{
  "id": "pipe-volume",
  "version": "c1e61401e63d",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "Pipe Volume Calculator",
  "question": "What is the pipe volume?",
  "summary": "Works out how much water a pipe holds from its inner diameter (or outer diameter and wall) and length, in gallons, liters, cubic feet and cubic meters, with the weight of the water.",
  "category": "construction",
  "subcategory": "materials",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/pipe-volume-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/construction/pipe-volume-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "V = π × (d ÷ 2)² × L × n, with d the inner diameter (or outer diameter − 2 × wall); water weight = V × 999.07 kg/m³.",
  "assumptions": [
    "The pipe is a straight round tube, full of water. Fittings, bends and valves are not counted.",
    "Water weighs 0.99907 g/cm³ (62.366 lb/ft³) at 60 °F (15.6 °C); warmer water weighs a little less.",
    "1 US gallon is 231 in³ (3.785411784 L)."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "given": {
        "title": "I know the",
        "description": "The inner diameter, or the outer diameter and the wall thickness.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "inner",
          "outer"
        ]
      },
      "id": {
        "title": "Inner diameter",
        "description": "The distance across the inside of the pipe.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "od": {
        "title": "Outer diameter",
        "description": "The distance across the outside of the pipe.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "wall": {
        "title": "Wall thickness",
        "description": "The thickness of the pipe wall.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10
      },
      "length": {
        "title": "Pipe length",
        "description": "The length of one pipe.",
        "type": [
          "number",
          "string"
        ],
        "x-quantity": "length",
        "exclusiveMinimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      },
      "n": {
        "title": "Number of pipes",
        "description": "How many pipes of this size and length.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 1,
        "maximum": 1000000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "gallons": {
      "label": "US gallons",
      "description": "The water the pipes hold, in US gallons of 231 in³.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "liters": {
      "label": "Liters",
      "description": "The water the pipes hold, in liters.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "cubicFeet": {
      "label": "Cubic feet",
      "description": "The inside volume in cubic feet.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "cubicMeters": {
      "label": "Cubic meters",
      "description": "The inside volume in cubic meters.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "pounds": {
      "label": "Water weight (lb)",
      "description": "The weight of the water at 60 °F, in pounds.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "kilograms": {
      "label": "Water weight (kg)",
      "description": "The weight of the water at 60 °F (15.6 °C), in kilograms.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "perFoot": {
      "label": "Gallons per foot",
      "description": "The water one foot of this pipe holds.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "perMeter": {
      "label": "Liters per meter",
      "description": "The water one meter of this pipe holds.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "inner": {
      "label": "Inner diameter (in)",
      "description": "The inside diameter used, in inches.",
      "format": "number"
    },
    "innerMm": {
      "label": "Inner diameter (mm)",
      "description": "The inside diameter used, in millimeters.",
      "format": "number"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "given": "inner",
      "id": 0.0508,
      "od": 0.060325,
      "wall": 0.0039115999999999995,
      "length": 30.48,
      "n": 1
    },
    "outputs": {
      "gallons": 16.319961836830092,
      "liters": 61.77777585156692,
      "cubicFeet": 2.1816615649929116,
      "cubicMeters": 0.06177777585156692,
      "pounds": 136.07001925544947,
      "kilograms": 61.720322520024965,
      "perFoot": 0.16319961836830094,
      "perMeter": 2.0268299163899908,
      "inner": 2,
      "innerMm": 50.8
    },
    "text": "The pipes hold 16.32 US gallons (136.1 lb of water): 1 × 100 ft with an inside of 2 in."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "given": "inner",
        "id": 0.0508,
        "length": 30.48,
        "n": 1
      },
      "expect": {
        "gallons": 16.319961836830092,
        "perFoot": 0.16319961836830094,
        "cubicFeet": 2.1816615649929116
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: π × 1² × 1,200 = 3,769.91 in³ ÷ 231 = 16.32 gal; OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, §9.6 Solve Geometry Applications: Volume and Surface Area (V = πr²h). https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-6-solve-geometry-applications-volume-and-surface-area; NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement (1 in = 2.54 cm; 1 US gallon = 231 in³; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg). https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/nist-handbook-44-current-edition"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "given": "inner",
        "id": 0.1,
        "length": 10,
        "n": 3
      },
      "expect": {
        "cubicMeters": 0.23561944901923448,
        "liters": 235.61944901923448,
        "kilograms": 235.4003229316466
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: π × 0.05² × 10 × 3 = 0.235619 m³; × 999.07 kg/m³ = 235.40 kg; OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, §9.6 Solve Geometry Applications: Volume and Surface Area (V = πr²h). https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-6-solve-geometry-applications-volume-and-surface-area; USGS Water Science School, Water Density (0.99907 g/cm³ at 60 °F). https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-density"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "given": "outer",
        "od": 0.060325,
        "wall": 0.0039115999999999995,
        "length": 3.048,
        "n": 1
      },
      "expect": {
        "inner": 2.067,
        "gallons": 1.7431714357069092
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: 2.375 − 2 × 0.154 = 2.067 in; π × 1.0335² × 120 ÷ 231 = 1.7432 gal; OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, §9.6 Solve Geometry Applications: Volume and Surface Area (V = πr²h). https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-6-solve-geometry-applications-volume-and-surface-area; NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement (1 in = 2.54 cm; 1 US gallon = 231 in³; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg). https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/nist-handbook-44-current-edition"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, §9.6 Solve Geometry Applications: Volume and Surface Area (V = πr²h for a cylinder). https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-6-solve-geometry-applications-volume-and-surface-area (retrieved 2026-10-02)",
    "NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement (1 in = 2.54 cm; 1 US gallon = 231 in³ = 3.785411784 L; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg). https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/nist-handbook-44-current-edition (retrieved 2026-10-02)",
    "USGS Water Science School, Water Density (0.99907 g/cm³ and 62.366 lb/ft³ at 60 °F, 15.6 °C). https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-density (retrieved 2026-10-02)"
  ],
  "related": [
    "cylinder-volume",
    "tank-volume",
    "pool-volume",
    "cubic-feet"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}