Density Calculator
Calculate density from mass and volume, or solve for mass or volume given density.
Floats in water
Water is 1,000 kg/m³ (1 g/cm³) — at 1,000 kg/m³, this substance would neither float nor sink — it matches water's density exactly.
ƒShow your work
- 1Density = mass ÷ volume = 10 kg ÷ 0.01 m³ = 1,000 kg/m³
About the Density Calculator
This calculator solves the density relationship (density = mass ÷ volume) for whichever of the three quantities you're missing — density, mass or volume — given the other two. Pick what you're solving for and it handles the division or multiplication.
It shows up in physics and chemistry homework, in material identification (comparing a measured density against known reference values to guess what a substance is), and in practical questions like predicting whether an object will float or sink in water.
Because the calculation is pure arithmetic, results update instantly, and the gauge compares your result directly against water's density — a familiar reference point for whether something floats or sinks.
How it’s calculated
Density is mass divided by volume (ρ = m/V). Solving for mass instead multiplies density by volume, and solving for volume divides mass by density — the same relationship rearranged depending on which quantity is unknown.
Water's density of 1,000 kg/m³ (equivalently 1 g/cm³) is used as the reference point in the gauge: anything less dense than water floats, and anything denser sinks, which is why density is often the deciding factor in float-or-sink questions and material identification.
Frequently asked questions
Why does density determine whether something floats or sinks?
An object floats in a fluid when it's less dense than that fluid, and sinks when it's denser — this is a direct consequence of buoyancy (Archimedes' principle). Water's density of 1,000 kg/m³ is the reference most float/sink questions are measured against.
What units does this calculator use?
Mass in kilograms, volume in cubic meters, and density in kilograms per cubic meter — standard SI units. If your data is in other units (grams, cm³, g/mL), convert first, or note that 1 g/cm³ equals 1,000 kg/m³ for a quick mental conversion.
How can I use density to identify an unknown material?
Measure the object's mass and volume, calculate density, and compare the result to a table of known material densities — metals, plastics and liquids each have fairly distinct densities, which is a common quick way to narrow down what something might be.
Does temperature affect density?
Yes — most materials expand slightly and become less dense as temperature rises (water near freezing is a notable exception). This calculator computes density from the mass and volume you provide, so any temperature effect needs to already be reflected in those measured values.
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