Multiple shapes
Calculate rectangular prisms, cubes, cylinders, cones, trenches and custom volumes.
Volume and Cubic Meter Calculator
Calculate volume and cubic meters for rectangular prisms, cubes, cylinders, cones and trenches. Enter dimensions in your preferred unit and convert the result to liters, cubic feet and gallons.
Multiple units
Enter dimensions in millimeters, centimeters, meters, inches or feet.
Automatic conversions
Get cubic meters, liters, cubic feet, cubic inches and US gallons.
Free online tool
Volume and Cubic Meter Calculator
Calculate volume and cubic meters for prisms, cubes, cylinders, cones and trenches and convert the result to liters and other units.
Example: 2 m × 1.5 m × 0.5 m = 1.5 m³ = 1,500 liters.
Results are approximate. Verify actual dimensions, element geometry and project tolerances before using the result for purchasing, estimating or construction.
How to calculate volume
Volume represents the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object and is expressed in cubic units.
The formula depends on the geometric shape. For a rectangular prism, multiply length, width and height.
The calculator converts every dimension to meters before calculating and then generates the equivalent values automatically.
Rectangular prism
Volume = length × width × height
Main conversion
1 m³ = 1,000 liters
Quick equivalents
0.1 m³ = 100 liters0.5 m³ = 500 liters1 m³ = 1,000 liters2 m³ = 2,000 liters
Trench volume example
Trench dimensions
Length12 m
Width0.60 m
Depth0.80 m
Quantity1
Geometric result
The trench volume is:
12 × 0.60 × 0.80 = 5.76 m³
This volume is equal to:
5,760 liters
It is also approximately equal to 203.4 cubic feet.
The result does not include excavated material expansion or sloped trench sides.
Prisms, cubes and trenches
Rectangular prisms can represent tanks, boxes, rooms, storage areas and construction elements.
A cube uses the same measurement for length, width and height.
The trench option uses length, width and depth and is suitable for uniform rectangular sections.
Cylinders and cones
Cylinder volume depends on the base radius and height.
The calculator asks for the diameter and divides it by two to obtain the radius.
A cone with the same base and height as a cylinder has one-third of its volume.
Volume conversions
The main result is expressed in cubic meters and automatically converted to cubic centimeters, liters, cubic feet, cubic inches and US gallons.
These conversions help compare capacities and quantities between metric and imperial systems.
Geometric volume and actual quantity
The calculator obtains the mathematical volume of the selected shape.
Purchasing and construction quantities may require waste, expansion, compaction, shrinkage, slopes, irregularities or tolerance factors.
Volume calculations in Panama projects
Construction projects use cubic meters to quantify concrete, excavation, fill, tanks, cisterns and earthworks.
Final quantities should be based on drawings, surveys and specifications while considering actual terrain conditions and material factors.
Visit MG Architecture & EngineeringVolume calculation questions
How do I calculate cubic meters?
For a rectangular shape, multiply length by width by height using the same unit for every dimension. When all measurements are in meters, the result is obtained directly in cubic meters.
How many liters are in one cubic meter?
One cubic meter is exactly equal to 1,000 liters.
How do I calculate liters from length, width and height?
Calculate the volume first. When dimensions are in meters, multiply length × width × height to get cubic meters, then multiply the result by 1,000 to convert it to liters.
How do I calculate rectangular prism volume?
Multiply the prism length by its width and height.
How do I calculate cube volume?
Raise the side length to the third power, which means multiplying the side by itself three times.
How do I calculate cylinder volume?
Multiply π by the radius squared and by the cylinder height. When the diameter is known, divide it by two to obtain the radius.
How do I calculate cone volume?
Multiply π by the radius squared and by the height, then divide the result by three.
How do I calculate trench volume?
For a rectangular trench, multiply length by width by depth. Trenches with sloped sides or changing sections require a more detailed calculation.
Can I enter dimensions in centimeters or feet?
Yes. The calculator accepts millimeters, centimeters, meters, inches and feet and converts each dimension internally to meters.
What does custom volume mean?
It allows you to enter a known volume directly in cubic meters and convert it to liters, cubic feet, cubic inches and US gallons.
Does the calculator include waste or material expansion?
No. The tool calculates geometric volume. Waste, compaction, expansion or shrinkage factors must be applied according to the material and construction work.