Cylinder Volume in Cubic Feet
The volume of a cylinder is calculated using the formula V = πr²h, where r is the radius of the circular base and h is the height (or length) of the cylinder. When both measurements are in feet, the result is in cubic feet (ft³). Cubic feet is a commonly used unit of volume in the United States and United Kingdom for measuring capacity in construction, shipping, HVAC, and plumbing.
One cubic foot equals approximately 7.48052 US gallons, 28.3168 liters, or 1,728 cubic inches. These conversions are essential when working with fluid volumes, tank capacities, or material quantities.
Common Cylinder Volume Conversions
Cubic Feet to Gallons
Convert ft³ to US liquid gallons.
Cubic Feet to Liters
Convert ft³ to metric liters.
Cubic Feet to Cubic Inches
Convert ft³ to in³.
Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
Convert ft³ to yd³.
How to Measure a Cylinder
To calculate the volume of a cylindrical object in cubic feet:
- Measure the radius (or diameter) of the circular base in feet. If measuring the diameter, divide by 2 to get the radius.
- Measure the height (length) of the cylinder in feet.
- Apply the formula: V = π × r² × h.
- The result is the volume in cubic feet.
Practical Applications
- Water Tanks: Calculate how many gallons a cylindrical water tank can hold.
- Swimming Pools: Estimate the volume of water in a round swimming pool.
- Pipes & Ducts: Determine the volume of air or fluid flowing through cylindrical conduits.
- Silos & Bins: Compute the storage capacity of cylindrical grain silos.
- Concrete Work: Calculate the amount of concrete needed for cylindrical columns or footings.
Using Diameter Instead of Radius
If you know the diameter (d) instead of the radius, simply divide by 2: r = d/2. Then substitute into the formula: V = π(d/2)²h = πd²h/4. Both approaches yield the same result.
Converting Between Unit Systems
If your measurements are in inches, convert to feet first by dividing by 12 (since 1 foot = 12 inches). If in meters, multiply by 3.28084 to convert to feet. Alternatively, calculate the volume in the original units and convert the final result.