Volume measures three‑dimensional space occupied by a substance or shape. This guide covers definition, units, formulas, conversion, measurement, and applications.
What is Volume?
SI unit: cubic meter (m³). Everyday: liters (L), milliliters (mL). Compute via formulas or measure with graduated tools.
Key Concept:
Volume vs capacity: volume is space occupied; capacity is maximum a container can hold.
Units of Volume
Metric System
- m³ (SI)
- L = 0.001 m³
- mL = 0.001 L
- cm³ = 1 mL
US Customary
- gal = 3.785 L
- qt = 0.946 L
- pt = 0.473 L
- fl oz = 29.574 mL
Volume Formulas for Common Shapes
Cube
V = s³
s: edge length
Rectangular Prism
V = l×w×h
l length, w width, h height
Cylinder
V = πr²h
r radius, h height
Sphere
V = (4/3)πr³
r radius
Volume Conversion Table
| Unit | Liters (L) | Gallons (US) | Cubic Feet (ft³) | Cubic Meters (m³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 L | 1 | 0.2642 | 0.0353 | 0.001 |
| 1 gal (US) | 3.7854 | 1 | 0.1337 | 0.0038 |
| 1 ft³ | 28.3168 | 7.4805 | 1 | 0.0283 |
| 1 m³ | 1000 | 264.1721 | 35.3147 | 1 |
Measuring Volume
Graduated cylinder
Precise liquid measurements in labs.
Measuring cups
Kitchen tools for liquids and dry goods.
Flow meter
Volume of fluids through pipes.
Applications of Volume
Cooking
- Recipes
- Portions
- Baking precision
- Serving sizes
Construction
- Concrete
- Material estimates
- Space planning
- Storage
Science
- Reactions
- Density
- Gas laws
- Fluid dynamics
Transportation
- Fuel tanks
- Cargo space
- Containers
- Passengers
Did You Know?
Observable universe ≈ 4×10^80 m³; water molecule ≈ 3×10^-29 cm³.
Volume in Everyday Life
Common volumes
- Water bottle 500 mL
- Milk jug 3.785 L
- Pool 75,700 L
- Bathtub 190–265 L
- Car tank 45–75 L
Cooking equivalents
- 1 Tbsp = 15 mL
- 1 cup = 240 mL
- 1 qt = 0.946 L
- 1 gal = 3.785 L
- 1 tsp = 5 mL
Practical Tip:
Use spoon‑and‑level for dry ingredients; check liquids at eye level. Use a scale for precision.