Volume Calculator
Work out the volume of a box, cylinder, sphere, cone or pyramid in m³, litres, ft³ or gallons, with the formula for each shape.
New: please check your results.
- Volume
- 3 m³
- Holds
- 3,000 litres
What it does
Find the volume of a 3D shape from its measurements: a box, cylinder, sphere, cone or pyramid. Enter the sizes in any unit and see the volume in cubic metres or cubic feet, and how much it holds in litres or gallons.
How to use it
- Shape
The shape you're measuring. A tank, pond or skip is usually close to a box or a cylinder. The pyramid has a rectangular base.
- Length
For a box or pyramid: the length of the base.
- Width
For a box or pyramid: the width of the base. For a cube, use the same number for every side.
- Height
The height or depth, measured straight up. For a cone or pyramid, from the base to the tip.
- Radius
From the centre to the edge, which is half the diameter. For a cylinder or cone, the radius of the circular end.
Common uses
- Working out how much water a tank, pond or pool holds.
- Sizing a skip, planter or storage box.
- Ordering concrete for a slab or base. Try the Concrete Calculator
- Ordering gravel or topsoil.
- Converting litres and gallons. Try the Litres to Gallons Converter
The formula
Box: length × width × heightCylinder: π × radius² × heightSphere: 4 ÷ 3 × π × radius³Cone: π × radius² × height ÷ 3Pyramid: length × width × height ÷ 3Where:
- π
- pi, about 3.14159
- 1 m³
- 1,000 litres
Measure every size in the same unit, or let the calculator convert: you can mix metres, centimetres and feet.
Worked example
For a box 2 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1 m high:
- Volume: 2 m × 1.5 m × 1 m = 3 m³
- That holds 3,000 litres, because each cubic metre is 1,000 litres.
Questions people ask
How many litres are in a cubic metre?
1,000. A cubic metre is a box 1 m on each side, and it holds 1,000 litres of water, which weighs about 1 tonne.
How do I work out the volume of a tank?
Measure the inside. For a rectangular tank, multiply length, width and depth. For a round tank, use the cylinder: half the diameter is the radius. The 'Holds' result shows how many litres or gallons it takes when full.
Why is a cone a third of a cylinder?
A cone with the same base and height as a cylinder holds exactly a third as much. The same is true of a pyramid and a box with the same base and height.
Last checked 26 October 2026