What is the difference between volume and capacity?

Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies. Capacity is the amount of substance (like a liquid) a container can hold. While they are closely related, 'volume' can refer to the object itself, whereas 'capacity' refers to the space inside it. For a solid cube, you calculate its volume. For a hollow box, you calculate its capacity.

How is volume related to area?

Area is a two-dimensional measurement (length × width) in square units. Volume is a three-dimensional measurement (length × width × height) in cubic units. For many regular shapes, you can think of the volume as the object's base area multiplied by its height.

Volume Calculator

Calculate the volume of common three-dimensional shapes.

Volume of a Cube

Side Length (a)

Share this calculator

About the Volume Calculator

Learn what volume is and its practical applications.

What is Volume?

Volume is the measure of three-dimensional space occupied by a substance or an object. It's essentially the amount of space that an object fills. Volume is quantified in cubic units, such as cubic meters (m³), cubic centimeters (cm³), or cubic feet (ft³).

How to Use This Calculator

Select the tab for the shape you want to calculate (Cube, Sphere, or Cylinder). Enter the required dimensions, such as side length for a cube, or radius and height for a cylinder. Click the "Calculate Volume" button to see the result.

Formulas Used

This calculator uses standard geometric formulas to find the volume of common shapes:

Cube: A cube has equal sides, so its volume is calculated by cubing the side length (Volume = side³).
Sphere: The volume of a sphere is found using the formula (4/3) × π × radius³.
Cylinder: The volume of a cylinder is the area of its circular base multiplied by its height (Volume = π × radius² × height).

Frequently Asked Questions

Practical Applications

Calculating volume is essential in many fields and everyday situations:

Shipping and Packaging: Determine the volume of a box to calculate shipping costs or optimize storage space.
Cooking and Baking: Measure the volume of ingredients using cups, liters, or milliliters.
Construction: Calculate the volume of concrete needed for a foundation or the amount of soil to be removed for an excavation.
Engineering: Design tanks, pipes, and vessels by calculating their capacity.