Hollow Cylinder
A hollow cylinder (tube, pipe, duct) has an outer radius R and an inner radius r. Subtract the volume of the empty core from the total volume to get the volume of material.
V = π × h × (R² − r²)
The volume of a cylinder is the space enclosed inside this solid. A right cylinder is made of two identical, parallel circles joined by a curved side surface. Its volume is expressed in cubic units (cm³, m³) or, for liquids, in litres and millilitres.
In practice, you work out the area of the circular base, then "stack" that area along the full height of the cylinder. This is the calculation used to estimate the capacity of a tank, a water butt, a can or the concrete in a round column.
The cylinder volume formula multiplies the area of the circular base by the height. If you know the diameter, replace r with d ÷ 2.
V = π × r² × h
or V = π × d² × h ÷ 4
Measure the diameter of the base and divide it by 2. Example: d = 10 cm, so r = 5 cm.
Square the radius and multiply by π: π × 5² ≈ 78.54 cm².
With h = 10 cm: 78.54 × 10 ≈ 785.4 cm³.
785.4 cm³ ÷ 1,000 = 0.785 L. Use the same unit for every measurement.
A hollow cylinder (tube, pipe, duct) has an outer radius R and an inner radius r. Subtract the volume of the empty core from the total volume to get the volume of material.
V = π × h × (R² − r²)
In an oblique cylinder, the axis is tilted relative to the bases. By Cavalieri's principle, its volume equals that of a right cylinder with the same base and height. Note: h is the perpendicular distance between the two bases.
V = π × r² × h (perpendicular h)
A half cylinder (trough, gutter, vault) is exactly half of a cylinder cut along its axis. Its volume is therefore half of the standard formula.
V = ½ × π × r² × h
Multiply the area of the circular base (π × r²) by the height h: V = π × r² × h. For example, a cylinder with a 5 cm radius and a 10 cm height has a volume of π × 25 × 10 ≈ 785.4 cm³, or about 0.785 litres.
Divide the diameter by two to get the radius, then apply V = π × r² × h. You can also use V = π × d² × h ÷ 4 directly. Our calculator keeps the radius and diameter in sync automatically.
One litre equals 1 dm³, or 1,000 cm³. Divide a volume in cm³ by 1,000 to get litres, or multiply a volume in m³ by 1,000. You can simply choose "L" in the Volume field of the calculator.
Divide the number of litres by 3.785 for US gallons, or by 4.546 for imperial gallons. For example, 100 litres is about 26.4 US gallons or 22 imperial gallons.
In a right cylinder, the axis is perpendicular to the bases; in an oblique cylinder, it is tilted. By Cavalieri's principle, both have the same volume V = π × r² × h, as long as h is the perpendicular height between the bases and not the length of the slanted side.
Yes. Calcul Volume is a French-first site: the main homepage, the 25 calculators and most guides are in French, and this English page lets you calculate cylinder volume in English. Use the language menu at the bottom of the page to switch.