🛢️ Cylinder Volume Calculator 2026
Calculate volume, radius, height, or diameter of cylinders and tanks
Enter Radius & Height
r = radius, h = height, d = diameter
📊 Results
Radius (r)
5 cm
Diameter (d)
10 cm
Height (h)
10 cm
Volume
785.4 cm³
Base Area
78.54 cm²
Lateral Area
314.2 cm²
Total Surface
471.2 cm²
📝 Step-by-Step Solution
Given: r = 5 cm, h = 10 cm
Base Area = πr² = π × 25 = 78.54 cm²
Volume = πr²h = π × 25 × 10 = 785.40 cm³
Lateral Area = 2πrh = 2π × 5 × 10 = 314.16 cm²
Total Surface = 2πr(r + h) = 471.24 cm²
📐 Cylinder Volume Formulas
Volume: V = πr²h = (πd²h)/4
Height from Volume: h = V / (πr²)
Radius from Volume: r = √(V / πh)
Base Area: A = πr²
Lateral Surface: A = 2πrh
Total Surface: A = 2πr(r + h)
Understanding Cylinder Volume
🛢️ Cylinder Shape
Two identical circular bases + curved surface. Volume = base area × height. Same principle as any prism.
📐 Volume = πr²h
Circle area times height. π ≈ 3.14159. Can also use diameter: V = (πd²h)/4.
🏭 Tank Capacity
Used for storage tanks, pipes, cans. Calculate how much liquid or material fits. Convert to liters or gallons.
📏 Horizontal vs Vertical
Formula is the same. For horizontal tanks, "height" is the length. Volume doesn't change with orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the volume formula for a cylinder?
V = πr²h. Pi times radius squared times height. The circular base
area multiplied by the height.
How do I calculate cylinder volume with diameter?
V = (πd²h)/4. Or convert: r = d/2, then use V = πr²h. Diameter is
twice the radius.
How do I find height from volume?
h = V / (πr²). Divide volume by the circular base area. Rearrange
the main formula.
How do I find radius from volume?
r = √(V / πh). Divide volume by (π × height), then take square
root.
How do I convert volume to liters?
1 liter = 1000 cm³. Divide cm³ by 1000. Also: 1 m³ = 1000 liters,
1 gallon ≈ 3.785 liters.
How do I convert to gallons?
1 US gallon = 3785 cm³. Or: 1 gallon = 231 in³. Divide your cm³ by
3785.
What is the surface area of a cylinder?
Total = 2πr(r + h). Two circular ends (2πr²) plus curved side
(2πrh). Lateral only = 2πrh.
Does cylinder orientation matter for volume?
No. Volume is the same whether vertical or horizontal. Just use
length as "height" in the formula.
How do I calculate tank capacity?
Same as cylinder volume. Measure radius (or diameter/2) and
height/length. Convert to desired units (liters, gallons).
What if I know volume and want dimensions?
Need one dimension. With volume alone, infinite radius/height
combinations work. Specify either r or h to solve for the other.
How does doubling dimensions affect volume?
Doubling radius: 4× volume (since r²). Doubling height: 2×
volume. Doubling both: 8× volume.
What is the base area?
A = πr². The circular cross-section. Volume = base area × height.
Two bases on a cylinder.
Can I use this for pipes?
For solid cylinder or inner capacity, yes. For hollow pipe (tube),
subtract inner from outer volume or use pipe calculator.
What are real-world cylinder examples?
Cans, water tanks, pipes, glasses, batteries, fire extinguishers, grain
silos. Very common shape for storage.
How accurate is this calculator?
Mathematically exact for perfect cylinders. Uses π to full
precision. Real tanks may have small variations.
What is the relationship to cone volume?
Cylinder = 3 × cone (same base and height). Cone volume =
(1/3)πr²h.
How do I measure a cylindrical tank?
Measure diameter with tape, divide by 2 for radius. Measure height
(or length for horizontal). Use consistent units.