Density Calculator: Calculate Density Easily

A density calculator is a simple tool that can be used to calculate the density of an object or substance using the mass and volume. Density is an important property of a substance that tells you how much mass it has within a certain space. This can inform you whether something is light or heavy.

Density is a common term used throughout Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Construction, Manufacturing and Scientific Research. Students can learn why certain objects float or sink, engineers can find suitable materials and manufacturers can ensure they’re using the right quality products.

The simplest way to calculate density is by dividing the mass of the object by the volume.

Our density calculator makes it easy to calculate density. Simply add in the mass and volume of your material and choose the correct units. Then our calculator will quickly give you the density. You can use various units including grams, kilograms, cubic centimetres, cubic metres and litres.

This calculator can help students, researchers and professionals to calculate density.

How to Use the Density Calculator

This calculator is simple to use as all you need is the mass and volume.

Steps to Calculate Density

Mass

Add in the mass of the object or substance. This can be done using the units of grams (g), kilograms (kg), milligrams (mg) or pounds (lb).

Mass Unit

Choose the correct units for your mass.

Volume

Add in the total volume of your object or substance. This can be done with units such as cubic centimetres (cm 3 ), cubic metres (m 3 ), milliliters (mL) and Litres (L).

Volume Unit

Ensure you choose the correct units.

Calculate

Click calculate to get your density.

Results

Your result will be shown. Usually this will be in kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m 3 ) or grammes per cubic centimetre (g/cm 3 ).

Ensure you always put in the correct units and ensure the mass and volume are above zero for accurate results.

Density Calculator Formula

The formula to calculate density is mass divided by volume.

The formula for density is:

Density = Mass ÷ Volume

This can be represented mathematically as:

ρ = m / V

Where:

ρ (rho) = Density

m = Mass

V = Volume

The standard unit of density is Kilograms per Cubic Metre (kg/m 3 ). Another common unit is grammes per cubic centimetre (g/cm 3 ).

Examples:

Water = ~1 g/cm 3 at 4 o C.

Aluminium = ~2.70 g/cm 3 .

Iron = ~7.87 g/cm 3 .

Gold = ~19.32 g/cm 3 .

Common Density Conversions

Below are some common density conversions.

1 g/cm³ = 1,000 kg/m 3 .

1 kg/m³ = 0.001 g/cm 3 .

1 g/mL = 1 g/cm 3 .

1 kg/L = 1 g/cm 3 .

1 lb/ft³ ≈ 16.0185 kg/m 3 .

Example

Let’s take a look at how to calculate density using the formula.

Example:

Say we have a block of metal with the following measurements.

Mass = 540 grammes.

Volume = 200cm 3 .

We can use the formula:

Density = Mass ÷ Volume.

Plug in the values.

Density = 540 ÷ 200.

Density = 2.7g/cm 3 .

Result:

2.7g/cm 3 .

This means that there is an average mass of 2.7 grammes per cubic centimetre.

This is roughly the same density of Aluminium so could be Aluminium. However density cannot be used to fully identify a material.

Understanding Your Results from the Density Calculator

The density result shows how much mass is in a given volume of your material.

If there is a high density then there will be more mass in the volume. If there is a low density there will be less mass.

Example:

Say we have two objects with the same volume.

Object A = 100 grammes.

Object B = 500 grammes.

Both have the same volume of 100cm 3 .

Object A will have a lower density than Object B. Object A has a density of 1g/cm 3 whilst Object B has a density of 5g/cm 3 .

Even though they have the same volume, Object B is 5 times denser than Object A.

Density can also tell us why things float or sink. Generally if an object has a lower average density than the fluid it will float. If it has a higher average density it will sink.

Most wood objects float because they have a lower average density than water. Many metals will sink due to having a higher density.

Always remember to look at what unit your density is in. 1g/cm 3 is the same as 1000kg/m 3 .

Factors that can affect the result

There are a few factors that can affect the density.

Temperature

The volume of the substance can be affected by temperature. If the volume increases and the mass stays the same then the density will decrease. If the volume decreases then the density will generally increase.

Pressure

The density can be affected by pressure. Mainly with gases. If the pressure increases then generally the gas will become compressed meaning there is less volume. This will increase the density. Gases and liquids are usually less affected.

Composition of the Material

Different materials will have different molecules. Aluminium, Copper, Iron and Gold will all have different densities as they have different atomic structures and masses.

Accurate Measurements

If you measure the mass and volume incorrectly then your density calculation will be inaccurate. Ensure you use accurate scales for mass and suitable tools for volume.

Pores / Air

Materials with pores or air may have different densities. This is especially important with wood, concrete, soil and insulation.

Moisture

Some materials will absorb moisture from their surroundings. This means there will be more mass due to the extra water.

Benefits of a Density Calculator

A density calculator can help students, professionals and anyone working with physical materials.

Time Saver

You can quickly calculate the density.

Convenient

Simply put in the mass and volume values.

Helpful for Science

Students can use this to understand mass, volume and density.

Compare Materials

Engineers and manufacturers can compare the densities of different materials.

Construction

Can help with calculating densities of concrete, aggregates, soil, metals etc.

Lab Work

Researchers and lab professionals can calculate density using the mass and volume values from their experiments.

Quality Control

Manufacturers can use density to identify any issues with the material composition.

Useful for many industries

This can be useful for car manufacturing, aeronautical, chemical processing, food manufacturing and material science.

Accuracy, Assumptions and Limitations

As long as you input the correct mass and volume values then the calculator will provide you with accurate results. However the accuracy of your result depends on the accuracy of your measurements.

Assumptions:

You are putting in the mass and volume for the same object/sample.

You have chosen the correct units.

The mass and volume of the material remained the same during the measurement.

If you put in the mass in kg but select g by accident then your result will be incorrect.

Density can be affected by temperature and pressure. When comparing to scientific values make sure you know what conditions they were measured in.

If you have an irregular shape you may need to calculate the volume using water displacement or a suitable method. If the object absorbs water or reacts to the liquid being used then you may need to use a different method.

It cannot automatically tell you what material you have. There are many materials with similar densities so you may need to do further tests.

For professional use in engineering, lab work or industry always use calibrated equipment.

FAQs

What is a Density Calculator?

A Density Calculator is an online tool that can be used to calculate the density of an object or substance. This uses the standard formula of density = mass ÷ volume to give you an instant result.

What is the formula for Density?

The formula for density is ρ = m/V. This can be represented by ρ (density), m (mass) and V (volume). For example if an object has a mass of 100g and a volume of 50cm 3 then the density will be 2g/cm 3 .

What is the SI unit for Density?

The standard SI unit for density is Kilograms per Cubic Metre (kg/m 3 ). Grammes per Cubic Centimetre (g/cm 3 ) and Grammes per Millilitre (g/mL) are also commonly used.

How do I calculate Density if I don’t know the Volume?

You cannot calculate density with just mass as you also need the volume. You will need to calculate the volume of the object. This can be done by measuring, calculating using geometry, water displacement or a suitable method.

Can Density change with Temperature?

Yes, density can change with temperature. Most substances will expand or contract depending on the temperature. For most materials the density will decrease as the temperature increases. This is because the object will expand. If the temperature decreases then generally the density will increase. Water can behave strangely around freezing point.