Calculate density from mass and volume, or reverse the formula to find either missing measurement. Select units independently: the calculator converts them before performing the calculation.
How to use the density calculator
Choose Find density, Find mass, or Find volume. Enter the two known measurements and select all three units, including the unit for the answer. Values must be positive. The tool reports all three quantities so you can check the relationship.
Formula
density = mass / volume
mass = density × volume
volume = mass / density
These equations require compatible units. For example, kilograms divided by liters gives kg/L, while kilograms divided by cubic meters gives kg/m³. One liter is 0.001 m³, so 1 kg/L equals 1,000 kg/m³.
Examples
Find density from a sample
A sample with mass 500 g occupies 250 mL. Its density is 2 g/mL, equivalent to 2,000 kg/m³. Choose Find density, enter the sample mass and volume, then select the desired density unit.
Estimate a material's mass
At a specified density of 800 kg/m³, a volume of 10 L has mass 8 kg. Ten liters is 0.01 m³, and 800 × 0.01 = 8.
Find the required container volume
For 5 kg of material at 2 g/cm³, the volume is 2.5 L. This describes the material volume, not extra container space or packing gaps.
Density, bulk density, and measurement conditions
A solid material's density and a loose pile's bulk density can differ because the pile includes air gaps. Use bulk density when estimating gravel, grain, or other loose materials in a container. For liquids and gases, match the temperature and pressure of your density data to your measurements.
Mass in kilograms or pounds is different from force. This tool uses pounds as a mass unit, not pound-force. It does not infer a substance or automatically adjust its density for temperature. Use the cooking converters for ingredient-specific estimates and the gravel calculator for area, depth, and delivery quantities.
Precision and unit definitions
Results use the entered measurements without intermediate rounding. Display rounding cannot make approximate measurements more accurate. The conversion factors follow conventional SI, international pound, international foot, and liquid-gallon definitions. See NIST's conversion-factor reference.