e.g., inches, centimeters, meters).
Enter the Height: Input the height of the cylinder into the "Cylinder Height" field. This should be in the same units as your radius.
Click "Calculate Volume": The calculator will instantly display the volume of the cylinder in cubic units.

Examples of Cylinder Volume Calculation

Let's look at a couple of examples to illustrate the formula:

Example 1: A Small Can

Imagine a small can with a radius of 3 cm and a height of 10 cm.

Radius (r) = 3 cm
Height (h) = 10 cm

Using the formula: V = π * (3 cm)² * 10 cm

V = π * 9 cm² * 10 cm

V = 90π cm³

V ≈ 282.74 cm³

The volume of the can is approximately 282.74 cubic centimeters.

Example 2: A Water Tank

Consider a cylindrical water tank with a radius of 1.5 meters and a height of 4 meters.

Radius (r) = 1.5 m
Height (h) = 4 m

Using the formula: V = π * (1.5 m)² * 4 m

V = π * 2.25 m² * 4 m

V = 9π m³

V ≈ 28.27 m³

The volume of the water tank is approximately 28.27 cubic meters.

Use the calculator below to quickly find the volume for your specific cylinder dimensions!

Calculate Cylinder Volume

Cylinder Radius (e.g., cm, inches, meters):

Cylinder Height (e.g., cm, inches, meters):

function calculateCylinderVolume() { var radiusInput = document.getElementById("cylinderRadius"); var heightInput = document.getElementById("cylinderHeight"); var resultDiv = document.getElementById("cylinderVolumeResult"); var radius = parseFloat(radiusInput.value); var height = parseFloat(heightInput.value); if (isNaN(radius) || isNaN(height) || radius <= 0 || height <= 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid, positive numbers for both radius and height."; resultDiv.style.display = "block"; resultDiv.className = "mt-3 alert alert-danger"; return; } var pi = Math.PI; var volume = pi * Math.pow(radius, 2) * height; resultDiv.innerHTML = "The volume of the cylinder is approximately: " + volume.toFixed(4) + " cubic units."; resultDiv.style.display = "block"; resultDiv.className = "mt-3 alert alert-success"; }

How to Calculate Volume of a Cylinder Formula