How do I work out the litres in a cylinder?

Find the volume in cubic centimetres using V = pi times radius squared times height, then divide by 1,000 to get litres (since 1 litre equals 1,000 cubic centimetres, and 1 cubic metre equals 1,000 litres). If you measured in millimetres, convert to centimetres first by dividing by 10, or let a calculator handle the unit conversion for you.

Can I calculate cylinder volume from circumference instead of radius?

Yes. If you have wrapped a tape measure around a cylinder and only know the circumference, first find the radius using r = circumference / (2 x pi). Then use the usual formula, V = pi r squared h, to get the volume. This is useful for round tanks, pots, or pipes where the diameter is hard to measure directly.

How many litres are in a standard 200 litre drum?

A standard 44 gallon (200 litre) drum is close to 200 litres by design, with an internal diameter of around 58 cm and a height of around 88 cm. Using V = pi r squared h with r = 29 cm and h = 88 cm gives approximately 232,500 cubic centimetres, or about 232 litres, which is slightly more than the nominal 200 litre rating because real drums allow headspace and the true dimensions vary by manufacturer.

Cylinder Volume in Litres Calculator

Work out how many litres a cylinder, tank, tube, drum, or pot holds. Enter the radius, diameter, or circumference plus the height, choose your measurement unit, and get the volume in litres, millilitres, and cubic metres.

Uses the standard formula V = pi r squared h, where r is the radius and h is the height, then converts cubic centimetres to litres.

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Verified formula Standard geometric formula V = πr²h. 1 litre = 1,000 cm³. 1 m³ = 1,000 litres.

1. What You Are Measuring From

Measurement type

Diameter

Height / length

2. Units

Unit for your measurements

Enter both the radius/diameter/circumference and the height in the same unit selected above. The calculator converts everything to centimetres internally to work out litres.

Cylinder Volume

Volume in Litres
-
Internal capacity

Millilitres

mL / cm³

Cubic Metres

m³

Radius Used

cm, after conversion

Calculation Breakdown

Measurement type-

Value entered-

Radius (converted to cm)-

Height (converted to cm)-

Volume in cm³-

Volume in litres-

Formula Used

FormulaV = π × r² × h

Radius from diameterr = d / 2

Radius from circumferencer = C / (2π)

cm³ to litresdivide by 1,000

cm³ to m³divide by 1,000,000

How to Calculate Cylinder Volume in Litres

A cylinder's volume is found with V = π r² h, where r is the radius (half the diameter) and h is the height or length of the cylinder. This gives the volume in cubic units matching whatever unit you measured in. To convert to litres, first get the volume into cubic centimetres, then divide by 1,000, since 1 litre is defined as exactly 1,000 cubic centimetres (1 litre = 1 cm × 1 cm × 1,000 cm, or equivalently a 10 cm cube).

Working from Radius, Diameter, or Circumference

Most people can measure a diameter (straight across the widest point) more easily than a radius, so this calculator lets you enter whichever you have. If you only have a tape measure and the cylinder is round (like a drum, pipe, or pot), wrap the tape around it to get the circumference, then convert to radius using r = circumference / (2 × π). All three methods give the same final volume once converted to radius.

Worked Example

Take a cylinder with a diameter of 30 cm and a height of 50 cm. The radius is 30 / 2 = 15 cm. The volume is π × 15² × 50 = π × 225 × 50 = π × 11,250 = approximately 35,343 cm³. Dividing by 1,000 gives approximately 35.34 litres, or 0.0353 m³.

Common Uses

Object	Typical Use of This Calculator
Water tanks and drums	Checking rated capacity against actual internal dimensions
Plant pots and buckets	Working out soil or liquid volume for a round container
Pipes and tubes	Finding the internal volume for flow or fill calculations
Fuel and chemical drums	Confirming litres held versus the nominal drum size
Cylindrical concrete forms	Estimating volume before ordering concrete or fill

For tanks and drums, always use the internal dimensions rather than the outer dimensions, since wall thickness reduces the usable capacity.

Related Calculators

Maths and Stats Calculators
Cylinder Volume Calculator: volume in m³, litres, and cm³ from radius or diameter.
Cylinder Volume in Gallons Calculator: the same formula in imperial gallons.
Tank Volume Calculator: capacity for cylindrical, rectangular, and other tank shapes.
Circumference of a Cylinder Calculator: find circumference from radius or diameter.
Cone Volume Calculator: volume for cone-shaped containers.

Sources: Standard geometric formula for the volume of a right circular cylinder, V = πr²h. SI unit conversions: 1 litre = 1,000 cm³ (International Bureau of Weights and Measures, SI Brochure).

This calculator assumes a right circular cylinder (uniform circular cross-section, straight sides). For tanks or drums, measure internal dimensions to get usable capacity rather than external dimensions. Results are geometric estimates; actual container capacity can vary slightly due to wall thickness, rounded ends, or manufacturing tolerances.

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