Volumetric

Cylinder Volume Calculator

Our volume of a cylinder calculator will ask you the radius and height of your cylinder and then instantly tell you the cylinder volume.

Luis Anaya

Luis Anaya

Jan 15 2021

Cylinder Volume Calculator

A cylinder is a three-dimensional shape formed from two, flat circular bases and one curved surface that connects those bases to create the three-dimensional cylinder.

The cylinder's volume is the total amount of space that the cylindrical shape takes up.

Calculating the volume of a cylinder can be helpful if you need to know how much of something you could fit inside the cylinder, for example so you could order the correct amount of material to completely fill a cylinder without having excess waste left over.

The formula to calculate the volume of a cylinder is:

V = π * r² * h

Where:

V = Volume of cylinder

π = pi (pi has the value 3.141592 which is the ratio a circle's circumference to its diameter)

r = radius of cylinder

h = height of cylinder

Cylinder Volume Calculator

Enter the radius and the height value in the inputs below.

cylinder volume calculator

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cylinder volume
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Cylinder Geometry

In geometric terms the base, top and the connecting surface in between are called faces.

Therefore we can described a cylinder as having 3 faces:

  1. 1. Circular base
  2. 2. Circular top
  3. 3. Curved surface

Where those faces meet is called an edge. A cylinder has two edges:

  1. 1. Where the base connects to the curved surface
  2. 2. Where the curved surface connects to the top

Three dimensional shapes have a third property called a vertex. A vertex is a corner where multiple edges meet. A cylinder does not have any vertices.

Example Calculations

Example 1

A cylinder has a radius of 5 and a height of 10.

Substituting those values into the cylinder volume formula gives:

V = π * 5² * 10

V = π * 25 * 10

V = 785

The volume of the cylinder is 785.

volume cylinder

Example 2

A cylinder has a radius of 12 and a height of 6.

Substituting those values into the cylinder volume formula gives:

V = π * 12² * 6

V = π * 144 * 6

V = 2714

The volume of the cylinder is 2714.

volume cylinder

Units of Volume

In the examples above no units are specified. Let's assume we are measuring the cylinder radius and height in centimetres. The calculated volume would therefore be measured in cubic centimetres, denoted cm3.

Updating our earlier example, a cylinder has a radius of 5cm and a height of 10cm.

Substituting those values into the cylinder volume formula gives:

V = π * 5² * 10

V = π * 25 * 10

V = 785 cm³

But when you buy can of drink, for example, the volume is not reported in terms of cm3, it tends to be reported in terms of centilitres (cl). There are ten cm3 in one centilitre. Therefore the volume of the example cylinder measured in centilitres is:

V = 785 / 10

V = 78.5 cl

Examples of cylinders

The calculator on this page is accurate for right, circular cylinders, which are characterised by perfectly circular bases with both bases being perfectly aligned. However there are other types of cylinder, some which have different formulas for calculating their volume:

Oblique Cylinder

volume cylinder
The cylinder bases are still parallel but they are not perfectly aligned.

Elliptical Cylinder

volume cylinder
The cylinder bases are ellipses and not perfect circles.

Hollow Cylinder

volume cylinder
The cylinder is empty from the inside and has some difference between the internal and external radius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about this calculator? See our list of frequently asked questions below.

What is the formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder?

V = π * r² * h.

What is the formula for calculating the radius of a cylinder?

r = SQRRT(V / (π * h)).

What is the formula for calculating the height of a cylinder?

h = V / (π * r²).

How many faces does a cylinder have?

A cylinder has 3 faces.

How many edges does a cylinder have?

A cylinder has 2 edges.

How many vertices does a cylinder have?

A cylinder has no vertices.

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