How to Calculate Cylinder Size

Calculate the volume of hollow cylinders similarly to that of solid cylinders.

Cylinders have circular bases and straight sides. A simple calculation gives the total size of a cylinder, called the volume. You need to know the diameter of the base -- that is, the width of the circle -- and the height of the cylinder to find the volume. Record volume in units of distance cubed, such as inches^3 or m^3.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler or measuring tape
• Calculator (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the height of the cylinder and the diameter of its base.

2. Divide the diameter of the cylinder's base by two to obtain the radius.

3. Square the radius. In mathematics, "square" means to multiply a number by itself.

4. Multiply the squared radius by pi, which is approximately 3.14, to obtain the area of the cylinder's base.

5. Multiply this number by the height of the cylinder to get the volume.

Tips & Warnings

• For hollow cylinders, subtract the volume of the hollowed-out area from the total volume to find the volume of the solid part of the cylinder.

• Put all your measurements in the same units before beginning the calculation.

References

• Delta State University: Volume of a Cylinder
• Andrews University: Lateral & Surface Areas, Volumes