How to Calculate Cubic Centimeters

Have you ever had to fill a sandbox, a hole in the ground, or any other three-dimensional space? You need to know “cubic measurement”, aka volumetric measurement. To calculate the volume of a square, rectangle, cylinder, or pyramid in cubic centimeters, you can follow these simple steps.

Table of Contents

Square or rectangle

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Measure the length of the object. You can measure in centimeters.

Example: 8 cm.

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Measure the width of the object. We recommend that you use the same measurement for width to maintain consistency.

Example: 16 cm.

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Multiply the length by the width. You will get the result of calculating the bottom surface of the object.

For example: 8 cm x 16 cm = 128 cm².

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Measure the height of the object. Write the number on paper.

Example: 27 cm.

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Multiply the area of the base by the height. You get a three-dimensional result, aka a block result.

For example: 128 cm² x 27 cm = 3,456 cm³.

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Convert block units if necessary. To convert cm³ to m³, divide the result by 1,000,000.

For example: 3.456 cm³ / 1,000,000 = 0.003456 m³.

Cylinder

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Measure the width of a round base and divide this number by half. Half the width of a circle is also known as the radius . You can measure in centimeters.

For example: 20 cm / 2 = 10 cm.

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Multiply the radius by itself. This calculation is similar to the square of the radius.

For example: 10 cm x 10 cm = 100 cm².

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Multiply the square of the radius by the number pi. If your calculator doesn’t have a pi node (or if you want to use an approximation), you can multiply it by 3.14 . The result will be the area of one round base of the object.

For example: 100 cm x 3.14 = 314 cm².

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Measure the distance between the two rounded bottoms of the cylinder. Depending on the shape of the cylinder, this number could be its length or height. Write the results on paper.

Example: 11 cm.

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Multiply the area of a circular base of the cylinder by this distance. You will have a three-dimensional result, aka a block result.

For example: 314 cm² x 11 cm = 3,454 cm³.

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Convert block units if necessary. To convert cm³ to m³, divide the result by 1000000.

For example: 3.454 cm³ / 1,000,000 = 0.003454 m³.

Triangular pyramid

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Measure the “bottom face” of the pyramid. This is the length of one side of the base of the triangle. You can measure in centimeters.

Example: 9 cm.

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Measure the “height” of the base of the pyramid. It is the distance between the edge you just measured and the point directly opposite it on the bottom face. It is recommended that you use the same measurement for height to maintain consistency.

Example: 12 cm.

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Multiply “base” by “height” and divide by 2. The result you get will be the area of the base of the triangle of the pyramid.

For example: 9 cm x 12 cm = 108 cm².
- 108 cm² / 2 = 54 cm².

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Measure the height of the pyramid. Remember to measure in a straight line from the base to the top of the pyramid, not diagonally along one of its steep sides. Write down the number.

Example: 32 cm.

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Multiply the area of the base by the height of the pyramid. You get a three-dimensional result, aka a block result.

For example: 54 cm² x 32 cm = 1,728 cm³.

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Divide this number by 3. Since length times width times height will give you the volume of the cube , not the pyramid, you need to adjust this to find the volume of the pyramid. To do this, you should divide it by 3. This method is applicable to all types of pyramids.

For example: 1,728 cm³ / 3 = 576 cm³.

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Convert block units if necessary. To convert cm³ to m³, divide the result by 1,000,000.

For example: 576 cm³ / 1,000,000 = 0.000576 m³.

tetrahedral pyramid

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Measure the length of the base of the cone. You can measure in centimeters.

Example: 8 cm.

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Measure the width of the base of the cone. We recommend that you use the same measurement for width to maintain consistency.

Example: 18 cm.

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Multiply the length by the width. You will get the area of the base of the pyramid.

For example: 8 cm x 18 cm = 144 c².

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Measure the height of the pyramid. Remember to measure in a straight line from the base to the top of the pyramid, not diagonally along one of its steep sides. Write this number down on paper.

Example: 18 cm.

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Multiply the area of the base by the height of the pyramid. You get a three-dimensional result, aka a block result.

For example: 144 cm² x 18 cm = 2592 cm³.

Advice

Pay attention to whether the units for measuring the inches are consistent, if not, you will need to convert the measurements to the same unit.
The basic idea of three-dimensional computation is to find the area of the base and multiply it by the height to add a third dimension. Of course, this will be quite complicated for bases that are irregular in shape (e.g. circle, triangle) or possess steep edges (e.g. pyramid, cone).
When converting cubic centimeters to cubic meters, you divide the measurement by 1,000,000, when converting from cubic meters to cubic centimeters, multiply the measurement by 1,000,000.

Things you need

Instrumentation or ruler
Ballpoint pens
Paper
Computer

Steps