Cylinder Volume Formula: Tank, Pipe & Column Guide
Cylinder volume formula V = πr²h. Calculate tank capacity in gallons, pipe volume, and concrete column yards with worked examples and a full conversion chart.
Cylinder Volume Formula — Direct Answer
The cylinder volume formula is V = π × r² × h, where r is the radius and h is the height. A cylinder with 5 ft radius and 10 ft height has a volume of 785 cubic feet (5,870 gallons). If you know the diameter, divide by 2 first. Volume converts to gallons, liters, or cubic yards using standard factors.
→ Calculate cylinder volume with our free cylinder calculator
How to Calculate Cylinder Volume
Every cylinder problem uses the same formula. Only the units change.
V = π × r² × h
Where:
- V = volume
- π = 3.14159
- r = radius (half of diameter)
- h = height (or length for horizontal cylinders)
How to measure radius and height
Radius: From center to edge. If you only have diameter, divide by 2. Height: Vertical distance between the two circular bases.
Example: A cylindrical tank with 4 ft diameter and 6 ft height:
- Radius = 4 ÷ 2 = 2 ft
- Volume = π × 2² × 6 = π × 24 = 75.4 cubic feet
How to convert to gallons, liters, or yards
| From cubic feet | Multiply by |
|---|---|
| Gallons (US) | 7.48052 |
| Liters | 28.3168 |
| Cubic yards | 0.037037 |
| Cubic meters | 0.0283168 |
Example: 75.4 cubic feet
- = 564 gallons
- = 2,135 liters
- = 2.79 cubic yards
How to apply to real tanks and columns
Example 1: Concrete column, 12" diameter, 10 ft tall
- Radius = 0.5 ft
- Volume = π × 0.25 × 10 = 7.85 cu ft = 0.29 cubic yards
Example 2: Water tank, 8 ft diameter, 6 ft tall
- Radius = 4 ft
- Volume = π × 16 × 6 = 301.6 cu ft = 2,256 gallons
Example 3: 4" pipe, 100 ft long
- Radius = 2" = 0.167 ft
- Volume = π × 0.0278 × 100 = 8.73 cu ft = 65 gallons
Cylinder Volume Chart by Size
Common tank sizes
| Diameter | Height | Volume (cu ft) | Gallons | Liters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 ft | 3 ft | 9.42 | 70 | 267 |
| 3 ft | 3 ft | 21.21 | 159 | 600 |
| 4 ft | 4 ft | 50.27 | 376 | 1,423 |
| 5 ft | 5 ft | 98.18 | 734 | 2,780 |
| 6 ft | 6 ft | 169.65 | 1,269 | 4,803 |
| 8 ft | 6 ft | 301.59 | 2,256 | 8,539 |
| 10 ft | 8 ft | 628.32 | 4,700 | 17,792 |
| 12 ft | 8 ft | 904.78 | 6,768 | 25,621 |
Concrete column volumes
| Diameter | Height | Volume (cu ft) | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8" | 8 ft | 2.79 | 0.10 |
| 10" | 8 ft | 4.36 | 0.16 |
| 12" | 8 ft | 6.28 | 0.23 |
| 12" | 10 ft | 7.85 | 0.29 |
| 16" | 10 ft | 13.96 | 0.52 |
| 18" | 12 ft | 21.21 | 0.79 |
| 24" | 12 ft | 37.70 | 1.40 |
Pipe volumes per 100 linear feet
| Pipe Diameter | Cu Ft | Gallons |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 0.55 | 4.08 |
| 2" | 2.18 | 16.32 |
| 3" | 4.91 | 36.72 |
| 4" | 8.73 | 65.31 |
| 6" | 19.63 | 146.94 |
| 8" | 34.91 | 261.22 |
Common Cylinder Volume Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using diameter instead of radius
π × d² gives a volume 4× too large. This is the #1 error. Fix: Always halve the diameter before squaring.
Mistake 2: Mixing units
Radius in inches and height in feet produces meaningless volume. Fix: Convert everything to the same unit before calculating.
Mistake 3: Forgetting unit conversion to gallons
Cubic feet × 7.48 = gallons. Many people miss this step. Fix: After computing cubic feet, multiply by the appropriate conversion factor.
Cylinder Volume vs Other Shapes
Volume of a cylinder
- Formula: π × r² × h
- Use: Tanks, pipes, columns, cans
Volume of a sphere
- Formula: (4/3) × π × r³
- Use: Balls, domes, round tanks
Volume of a cone
- Formula: (1/3) × π × r² × h
- Use: Funnels, cones, conical piles
Volume of a box
- Formula: L × W × H
- Use: Rectangles, containers
Cylinder Volume FAQ
What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder?
V = π × r² × h where r is radius and h is height. For a 5 ft radius, 10 ft height: V = 3.14 × 25 × 10 = 785 cubic feet.
How do I calculate the volume of a cylinder in gallons?
Calculate cubic feet using V = πr²h, then multiply by 7.48052 gallons per cubic foot.
How do I calculate the volume of a cylinder with diameter?
Use diameter ÷ 2 for radius, then apply V = πr²h. For a 10 ft diameter and 8 ft height: radius = 5, V = 3.14 × 25 × 8 = 628 cu ft.
How many gallons in a 4 ft × 6 ft cylindrical tank?
A 4 ft diameter tank that's 6 ft tall holds 564 gallons (4 ÷ 2 = 2 ft radius; π × 4 × 6 = 75.4 cu ft × 7.48 = 564).
How do I calculate the volume of a concrete column?
Same formula: V = πr²h. For a 12" diameter, 10 ft column: V = 3.14 × 0.25 × 10 = 7.85 cu ft = 0.29 cubic yards.
Next Steps for Your Cylinder Project
- Cylinder Volume Calculator — Volume, gallons, liters
- Concrete Column Calculator — Round columns
- Water Tank Calculator — Cylindrical tanks
- Pond Volume Calculator — Round ponds
- Area of a Circle Guide — Circle geometry
Last updated October 2026. Add 5–10% for waste in concrete and material calculations.