Diameter instead of radius?

Divide diameter by 2 to get radius first.

Volume of a Cone Calculator

How to Use

Enter radius and height in the same units. Volume appears in cubic units.

Formula

V = (1/3)π r² h

Cone volume guide (formula, units, and practical usage)

Understand how cone volume works, how to handle units correctly, and when this geometry formula applies in real calculations.

What is cone volume?

The volume of a cone is the amount of three-dimensional space inside it. For a right circular cone, the standard formula is V = (1/3)pi r2 h, where r is the radius of the base and h is the perpendicular height from base to tip.

Why the one-third appears in the formula

A cone with the same base and height as a cylinder occupies exactly one-third of the cylinder's volume. Since a cylinder volume is pi r2 h, a cone is (1/3)pi r2 h. This relationship helps you validate results quickly.

Inputs explained

Radius (r): distance from the center of the circular base to its edge.
Height (h): straight vertical distance from base plane to apex.
Volume unit: output can be shown in cm3, m3, in3, or ft3.

Unit conversion and accuracy tips

Use consistent units for radius and height before comparing scenarios.
If your input is diameter, convert first: r = diameter / 2.
Keep more decimals during calculation and round only at the end to reduce error.
For engineering or manufacturing use, match the precision level required by your tolerance spec.

Real-world use cases

Cone volume calculations are commonly used for funnels, hoppers, conical tanks, piles of material, and geometry coursework. In design contexts, this helps estimate capacity, material requirements, and flow-related sizing.

When this model may not fit

This calculator assumes an ideal circular cone. If the shape is truncated, elliptical, or irregular, use a frustum or custom-volume method instead. For tilted or oblique forms, confirm that your chosen height is still the perpendicular height.