Density Calculator
Calculate density, mass, or volume from any two known values.
Mass measures how much matter something has.
Volume measures how much space something occupies.
Solved value
5 g/cm³
Density = Mass ÷ Volume
Mass
100 g
0.1 kg
Volume
20 cm³
0 m³
Density
5 g/cm³
5,000 kg/m³
SI equivalent
5,000 kg/m³
Standard density unit.
Density Formula
Density
Density = Mass ÷ Volume
Mass
Mass = Density × Volume
Volume
Volume = Mass ÷ Density
Using symbols
ρ = m ÷ V
Mass symbol form
m = ρ × V
Volume symbol form
V = m ÷ ρ
Variable and Unit Explanations
ρ
Density: mass per unit of volume.
m
Mass: how much matter something has.
V
Volume: how much space something occupies.
Density units
Density units are mass divided by volume.
Mass units
Common mass units include g, kg, mg, lb, and oz.
Volume units
Common volume units include cm³, m³, mL, L, in³, and ft³.
Density, Mass, and Volume Relationship
Density relates mass and volume.
Mass increases
If volume stays constant, density increases.
Volume increases
If mass stays constant, density decreases.
Mass formula
Mass equals density times volume.
Material clue
Density can help identify or compare materials.
Worked Examples
Find density from 100 g and 20 cm³
Formula: Density = Mass ÷ Volume
Substitution: 100 ÷ 20
Answer: 5 g/cm³
Each cubic centimeter has 5 grams of mass.
Find mass from density 2.7 g/cm³ and volume 10 cm³
Formula: Mass = Density × Volume
Substitution: 2.7 × 10
Answer: 27 g
This is similar to aluminum-like density.
Find volume from mass 50 g and density 5 g/cm³
Formula: Volume = Mass ÷ Density
Substitution: 50 ÷ 5
Answer: 10 cm³
Volume is the space occupied.
Convert kg/m³ to g/cm³
Formula: 1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³
Substitution: 2700 kg/m³ ÷ 1000
Answer: 2.7 g/cm³
Divide kg/m³ by 1000 to get g/cm³.
Water density example
Formula: Water ≈ 1 g/mL
Substitution: 100 g ÷ 100 mL
Answer: 1 g/mL
Water is often used as a reference density.
Same volume, different mass
Formula: Density = Mass ÷ Volume
Substitution: More mass ÷ same volume
Answer: Higher density
Higher mass in the same space means higher density.
Unit Conversions and Common Density Units
g/cm³
Common for solids and small samples.
g/mL
Common for liquids. 1 mL = 1 cm³.
kg/m³
Common in physics and engineering.
lb/ft³
Used in some imperial measurement contexts.
1 g/cm³
Equals 1000 kg/m³.
Water
About 1 g/mL or 1 g/cm³ near room temperature.
Common Density Calculation Mistakes
Understanding Your Results
Density
Mass packed into each unit of volume.
Mass
Amount of matter implied by density and volume.
Volume
Space occupied based on mass and density.
SI equivalent
The same result converted into standard units.
Scientific notation
A compact format for very large or very small values.
Frequently Asked Questions
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