Volume Calculator guide
Volume Calculator: Cubes, Cylinders, Spheres and More
Use our volume calculator to work out the volume of a cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere, pyramid and other 3D shapes, with conversions to litres.
By the AllCalculator editorial teamUpdated 16 October 20261 min read
Volume is how much space a 3D shape takes up. It tells you how much water fills a tank, how much soil fills a planter or how much concrete you need. Our Volume Calculator covers 12 common shapes.
How to use the calculator (Volume Calculator)
- Choose a shape.
- Enter its measurements.
- Choose your units.
You'll see the volume in cubic units, litres, cubic metres, cubic feet and UK gallons, plus the surface area.
Volume formulas
| Shape | Volume |
|---|---|
| Cube | a³ |
| Cuboid | length × width × height |
| Cylinder | πr²h |
| Cone | ⅓πr²h |
| Sphere | ⁴⁄₃πr³ |
| Hemisphere | ⅔πr³ |
| Pyramid | ⅓ × base area × height |
| Prism | cross-section area × length |
A worked example
With the calculator's default settings, a cuboid 10cm × 5cm × 4cm has a volume of 200cm³, which is 0.2 litres.
Converting to litres
- 1 litre = 1,000cm³
- 1m³ = 1,000 litres
- 1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the volume of a fish tank or water butt?
Measure the inside, choose cuboid or cylinder, and use centimetres. The litres figure is how much water it holds when full.
What if my shape is irregular?
Split it into simpler shapes, work out each volume and add them up.
How much concrete do I need?
Use our Concrete Calculator, which allows for waste and gives bags or cubic metres.
For the outside area of a shape, use our Surface Area Calculator.
Sources and further reading
- GOV.UK: National curriculum in England – mathematicsgov.uk
- Wolfram MathWorld: Volumemathworld.wolfram.com
Links open official and independent websites in a new tab.
This guide is general information to help you understand your options. It isn't financial, tax, legal or building advice and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Figures were checked when the guide was last updated and can change, so confirm anything important with GOV.UK, HMRC, a regulated adviser or a qualified tradesperson.