Cylinder Volume Liters Calculator

Enter a cylinder's radius and height to get its volume in liters, milliliters, US gallons, and cubic meters using V = π × r² × h.

Quick Facts

Volume formula
V = π × r² × h
r is the radius and h is the height, in the same length unit.
Liter conversion
1 L = 1000 cm³ = 0.001 m³
Multiply a cubic-meter result by 1000 to get liters.
Radius vs. diameter
r = d ÷ 2
Always enter the radius — half the diameter — not the full diameter.

Your Results

Calculated
Volume (Liters)
-
V = π × r² × h, converted to liters
Volume (Milliliters)
-
1 L = 1000 mL
Volume (US Gallons)
-
1 US gal ≈ 3.7854 L
Volume (Cubic Meters)
-
1 m³ = 1000 L

Ready

Enter the radius, height, and unit, then press Calculate.

Formula and Method for Cylinder Volume in Liters

Volume of a Cylinder:

V = π × r² × h

r = radius; h = height (same length unit)

A cylinder's volume is the area of its circular base (π × r²) multiplied by its height. Tanks, pipes, and containers are usually measured in centimeters, inches, or feet but rated by liquid capacity in liters, so this calculator converts the raw cubic result into liters, milliliters, US gallons, and cubic meters automatically.

How the calculation works

Enter the radius and height using the same length unit, then choose that unit from the dropdown. The calculator first converts both measurements to meters, computes the volume in cubic meters with V = π × r² × h, then multiplies by 1000 to get liters (since 1 m³ = 1000 L). From liters it derives milliliters (× 1000) and US gallons (÷ 3.785411784).

Common mistakes

  • Entering diameter instead of radius: the radius is half the diameter. Using the full diameter as the radius overstates the volume by 4×.
  • Mixed units: radius and height must use the same unit before you pick it from the dropdown — do not enter one in centimeters and the other in inches.
  • Confusing US and Imperial gallons: this calculator reports US gallons (3.785 L each); an Imperial (UK) gallon is larger, at about 4.546 L.

Real-world applications

  • Sizing water tanks, rain barrels, and fuel drums in liters or gallons before purchase
  • Estimating how much liquid a cylindrical pot, bucket, or vase holds
  • Calculating pipe or tube interior volume for flow and capacity planning
  • Converting lab glassware or industrial vessel dimensions into liquid capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder in liters?
The volume of a cylinder is V = π × r² × h, where r is the radius and h is the height in the same length unit. This gives a result in cubic units of that length; to convert cubic meters to liters, multiply by 1000 (1 m³ = 1000 L), and to convert cubic centimeters to liters, divide by 1000 (1000 cm³ = 1 L).
Do I enter the radius or the diameter?
Enter the radius, not the diameter. The radius is half the diameter — if you only know the diameter, divide it by 2 first. Using the diameter in place of the radius makes the calculated volume four times too large.
How do I convert cylinder volume to US gallons?
Divide the volume in liters by 3.785411784, since 1 US gallon equals about 3.785 liters. For example, a cylinder holding 100 liters holds roughly 26.42 US gallons.

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