Cylinder Volume Calculator (Litres)
Enter your dimensions below to calculate the volume of a cylinder in litres. This works for tanks, drums, pipes, and containers.
How to calculate cylinder volume in litres
A cylinder’s volume tells you how much space it can hold. If you are dealing with liquid containers, you usually want the answer in litres. The core formula is simple:
That gives you cubic units (like cm³ or m³), and then you convert to litres.
Common conversion shortcuts
- 1 litre = 1000 cm³
- 1 m³ = 1000 litres
- 1 litre = 1,000,000 mm³
When this calculator is useful
This cylinder volume calculator in litres is great for everyday practical jobs:
- Estimating water in a cylindrical tank
- Checking fuel drum capacity
- Calculating chemical storage volume
- Planning irrigation or rainwater systems
- Estimating liquid inside pipes (approximate)
Step-by-step example
Suppose a vertical tank has:
- Radius = 30 cm
- Height = 120 cm
Apply the formula:
Now convert cm³ to litres:
So the container holds approximately 339.29 L.
Radius vs diameter: avoid this mistake
The biggest error in cylinder calculations is mixing up radius and diameter:
- Radius = distance from center to edge
- Diameter = full width across circle = 2 × radius
If you only know diameter, divide it by 2 first. This calculator has a diameter mode to handle that automatically.
Unit conversion reference table
| Input Unit | Volume Result (cubic unit) | Converted to Litres |
|---|---|---|
| mm | mm³ | Litres = mm³ ÷ 1,000,000 |
| cm | cm³ | Litres = cm³ ÷ 1,000 |
| m | m³ | Litres = m³ × 1,000 |
| in | in³ | Litres = in³ × 0.016387064 |
| ft | ft³ | Litres = ft³ × 28.316846592 |
Tips for more accurate results
- Use internal dimensions for capacity calculations.
- Measure in the same unit for both radius/diameter and height.
- For tanks with rounded ends or irregular bases, this gives only an approximation.
- If your tank is horizontal and partially filled, use a segment-volume formula instead.
FAQ
Can I use this for water tank volume in litres?
Yes. If the tank is a true cylinder, this calculator gives a fast and reliable water tank capacity estimate in litres.
Does this work for pipe volume?
Yes. Use the inner radius (or inner diameter) and pipe length as the height. That gives the internal liquid volume.
Why is my result different from manufacturer specs?
Real containers may include wall thickness, domed ends, fittings, or shape variations. Manufacturer values often include those details.