Cylinder Volume in Litres Calculator

This calculator works out how many litres a cylinder holds, using its radius, diameter, or circumference plus its height. It suits anyone checking the real capacity of a tank, drum, pipe, tube, pot, or other cylindrical container, rather than relying on a nominal size printed on the label. Enter whichever measurement you have, radius, diameter, or circumference, along with the height or length, choose your unit (centimetres, millimetres, metres, or inches), and the calculator converts everything for you. It applies the standard formula V = pi r squared h, converting your figures to centimetres first so the result comes out accurately in litres. You get back the volume in litres as the headline figure, plus the equivalent in millilitres and cubic metres, and the radius used after conversion, so you can see how the number was reached. This is useful for sizing water tanks, checking how much a drum or pot actually holds, working out pipe capacity, or estimating fill volumes for round containers. If you are measuring a tank or drum, use the internal dimensions rather than the external ones, since wall thickness reduces the usable space. Because real containers can have rounded ends, tapered sections, or manufacturing tolerances, treat the result as a close geometric estimate of capacity rather than an exact figure for any specific product.

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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

cm
cm

2. Units

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
35.34 L
Internal capacity
Millilitres
35,343 mL
mL / cm³
Cubic Metres
0.0353 m3
m³
Radius Used
15.00 cm
cm, after conversion

Calculation Breakdown

Measurement typeDiameter
Value entered30.00 cm
Radius (converted to cm)15.000 cm
Height (converted to cm)50.000 cm
Volume in cm³35,342.9 cm3
Volume in litres35.343 L

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

ObjectTypical Use of This Calculator
Water tanks and drumsChecking rated capacity against actual internal dimensions
Plant pots and bucketsWorking out soil or liquid volume for a round container
Pipes and tubesFinding the internal volume for flow or fill calculations
Fuel and chemical drumsConfirming litres held versus the nominal drum size
Cylindrical concrete formsEstimating 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

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.

Frequently asked questions

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.

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