Volume Calculator
Compute the volume of common 3D shapes by entering their dimensions.
Example
A cylinder with radius 3 and height 5:
V = π r² h
V = π × 3² × 5
V = π × 9 × 5
V = 45π ≈ 141.371669
So the cylinder holds about 141.37 cubic units.
How it works
Choose a 3D shape, then enter the dimensions it asks for; the volume is calculated live using the standard geometry formula for that shape.
Good to know
This Volume Calculator finds the volume of six common 3D solids — a cube, a rectangular box, a sphere, a cylinder, a cone, and a rectangular-base pyramid — from the dimensions you type in. Pick a shape from the dropdown and the form shows only the fields that shape needs (a single side for a cube, radius and height for a cylinder, and so on), then recalculates instantly as you change any number. It's handy for students checking geometry homework, DIY and trade work like estimating concrete or fill, and anyone who needs a quick "how much fits inside" figure without reaching for a formula sheet.
The key thing to understand about the result is that it is unitless until you supply the unit. The number it returns is the volume in cubic units of whatever single length unit you entered: type your dimensions in centimeters and you get cubic centimeters, type them in inches and you get cubic inches. Because of this, every measurement for one calculation must use the same unit — mixing, say, a radius in inches with a height in feet produces a meaningless answer.
Alongside the volume the tool shows the shape name and the exact formula it applied (for example, V = π r² h for a cylinder or V = 1/3 × l × w × h for a pyramid), so you can see how the result was derived and sanity-check it by hand. Results are rounded to about six significant digits, and very large or very small values switch to scientific notation rather than showing a long string of zeros.
A practical tip: the height fields for the cone and pyramid mean the perpendicular (vertical) height from base to apex, not the slanted edge length — using the slant by mistake will overstate the volume. Everything runs locally in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Which shapes can this calculator handle?
It covers six common solids: cube, rectangular box, sphere, cylinder, cone, and rectangular-base pyramid. Selecting a shape reveals only the dimension fields that shape needs.
What units does the volume use?
The volume is unitless cubed. If you enter all lengths in the same unit (say centimeters), the result is in that unit cubed (cubic centimeters). Mixing units gives meaningless results.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up and no limits.
People also ask
How do you calculate the volume of a cylinder?
Multiply the area of the circular base by the height: V = π r² h, where r is the radius and h is the height. For a cylinder with radius 3 and height 5, that gives about 141.37 cubic units.
What is the formula for the volume of a sphere?
The volume of a sphere is V = 4/3 π r³, where r is the radius. Cubing the radius means a small increase in radius produces a large jump in volume.
How do I convert cubic centimeters to liters?
One liter equals 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³), so divide a volume in cm³ by 1,000 to get liters. For example, 2,500 cm³ is 2.5 liters.
What's the difference between a cone's height and its slant height?
The height is the straight vertical distance from the base to the tip, measured perpendicular to the base. The slant height runs along the sloped surface from the base edge to the tip and is always longer; volume formulas use the perpendicular height, not the slant.
How is the volume of a pyramid related to a box with the same base and height?
A pyramid's volume is exactly one-third of a box (prism) that shares the same base area and height: V = 1/3 × base area × height. The same one-third relationship holds between a cone and a cylinder.
What units is volume measured in?
Volume is always expressed in cubic units, such as cubic centimeters (cm³), cubic meters (m³), cubic inches, or cubic feet. The cube reflects that volume spans three dimensions of length.
Why does my volume answer show up as scientific notation like 1.2345e+10?
Scientific notation is used when a value is very large (about a billion or more) or very small, so it appears compactly instead of as a long row of digits. The 'e+10' part means the number is multiplied by 10 to the 10th power.
How do I find the volume of an irregular shape that isn't one of these?
A common approach is to break the object into simpler solids like boxes, cylinders, and cones, compute each volume, and add them together. For truly irregular objects, water displacement — measuring how much liquid the object pushes aside — gives the volume directly.
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