Volume Calculator
Calculate the volume of common 3D shapes including cube, rectangular prism, cylinder, sphere, cone, and pyramid. Select a shape, enter dimensions, and get results in cubic meters, cubic feet, liters, and gallons. Useful for construction, shipping, aquariums, and engineering projects.
How to Calculate Volume of 3D Shapes
Volume measures the three-dimensional space occupied by an object. To calculate volume, select the shape that matches your object, enter the required dimensions (such as length, width, height, or radius), and click Calculate. This tool automatically converts the result into multiple units including cubic meters, cubic feet, liters, and gallons. All inputs can be entered in meters, centimeters, feet, or inches.
Volume Formulas
Cube: V = s3 (side cubed)
Rectangular Prism: V = l x w x h
Cylinder: V = pi x r2 x h
Sphere: V = (4/3) x pi x r3
Cone: V = (1/3) x pi x r2 x h
Pyramid: V = (1/3) x base_length x base_width x h
Each formula uses the fundamental dimensions of the shape. For curved shapes (cylinder, sphere, cone), pi (approximately 3.14159) is used. For pointed shapes (cone, pyramid), the 1/3 factor accounts for the tapering to a point.
Example Calculations
Cube (side = 5 m): V = 5^3 = 125 m3
Rectangular Prism (4 x 3 x 6 m): V = 72 m3
Cylinder (r=3, h=6 m): V = pi x 9 x 6 = 169.65 m3
Sphere (r=3 m): V = (4/3) x pi x 27 = 113.10 m3
Cone (r=3, h=6 m): V = (1/3) x pi x 9 x 6 = 56.55 m3
Pyramid (4 x 3 x 6 m): V = (1/3) x 4 x 3 x 6 = 24 m3
Volume Unit Conversion Reference
| From | To Cubic Meters | To Cubic Feet | To Liters | To US Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cubic Meter | 1 | 35.3147 | 1,000 | 264.172 |
| 1 Cubic Foot | 0.0283 | 1 | 28.3168 | 7.4805 |
| 1 Liter | 0.001 | 0.0353 | 1 | 0.2642 |
| 1 US Gallon | 0.00379 | 0.1337 | 3.7854 | 1 |
| 1 Cubic Inch | 0.0000164 | 0.000579 | 0.01639 | 0.004329 |
| 1 Cubic Centimeter | 0.000001 | 0.0000353 | 0.001 | 0.000264 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between volume and capacity?
Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies, measured in cubic units (m3, ft3). Capacity refers to the amount a container can hold, typically measured in liters or gallons. They measure the same physical quantity but use different unit conventions depending on context.
How do I calculate the volume of an irregular shape?
For irregular shapes, break the object into simpler geometric shapes (cubes, cylinders, etc.), calculate each volume separately, and add them together. Alternatively, use the water displacement method: submerge the object in water and measure the volume of water displaced.
How many liters are in a cubic meter?
One cubic meter equals exactly 1,000 liters. This is because 1 liter is defined as 1 cubic decimeter (0.1 m x 0.1 m x 0.1 m = 0.001 m3), and there are 1,000 cubic decimeters in a cubic meter.
What is the volume of a standard shipping container?
A standard 20-foot shipping container has an internal volume of approximately 33.2 cubic meters (1,172 cubic feet). A 40-foot container has approximately 67.7 cubic meters (2,390 cubic feet). These are internal usable volumes, not external dimensions.
How do I convert between cubic feet and gallons?
One cubic foot equals approximately 7.48 US gallons. To convert cubic feet to gallons, multiply by 7.48. To convert gallons to cubic feet, divide by 7.48. This conversion is commonly used for aquariums, pools, and water tanks.