Cylinder Volume to Gallons Calculator

Calculate the volume of a cylinder in US gallons from radius and height measurements in feet or inches.

Enter Cylinder Dimensions

Result

Volume
--
US gallons
Volume (cubic feet) --
Volume (cubic inches) --
Volume (liters) --
Radius used --
Height used --

Step-by-Step Solution

V = pi x r^2 x h

How to Calculate Cylinder Volume in Gallons

Calculating the volume of a cylinder in gallons is a common task in many practical applications, from determining how much water a tank can hold to sizing storage containers for liquids. The process involves two main steps: first calculating the volume of the cylinder in cubic units, and then converting that volume to US gallons.

The Cylinder Volume Formula

The volume of a cylinder is calculated using the formula V = pi x r2 x h, where r is the radius of the circular base and h is the height (or length) of the cylinder. The radius is the distance from the center of the circle to its edge, which is half the diameter.

Converting to US Gallons

Once you have the volume in cubic units, you need to convert it to gallons. The key conversion factors are:

  • 1 cubic foot = 7.48052 US gallons
  • 1 cubic inch = 0.004329 US gallons
  • 1 US gallon = 231 cubic inches
  • 1 US gallon = 3.78541 liters

Common Conversion Factors

Cubic Feet to Gallons

Multiply cubic feet by 7.48052 to get US gallons.

1 ft^3 = 7.48052 gal

Cubic Inches to Gallons

Divide cubic inches by 231 to get US gallons.

1 gal = 231 in^3

Gallons to Liters

Multiply US gallons by 3.78541 to get liters.

1 gal = 3.78541 L

Cylinder Volume

The basic formula for a cylinder uses pi, radius squared, and height.

V = pi x r^2 x h

Practical Applications

Knowing the gallon capacity of a cylinder is essential in many industries and everyday situations:

  • Water tanks and cisterns: Determining how much water a cylindrical tank can store for residential or agricultural use.
  • Fuel storage: Calculating the capacity of cylindrical fuel tanks for vehicles, generators, or heating systems.
  • Swimming pools: Estimating the water volume needed for circular or cylindrical pools.
  • Brewing and winemaking: Sizing fermentation vessels and storage barrels.
  • Industrial processing: Planning chemical storage and mixing vessel capacities.

Important Notes

This calculator uses US gallons (not Imperial gallons). One US gallon equals approximately 3.785 liters, while one Imperial gallon equals approximately 4.546 liters. Always verify which gallon measurement is required for your specific application.

Tips for Accurate Measurements

  • Measure the internal dimensions of the cylinder for liquid capacity calculations.
  • If you know the diameter, divide by 2 to get the radius before entering it into the calculator.
  • Ensure your radius and height measurements use the same unit (both feet or both inches).
  • For tanks that are not perfectly cylindrical, consider measuring at multiple points and averaging.
  • Account for any internal obstructions (pipes, baffles) that reduce the effective volume.