Barrel Volume and Capacity Calculator
Find the cubic footage and total volume of a barrel and find how many gallons (or liters) are in the barrel.
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Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
How to Find the Volume of a Barrel
A barrel is a round container with a convex shape that is wider in the middle than at the top and bottom. They are generally made of wooden slats called staves that are held together with metal hoops.
To find barrel volume, you will need to know its height, radius at the top and bottom, and radius in the middle.
Barrel Volume Formula
Use the following formula for the total volume of a barrel:
volume = h × π × ((2 × r22) + r12) / 3
Thus, the volume of a barrel is equal to the height h times π times two times the middle radius r2 squared, plus the top/bottom radius r1 squared, divided by three.
To use this formula, ensure that the height, top/bottom radius, and middle radius values are all in the same unit of measure; inches are most commonly used. Often barrel volume will be expressed in cubic feet or cubic meters, while barrel’s capacity will be expressed in gallons or liters.
If all dimensions used in the formula are in inches, then the total volume measurement will be in cubic inches.
To get the total volume in cubic feet, convert from cubic inches using the formula ft3 = in3 × 0.000578704. Use our cubic inches to cubic feet calculator to convert quickly.
top/bottom radius = 21 ÷ 2
top/bottom radius = 10.5
middle radius = 26 ÷ 2
middle radius = 13
volume = (h × π × ((2 × r22) + r12)) ÷ 3
volume = (36 × π × ((2 × 132) + 10.52)) ÷ 3
volume = (36 × π × ((2 × 169) + 110.25)) / 3
volume = (36 × π × (338 + 110.25)) ÷ 3
volume = (36 × π × 448.25) ÷ 3
volume = 50,694.4 ÷ 3
volume = 16,898.1 in3
16,898.1 in3 = 9.8 ft3
How Many Gallons are in a Barrel?
The capacity of a barrel is often measured in gallons. To find how many gallons are in the barrel, simply convert the total volume to gallons.
Gallons can be found using the cubic feet to gallons formula:
gallons = ft3 × 7.480507.
Barrel Gallons Formula
Thus, the formula to find how many gallons are in a barrel is:
gallons = h × π × ((2 × r22) + r12) / 3 × 7.480507
How Many Liters are in a Barrel?
You can find how many liters are in a barrel just like finding gallons. Use the cubic feet to liters formula:
liters = ft3 × 28.3168.
Barrel Liters Formula
Using the liters conversion above, the formula to find how many liters are in a barrel is:
liters = h × π × ((2 × r22) + r12) / 3 × 28.3168
Common Barrel Sizes
Barrels come in many shapes and sizes, but there are some standard sizes used in industry. Barrels are generally used to store beverages such as wine, beer, and liqueurs. They are also very commonly used to store oil and chemicals.
The average size of a 53-gallon whiskey barrel is 36″ high with a top and bottom diameter of 21″ and a middle diameter of 26″.
Historically oil was stored in wooden barrels that held 42 gallons of oil. That is why the modern standard of oil barrel volume used for pricing and tax is 42 gallons.
In modern industry, oil and chemicals are stored in metal drums, which are far more durable. Oil drums hold 55 gallons of fluid.
Finding barrel volume is relevant when measuring the amount of beverage it contains, which is useful for beer-making, wine-making, and measuring other beverages.
Try our volume calculator to find the volume of many other shapes.