Pipe Volume Calculator

Calculate the internal volume of a pipe or tube in gallons, litres, or cubic feet from pipe diameter and length.

Share this calculator

Result

1.63 gallons

Internal volume of the pipe.

Cubic feet
0.22
Cubic inches
376.99
Liters
6.18
Water weight
13.61 lbs

Also in Plumbing & HVAC

Plumbing & Piping

Finding the internal volume of a pipe

A pipe volume calculator computes the liquid capacity of a pipe or tube from its internal diameter and length. This guide covers the cylinder volume formula, common unit conversions, and practical uses for pipe volume calculations.

Pipe volume formula

The internal volume of a pipe is the volume of a cylinder: pi times the internal radius squared times the length. When working in inches for diameter and feet for length, convert units before multiplying, then convert cubic inches to gallons (one US gallon equals 231 cubic inches).

Use the internal diameter, not the nominal pipe size. A nominal 1-inch copper pipe has an internal diameter of about 1.055 inches (Type M) or 0.995 inches (Type L).

V = pi x (d/2)^2 x L

V is volume, d is internal diameter, and L is pipe length. All dimensions must use the same units.

1 US gallon = 231 cubic inches

Conversion factor for translating pipe volume to gallons.

Practical applications

Pipe volume is used to calculate the amount of water in a hydronic heating system, the volume of antifreeze needed for a chilled water loop, the first-draw volume for a lead-and-copper water test, and the fill volume for pressure testing.

Frequently asked questions

How many gallons are in 100 feet of 1-inch copper pipe?

Using Type M copper (1.055-inch ID), the volume is about 4.5 gallons. Type L (0.995-inch ID) holds about 4.0 gallons.

Should I use nominal or actual pipe diameter?

Always use the actual internal diameter. Nominal pipe size is a label, not a measurement, and the actual ID varies by pipe material and wall thickness schedule.

Related

More from nearby categories

These related calculators come from the same leaf category, nearby sibling categories, or the same top-level topic.