📐 Free Tool

Aquarium Size Calculator

Enter your tank's inside dimensions to get total capacity, filled volume and usable water in US gallons, UK gallons and litres — instantly.

US & UK Gallons Litres Rectangular, Cube & Cylinder Partial Fill Species Planner

💧 Aquarium Volume Calculator

Measure inside the glass. Get total capacity, filled volume and usable water in gallons (US & UK) and litres.

Leave blank to use full tank height
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Enter inside dimensions

Results will show US gallons, UK gallons, litres and water weight.

Volume formulas & unit conversions

Rectangular / cube: length × width × depth  |  Vertical cylinder: π × radius² × depth  |  Horizontal cylinder: circular segment area × length

Conversions: 1 US gallon = 3.785411784 L  |  1 UK gallon = 4.54609 L  |  Measure inside the glass, not the outer frame.

Water weight excludes the tank, stand, substrate, rocks and equipment. Consult a qualified professional if floor or stand loading is a concern.

🐠 Fish Tank Size Planner

Compare physical volume with a conservative species-based space estimate. Planning aid only — not a stocking guarantee.

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Choose a species

Results show minimum and recommended tank size with care notes.

How to use this tool

Aquarium size calculator — what it measures and how to use the result

A practical guide to getting the most accurate aquarium gallon and litre estimates from your inside dimensions.

Aquarium size calculator gallons

US gallons and UK gallons

The aquarium size calculator shows both US gallons (3.785 L each) and UK Imperial gallons (4.546 L each). If you are in the United Kingdom, use the UK gallon figure — UK fish-tank labels and many UK fish-keeping guides quote Imperial gallons, not US gallons. A 40 US gallon tank is only about 33 UK gallons.

Aquarium size calculator litres

Litres — the international standard

Litres are the most widely used unit in Europe, Australia and most of Asia. This fish aquarium size calculator converts all measurements automatically — no manual conversion needed. Usable litres are shown after deducting the displacement percentage you chose for substrate and decor.

Aquarium water size calculator

Measuring usable water, not box size

Tank labels print gross volume from outside dimensions. Actual usable water is always less. Measure inside the glass, enter the real water depth, and choose a displacement allowance for your gravel, rocks and equipment. The aquarium water size calculator then gives a conservative, realistic estimate of what your fish actually swim in.

Inside dimensions matter

Why inside measurement is essential

Glass panels, silicone seams and external trim can reduce effective volume by 5–15% compared with outside dimensions. Enter length, width and height measured from the inner glass surfaces. For a cube aquarium enter only one side — the calculator handles the geometry automatically.

Fish aquarium size calculator

Connecting volume to fish space

Volume alone does not tell you how many fish can live safely. Use the species planner below the volume section to connect gallons to species-specific minimums. Adult size, territory, group requirements, filtration and oxygen all affect the stocking limit — gallons are the starting point, not the conclusion.

Aquarium gallon size calculator

Common size benchmarks

Standard aquarium sizes: 10 US gal (37.9 L / 8.3 UK gal) · 20 US gal (75.7 L) · 29 US gal (109.8 L) · 55 US gal (208.2 L) · 75 US gal (283.9 L). Use the calculator to verify your actual usable volume if substrate, equipment or a lower fill line reduces what is shown on the label.

Species Calculators

Tank size calculators by species

Each species has its own space requirements. These calculators give you a minimum and recommended size — not a generic rule of thumb.

View All Species Calculators →
FAQ

Aquarium size calculator — frequently asked questions

Answers about US gallons, UK gallons, litres, displacement and how to interpret your result.

Measure the inside dimensions of your tank — length, width and water height — in inches or centimetres. Select the tank shape and your unit, then click Calculate. The aquarium size calculator shows total capacity, filled volume and estimated usable water in US gallons, UK gallons and litres instantly.
One US gallon equals approximately 3.785 litres. One UK Imperial gallon equals approximately 4.546 litres — about 20% larger. If you are in the United Kingdom, use the UK gallon figure when comparing aquarium size calculator results with tank labels sold in UK pet shops. A tank described as "40 gallons" in the US holds about 33 UK gallons of water.
Tank labels typically print the gross volume using outside dimensions and a full fill height. The aquarium size calculator uses your actual inside measurements and deducts a displacement allowance for substrate and decor, giving a more realistic estimate of the water your fish actually swim in.
The calculator converts measurements to litres using exact factors: 1 cubic inch = 0.016387 litres, 1 cubic centimetre = 0.001 litres. The litre result shown is usable water after deducting your chosen displacement percentage. Litres are the standard unit in Europe, Australia and most of Asia.
A bare tank with no substrate: 0%. A typical tank with sand or gravel and a few decorations: 10%. A heavily planted or hardscape setup with driftwood, rocks and an internal filter: 15–20%. The default 10% is a safe starting point for most freshwater community tanks.
Yes. The aquarium size calculator UK result is shown alongside the US gallon and litre figures. Enter your dimensions in inches or centimetres — both work. UK fishkeeping guides and many UK shop labels use Imperial gallons, so look at the UK gallon row in the results when comparing sizes sold in the UK.
Multiply US gallons by 3.785 to get litres. Multiply UK gallons by 4.546 to get litres. The aquarium size calculator does this automatically, but if you need a quick mental check: a 10 US gallon tank holds about 37.9 litres, and a 10 UK gallon tank holds about 45.5 litres.
The volume result is the starting point. The species planner section on this page connects gallons to species minimums for betta, guppy, goldfish, discus, angelfish and more. Volume alone is not sufficient — also consider adult size, group needs, filtration capacity and water-change frequency.
Yes. Choose "Vertical cylinder" for a column-style tank and enter the inside diameter and height. Choose "Horizontal cylinder" for a tank lying on its side — a common shape for some decorative aquariums. The calculator uses the circular-segment formula to correctly handle partial fills in horizontal cylinders.
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