Find density, mass or volume — whichever is missing — with a table of common material densities.
Density = mass ÷ volume. A 7.85 kg block with a volume of 1 litre has a density of 7,850 kg/m³ (7.85 g/cm³) — the density of steel. Rearrange to find mass (ρ × V) or volume (m ÷ ρ).
Density tells you how much mass is packed into a given volume. Pick what you want to find — density, mass or volume — and enter the other two. The calculator converts between kg/m³, g/cm³ and lb/ft³, shows the specific gravity relative to water and names the material whose density is closest to your result.
It is useful in physics and chemistry, engineering and shipping, jewellery and metalwork, and for working out whether something will float. See also the Mass Calculator and the Units Conversion Calculator.
The three quantities are linked by one relationship.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 7.85 kg in 1 litre — density | 7,850 kg/m³ |
| Mass of 2 L at 1 g/cm³ | 2 kg |
| Volume of 19.32 kg of gold | 1 litres |
| 500 g in 500 mL — density | 1,000 kg/m³ |
Use these typical densities as a guide; real values depend on composition and temperature.
| Material | Density (kg/m³) | Density (g/cm³) |
|---|---|---|
| Air (15 °C) | 1.225 | 0.001225 |
| Ice | 917 | 0.917 |
| Water (20 °C) | 998 | 0.998 |
| Oak wood (approx.) | 750 | 0.75 |
| Concrete | 2,400 | 2.4 |
| Glass | 2,500 | 2.5 |
| Aluminum | 2,700 | 2.7 |
| Steel | 7,850 | 7.85 |
| Iron | 7,874 | 7.874 |
| Copper | 8,960 | 8.96 |
| Silver | 10,490 | 10.49 |
| Lead | 11,340 | 11.34 |
| Mercury | 13,534 | 13.534 |
| Gold | 19,320 | 19.32 |
An object floats in a fluid if its average density is lower than the fluid's. Water is about 998 kg/m³, so wood (about 750) floats while steel (7,850) does not — though a steel ship floats because its overall shape encloses lots of air, giving it a low average density.
Divide mass by volume. 500 g in 500 mL is 1 g/mL, or 1,000 kg/m³.
ρ = m ÷ V, where ρ is density, m is mass and V is volume.
kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m³) in SI. Grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm³) and pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) are also common.
Multiply by 1,000. Water at 1 g/cm³ is 1,000 kg/m³.
About 998 kg/m³ at 20 °C and 1,000 kg/m³ near 4 °C, where it is densest.
The ratio of a material's density to the density of water. Gold's specific gravity is about 19.3.
Multiply density by volume — for example 2 litres at 1 g/cm³ has a mass of 2 kg.
Divide the mass by the density.
Most materials expand when heated, increasing volume while mass stays the same, so density falls.
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