Checked example
Worked calculation
Result: A 2 m-high vertical tank filled to 0.5 m is 25% full, regardless of radius.
01 • Guide
A linear fill relationship
Every horizontal slice has equal area, so each centimetre of liquid height adds the same volume. This makes the vertical fill graph a straight line, unlike a horizontal cylinder.
Keep the full precision of intermediate values and round only the final display. This avoids compounding error when a derived radius or converted unit is used in another step.
02 • Guide
Use the internal straight-sided height
Measure from the inside bottom to the maximum cylindrical liquid level. Domes, cones, sumps and freeboard sections must be calculated separately.
The calculator validates physical limits before displaying a result. Blank or impossible inputs never produce a stale value, NaN or Infinity.
03 • Guide
Percentage and capacity
In a uniform vertical cylinder the height fraction equals the volume fraction. The calculator still reports both current volume and total capacity so unit conversions remain explicit.
Interpretation
How to use the result responsibly
The answer models an ideal geometric cylinder. Manufacturing tolerances, wall thickness, rounded ends, deformation, tank tilt and measurement uncertainty can all shift a real value. Use inside dimensions for capacity and outside dimensions for occupied space. For safety, compliance, dosing, structural or purchasing decisions, compare the estimate with drawings, calibration data or a qualified professional.
Dimensional checks help catch mistakes: a volume result must carry cubic units, an area result square units and a derived radius or height linear units. If changing one unit alters the represented physical size, a conversion step was missed.