Find how much concrete fills a round tube.
⚙️Calculation Parameters
📊Calculated Output
How Sonotube Volume Calculator Works?
To calculate Sonotube volume, the calculator treats each cardboard form as a cylinder and measures the space inside it. The process takes 4 steps.
Enter the inside diameter
Type the nominal tube diameter in inches (in). A 10-inch Sonotube has a 10 in (25.4 cm) inside diameter, so the number printed on the tube label is the number to enter.
Enter the fill depth
Type the full height of concrete inside the form, from the bottom of the hole to the finished top. Include the part above grade, if the tube sticks out of the ground.
Read the per-tube volume
The calculator squares the radius, multiplies by pi (π) and by the depth, then shows the result in cubic feet (ft³), cubic yards (yd³), cubic meters (m³) and liters (L).
Multiply by the tube count
Set the number of identical forms and a waste margin. The total volume updates on every keystroke, with 80 lb and 60 lb bag counts underneath.
Sonotube Volume Calculator Formula
The Sonotube Volume Calculator uses the right circular cylinder formula. Volume equals the circular area of the tube opening times the fill height.
Cylinder volume
V = π × r² × hr is the radius (half the diameter) and h is the height, both in the same unit.
Inches to cubic feet
V (ft³) = π × (D ÷ 24)² × (H ÷ 12)D and H are in inches. Dividing D by 24 converts diameter to a radius in feet in one step.
Volume with waste
V total = V × n × (1 + w)n is the number of tubes and w is the waste margin as a decimal (10% = 0.10).
Worked example: one 12 in × 48 in Sonotube
- r = 12 ÷ 24 = 0.5 ft and h = 48 ÷ 12 = 4 ft
- V = 3.1416 × 0.5² × 4 = 3.142 ft³
- 3.142 ft³ = 0.116 yd³ = 0.089 m³ = 89 L
Sonotube Volume Calculator Conversion Table
The Sonotube volume conversion table lists the concrete fill of 8 common tube diameters at 1 ft (30.5 cm) and 4 ft (122 cm) of depth.
| Tube diameter | ft³ per foot | yd³ per foot | ft³ at 48 in | Liters at 48 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in (15 cm) | 0.196 | 0.0073 | 0.79 | 22 |
| 8 in (20 cm) | 0.349 | 0.0129 | 1.40 | 40 |
| 10 in (25 cm) | 0.545 | 0.0202 | 2.18 | 62 |
| 12 in (30 cm) | 0.785 | 0.0291 | 3.14 | 89 |
| 14 in (36 cm) | 1.069 | 0.0396 | 4.28 | 121 |
| 16 in (41 cm) | 1.396 | 0.0517 | 5.59 | 158 |
| 18 in (46 cm) | 1.767 | 0.0654 | 7.07 | 200 |
| 24 in (61 cm) | 3.142 | 0.1164 | 12.57 | 356 |
Values are net volumes with no waste allowance. Add 5% to 10% for hole irregularities and spillage.
What is Sonotube Volume Calculator?
A Sonotube Volume Calculator is a free geometry tool that finds the amount of concrete needed to fill a round cardboard Sonotube form. The calculator takes a tube diameter and a fill height and returns the inside volume of the cylinder.
Sonotube is the brand name of a spiral-wound fiber tube made for casting round concrete columns and piers. Builders use the word for any cardboard concrete form tube, and the volume math is the same for every brand. A 10 in tube holds 0.545 ft³ of concrete per foot of height, and a 12 in tube holds 0.785 ft³ per foot.
The calculator gives the volume in 4 units at once: cubic feet for bagged concrete, cubic yards for ready-mix orders, cubic meters for metric plans and liters for small batches.
What are the uses of Sonotube Volume Calculator?
There are 5 main uses of the Sonotube Volume Calculator.
Deck footing takeoffs
Builders size concrete for 4 to 20 deck piers at a time and convert the total into bags or a truck order.
Fence and mailbox posts
Homeowners check the fill of one 6 in or 8 in tube before buying 2 or 3 bags at the hardware store.
Column pours
Contractors find the fill of tall 16 in to 24 in architectural columns before booking a pump truck.
Bid checks
Estimators compare a supplier quote with the geometric volume to catch over-ordering.
Material lists
DIY builders turn the volume into bag counts, water and weight for one shopping trip.