Density Calculator: Find Density, Mass or Volume

Find the density, mass or volume of a material, with the answer in several units.

Calculated from standard textbook formulas, with every step shown. The formulas are fixed, so the working does not need checking: what matters is the numbers you type in. Use these calculators only if you are competent to choose the inputs (loads, material strength, dimensions, supports) and check your units and assumptions. For learning and checking your own working: design and sign-off are for a qualified engineer. Drafting Central does not store the numbers you type.

How this calculator works

Choose which quantity you want to find.

Enter the other values in the units shown.

The calculator gives the answer with the formula, the substituted numbers, and the answer in other units.

Formulas used

  • \rho = \frac{m}{V}
  • m = \rho\,V
  • V = \frac{m}{\rho}

Worked example

With the default numbers in the calculator above:

  1. The formula, arranged to find the density: density = (mass) / (volume)
  2. Put the values in (every value in its SI unit): density = (2.7) / (0.001)
  3. The answer: density: 2700 kg/m3
  4. The same answer in other units: 2.7 g/cm3; 168.555 lb/ft3; 0.0975437 lb/in3

Change the numbers in the calculator to see the full working, every step, for your own case.

A second worked example

A different case, with these numbers: What do you want to find? Volume; Density (leave it as it is if this is what you are finding) 7850 kg/m3; Mass (leave it as it is if this is what you are finding) 78.5 kg.

  1. The formula, arranged to find the volume: volume = (mass) / (density)
  2. Put the values in (every value in its SI unit): volume = (78.5) / (7850)
  3. The answer: volume: 0.01 m3
  4. The same answer in other units: 10 litres; 10000 cm3; 0.353147 ft3; 2.64172 US gallons

Common questions

What is the formula for density?

Density equals mass divided by volume. A 2.7 kg block of 0.001 m3 has a density of 2700 kg/m3, which is aluminium.

How do I find the mass from the density?

Multiply the density by the volume.

How do I convert kg/m3 to g/cm3?

Divide by 1000. Water is 1000 kg/m3, which is 1 g/cm3.

Related calculators

Got a question about this? Ask an engineering question and get a plain-language answer with references.

Further reading: Any school physics text (density).

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