How to Find the Volume of a Cone

Find the radius. If you already know the radius, then you can move on to the next step. If you know the diameter, divide it by 2 to get the radius. If you know the circumference, divide it by 2π to get the diameter. And if you don't know any of the measurements of the shape, just use a ruler to measure the widest pie circular base (the diameter) and divide that number by 2 to get the radius. Let's say the radius of this cone's circular base is .5 inches (1.3 cm).

Use the radius to find the area of the base circle. To find the area of the base circle, you can just use the same formula you'd use to find the area of a circle: A = πr. Plug ".5" in for r to get A = π(.5) and square the radius and multiply it by the value of π to find the area of the circular base. π(.5) = .79 in..

Find the height of the cone. If you know it already, write it down. If you don't know it, use a ruler to measure it. Let's say the height of the cone is 1.5 inches (1.3 cm). Make sure that the height of the cone is written in the same measurements as the radius.

Multiply the area of the base by the height of the cone. Multiply the area of the base, .79 in., by the height, 1.5 in. So, .79 in. x 1.5 in = 1.19 in.

Divide the product by three. Simply divide 1.19 in. by 3 to find the volume of a cone. 1.19 in./3 = .40 in.. Always state the volume in cubic units because it's a measure of three-dimensional space. EXPERT TIP Joseph Meyer Joseph Meyer Math Teacher Joseph Meyer is a High School Math Teacher based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is an educator at City Charter High School, where he has been teaching for over 7 years. Joseph is also the founder of Sandbox Math, an online learning community dedicated to helping students succeed in Algebra. His site is set apart by its focus on fostering genuine comprehension through step-by-step understanding (instead of just getting the correct final answer), enabling learners to identify and overcome misunderstandings and confidently take on any test they face. He received his MA in Physics from Case Western Reserve University and his BA in Physics from Baldwin Wallace University. Joseph Meyer Joseph Meyer Math Teacher To calculate the volume of a cone, use its height and radius. The formula is Volume = (1/3)πr²h. (1/3) is a fixed value, π is approximately 3.14, r² represents the square of the radius, and h is the height from tip to base center. This information can be useful in engineering and baking.