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.
1. What You Are Measuring From
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.
Calculation Breakdown
Formula Used
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.