Cubic Inches Cylinder Calculator

Calculate the volume of a cylinder in cubic inches from radius and height, with conversions to cubic feet, gallons, liters, and more.

Enter Cylinder Dimensions (in Inches)

Result

Volume
502.654825
cubic inches (in³)
Radius 4 in
Height 10 in
Volume (in³) 502.654825 in³
Volume (ft³) 0.290895 ft³
Volume (US Gallons) 2.18 gal
Volume (Liters) 8.24 L
Volume (mL) 8,236.73 mL
Volume (cm³) 8,236.73 cm³

Step-by-Step Solution

V = πr²h = π × 4² × 10 = 502.654825 in³

Cylinder Volume in Cubic Inches

Cubic inches (in³) is a unit of volume commonly used in the United States, especially in automotive, manufacturing, and engineering contexts. The displacement of an engine, for example, is traditionally measured in cubic inches (e.g., a "350 cubic inch" V8 engine). This calculator computes the volume of a cylinder in cubic inches from the radius and height measured in inches.

The formula V = πr²h gives the volume of a right circular cylinder, where r is the base radius and h is the height. When both measurements are in inches, the result is in cubic inches.

Volume Conversion Reference

Cubic Inches to Cubic Feet

Convert in³ to ft³.

1 ft³ = 1,728 in³

Cubic Inches to US Gallons

Convert in³ to US liquid gallons.

1 US gal = 231 in³

Cubic Inches to Liters

Convert in³ to metric liters.

1 in³ = 0.016387 L

Cubic Inches to mL/cm³

Convert in³ to milliliters (same as cm³).

1 in³ = 16.387064 mL

How to Calculate Cylinder Volume in Cubic Inches

  1. Measure the radius of the circular base in inches. If you have the diameter, divide it by 2.
  2. Measure the height (or length) of the cylinder in inches.
  3. Square the radius: r²
  4. Multiply by π (approximately 3.14159): π × r²
  5. Multiply by the height: V = π × r² × h

Automotive Engine Displacement

In the automotive world, engine displacement is the total volume swept by all pistons in the engine's cylinders. Each cylinder is approximately cylindrical, so the displacement of one cylinder is V = πr²h, where r is the bore radius and h is the stroke length. The total engine displacement is this value multiplied by the number of cylinders. Classic American engines were commonly described by their total displacement in cubic inches (CID), such as the Ford 302, Chevy 350, or Dodge 440.

Practical Uses for Cubic Inches

  • Engine displacement: Measuring the swept volume of pistons in automotive and motorcycle engines.
  • Shipping: Calculating package volumes for shipping cost estimation.
  • Manufacturing: Determining material volumes for CNC machining and 3D printing.
  • Cooking: Converting between volume measurements for cylindrical containers and molds.
  • Hydraulics: Sizing hydraulic cylinders for force and flow calculations.

Converting Diameter to Radius

Many real-world measurements give the diameter rather than the radius (e.g., pipe diameter, bore size). To use the cylinder volume formula, simply divide the diameter by 2 to get the radius. Alternatively, use the diameter form: V = π(d/2)²h = πd²h/4.

Tips for Accuracy

When measuring real cylindrical objects, take multiple measurements at different points to account for slight variations. For pipes and tubes, note whether you are measuring the inner diameter (for fluid volume) or outer diameter (for material volume). The wall thickness makes a significant difference in the calculated volume.