Cylinder Volume Calculator (Litres)
Enter cylinder dimensions, choose your unit, and get instant volume in litres.
Why use a cylinder volume litres calculator?
Cylinders are everywhere: water tanks, pipes, silos, drums, bottles, jars, and even some planters. If you know the cylinder dimensions, you can estimate capacity in litres before buying, filling, shipping, or installing equipment. This saves money, reduces waste, and helps avoid sizing mistakes.
This calculator is designed for speed and accuracy. Enter either radius or diameter, add height, select your unit, and the tool instantly returns volume in litres. It also shows cubic metres, cubic centimetres, and US gallons for practical comparison.
How to use this calculator
- Select whether you know the diameter or radius.
- Enter that value in the first input box.
- Enter the cylinder height.
- Choose one unit (mm, cm, m, in, or ft) used for both values.
- Click Calculate Volume to see the result in litres.
Cylinder volume formula in litres
The geometric formula for cylinder volume is:
V = πr2h
Where:
- V = volume
- r = radius
- h = height
- π ≈ 3.14159
If you only know diameter
Diameter is twice the radius, so:
r = d / 2
Then substitute into the same volume formula. The calculator handles this automatically when you choose “I know the diameter.”
Unit conversions used
To output litres correctly, all length values are first converted to metres, then volume is converted using:
- 1 m3 = 1,000 litres
- 1 litre = 1,000 cm3
- 1 inch = 0.0254 m
- 1 foot = 0.3048 m
This makes the calculator reliable whether you're working in metric or imperial measurements.
Worked examples
Example 1: Tank in centimetres
Suppose a vertical tank has diameter 80 cm and height 150 cm.
- Radius = 40 cm = 0.4 m
- Height = 1.5 m
- Volume = π × (0.4)2 × 1.5 = 0.75398 m3
- Litres = 0.75398 × 1000 = 753.98 L
Example 2: Pipe section in inches
A cylinder has radius 6 in and height 24 in.
- Radius = 6 × 0.0254 = 0.1524 m
- Height = 24 × 0.0254 = 0.6096 m
- Volume = π × (0.1524)2 × 0.6096 = 0.04450 m3
- Litres = 44.50 L
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using diameter directly as radius (this doubles size and quadruples area error).
- Mixing units (for example, radius in cm and height in m without converting).
- Forgetting that volume scales quickly with radius because radius is squared.
- Rounding too early in manual calculations.
Practical uses for litres output
- Water storage: estimate household or farm tank capacity.
- Aquariums and ponds: plan filtration and dosing.
- Manufacturing: check drum, vessel, and container volume.
- Construction: estimate concrete volume for cylindrical holes or columns.
- Food and beverage: calculate fill quantities for cylindrical packaging.
Quick FAQ
Does this work for horizontal and vertical cylinders?
Yes. Total volume is the same regardless of orientation. For partially filled horizontal tanks, a different formula is needed.
Can I use decimals?
Absolutely. The calculator accepts decimal values and returns precise results.
What if I only have circumference?
You can derive radius first: r = C / (2π), then use the normal cylinder formula.
Final note
A good cylinder volume litres calculator should be quick, accurate, and easy to use with real-world units. This tool is built for that exact purpose. Bookmark it if you regularly work with tanks, containers, pipes, or any cylindrical geometry.