Formula
Cube: V = a³Box: V = l × w × hCylinder: V = πr²hSphere: V = ⁴⁄₃πr³Cone: V = ⅓πr²hPyramid: V = ⅓ × base area × h How it works
Volume measures how much three-dimensional space a solid takes up, in cubic units. For prisms and cylinders — shapes with the same cross-section all the way up — volume is simply the base area multiplied by the height.
Cones and pyramids taper to a point, and they hold exactly one third of the prism or cylinder with the same base and height. That is where the ⅓ in their formulas comes from. A sphere holds two thirds of the cylinder that just encloses it.
Surface area is the total area of all the outside faces — useful for working out how much paint, wrapping or material a shape needs. The cone and pyramid surface areas use the slant height, the distance measured along the sloping side, which the calculator finds with the Pythagorean theorem.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cubic centimetres to litres?
1 litre is exactly 1000 cm³, and 1 cm³ is the same as 1 mL. Switch the output unit to litres or millilitres to convert automatically.
Does the height of a cone mean the slant side?
No — h is the vertical height from the centre of the base straight up to the tip. The slanted length is the slant height, which is longer.