Hollow Cylinder Calculator

A hollow cylinder is a three-dimensional shape formed by subtracting a smaller inner cylinder from a larger outer cylinder that share the same central axis. Common real-world examples include pipes, tubes, thick-walled jars, and cylindrical containers with walls.

The volume of a hollow cylinder is calculated by subtracting the volume of the inner cylinder from the outer cylinder: V = π × h × (R² − r²), where R is the outer radius, r is the inner radius, and h is the height. Alternatively, if you know wall thickness t, the inner radius is r = R − t.

Using the formula V = π × h × (R² − r²): V = π × 12 × (64 − 16) = π × 12 × 48 ≈ 1809.56 cubic units. Our calculator computes this automatically when you enter those values.

Wall thickness is simply the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius: t = R − r. If you know the thickness instead of the inner radius, the inner radius can be found as r = R − t. This calculator accepts both inputs.

This calculator supports millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), meters (m), inches (in), and feet (ft). The volume result is returned in the corresponding cubic unit (e.g., cm³ or in³).

Yes. Select 'Wall Thickness' as your input mode and enter the thickness of the cylinder wall. The calculator will automatically compute the inner radius as R − t and use it in the volume formula.

Hollow cylinder volume calculations are used in plumbing (sizing pipes), manufacturing (estimating material usage for tubes), construction (concrete columns with hollow cores), and engineering (hydraulic cylinders, engine components). Knowing the volume helps estimate weight, capacity, and material costs.

This calculator assumes a standard right hollow cylinder where both inner and outer cylinders share the same central axis and the top and bottom faces are flat and parallel. For asymmetric or oblique hollow cylinders, the geometry becomes more complex and would require additional parameters.