Cylinder Volume Calculator

Understanding the volume of a cylinder is a fundamental concept in geometry and has practical applications across various fields, from engineering and construction to packaging and fluid dynamics. A cylinder is a three-dimensional solid with two parallel circular bases connected by a curved surface. Its volume represents the amount of space it occupies or the capacity it holds.

What is a Cylinder?

A cylinder can be thought of as a stack of many identical circles. Imagine a coin; if you stack many coins perfectly on top of each other, you form a cylinder. The key characteristics of a cylinder are its radius (the distance from the center of its circular base to its edge) and its height (the perpendicular distance between its two bases).

The Formula for Cylinder Volume

The volume of a cylinder is calculated using a straightforward formula that combines the area of its circular base with its height. The area of a circle is given by π * r², where π (pi) is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14159, and r is the radius of the circle.

Therefore, the formula for the volume (V) of a cylinder is:

V = π * r² * h

V represents the volume of the cylinder.
π (Pi) is approximately 3.14159.
r is the radius of the cylinder's base.
h is the height of the cylinder.

The result will be in cubic units (e.g., cubic centimeters, cubic meters, cubic inches), corresponding to the units used for the radius and height.

How to Use the Cylinder Volume Calculator

Our Cylinder Volume Calculator simplifies this process for you. Just follow these steps:

Enter the Radius: Input the radius of the cylinder's base into the designated field. Ensure you use consistent units (e.g., centimeters, meters, inches).
Enter the Height: Input the height of the cylinder into the designated field, using the same units as the radius.
Calculate: Click the "Calculate Volume" button.
View Result: The calculator will instantly display the total volume of the cylinder in cubic units.

Calculate Cylinder Volume

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

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

Volume:

Examples of Cylinder Volume Calculation

Let's look at a few practical examples to illustrate how the formula works:

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
V = π * (3 cm)² * 10 cm
V = π * 9 cm² * 10 cm
V = 90π cm³
V ≈ 90 * 3.14159 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
V = π * (1.5 m)² * 4 m
V = π * 2.25 m² * 4 m
V = 9π m³
V ≈ 9 * 3.14159 m³
V ≈ 28.27 m³

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

Example 3: A Large Pipe Section

Suppose you have a section of a large pipe with an inner radius of 12 inches and a length (height) of 60 inches.

Radius (r) = 12 inches
Height (h) = 60 inches
V = π * (12 inches)² * 60 inches
V = π * 144 inches² * 60 inches
V = 8640π inches³
V ≈ 8640 * 3.14159 inches³
V ≈ 27143.36 inches³

The volume of the pipe section is approximately 27,143.36 cubic inches.

Using this calculator, you can quickly determine the volume for any cylindrical object, making it a valuable tool for various calculations and planning.

How to Calculate Volume of a Cylinder