Cylinder Density Calculator
Find the density of any solid cylinder by entering its mass, radius and height — useful for material identification, laboratory experiments and engineering checks.
g
cm
cm
Mass per unit volume of the cylindrical object (g/cm³)
0.509 g/cm³
density- 1
Cylinder volume
π × 2.5² × 10 = 196.3495Volume of a right circular cylinder: V = π × r² × h. - 2
Density (g/cm³)
100 ÷ 196.3495 = 0.5093
How does this calculator work?
Density of a solid cylinder = mass ÷ (π × r² × h). Inputs in g and cm give g/cm³ (×1 000 for kg/m³). Example: a 100 g cylinder with r = 2.5 cm and h = 10 cm has volume = π × 6.25 × 10 ≈ 196.35 cm³ and density ≈ 0.509 g/cm³ — close to white pine wood.
Formula
How this is calculated
Density (ρ) is the ratio of mass to volume — the amount of matter packed into a given space. For a right circular cylinder with radius r and height h, the volume is V = π × r² × h. Dividing the measured mass by this volume gives density: ρ = m / (π × r² × h). The calculator uses grams and centimetres as inputs, giving density in g/cm³ — the standard unit in material-density tables — and converts to kg/m³ by multiplying by 1 000.
Comparing the result to known reference values lets you identify the material: pure water is 1.00 g/cm³, aluminium 2.70, glass 2.4–2.8, iron 7.87, copper 8.96, lead 11.34 and gold 19.3 g/cm³. Wood species range from ~0.12 (balsa) to ~0.90 (oak). If your measured density matches a reference closely, the object is likely made of that material.
Measurement tip: use Vernier calipers for diameter (radius = diameter / 2) and height; a balance for mass. Because radius is squared in the volume formula, a 1% error in r causes a 2% error in density — so measuring radius carefully matters more than height. For hollow cylinders (pipes), this formula gives the average density including interior air; use V = π × h × (R_outer² − R_inner²) for wall material density instead.
Frequently asked questions
Use Vernier or digital calipers to measure the outer diameter at two or three positions around the cylinder, then divide the average by 2. For small cylinders, a micrometer gives even better precision. Avoid measuring near cut ends where material may be compressed or irregular.
Water: 1.00 · Ice: 0.92 · Aluminium: 2.70 · Glass: 2.4–2.8 · Iron: 7.87 · Copper: 8.96 · Lead: 11.34 · Gold: 19.3 · Balsa wood: 0.12–0.20 · Oak: 0.60–0.90 · Concrete: ~2.30. All values at approximately 20°C; density changes slightly with temperature.
Only if you want the overall average density (which includes interior air). For the wall material density, compute volume as π × h × (R_outer² − R_inner²) and divide the mass by that. This calculator uses only one radius input and assumes a solid cylinder throughout.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Cylinder Density Calculator [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/density-cylinder-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Cylinder Density Calculator." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/density-cylinder-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Cylinder Density Calculator," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/density-cylinder-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_density_cylinder_calculator, title = {Cylinder Density Calculator}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/density-cylinder-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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