Calculate density, mass, or volume using the density formula. Includes reference table of common material densities and unit conversions.
Density
2.0000 g/cm3
ρ = m / V
Density = Mass ÷ Volume
m = ρ × V
Mass = Density × Volume
V = m / ρ
Volume = Mass ÷ Density
| Material | kg/m³ | g/cm³ | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (4°C) | 1,000 | 1.000 | Liquid |
| Seawater | 1,025 | 1.025 | Liquid |
| Milk | 1,030 | 1.030 | Liquid |
| Gasoline | 737 | 0.737 | Liquid |
| Olive Oil | 920 | 0.920 | Liquid |
| Air (sea level) | 1.225 | 0.001 | Gas |
| Helium | 0.179 | 0.000 | Gas |
| Carbon Dioxide | 1.98 | 0.002 | Gas |
| Steel | 7,850 | 7.850 | Metal |
| Aluminum | 2,700 | 2.700 | Metal |
| Copper | 8,960 | 8.960 | Metal |
| Gold | 19,300 | 19.300 | Metal |
| Silver | 10,490 | 10.490 | Metal |
| Lead | 11,340 | 11.340 | Metal |
| Iron | 7,874 | 7.874 | Metal |
| Titanium | 4,506 | 4.506 | Metal |
| Concrete | 2,400 | 2.400 | Material |
| Glass | 2,500 | 2.500 | Material |
| Wood (Oak) | 750 | 0.750 | Material |
| Wood (Pine) | 550 | 0.550 | Material |
| Ice | 917 | 0.917 | Material |
| Plastic (PVC) | 1,400 | 1.400 | Material |
Click a material to use its density value
Density = Mass / Volume (D = M/V). To find mass: Mass = Density x Volume. To find volume: Volume = Mass / Density. Water density is 1 g/cm3 (1000 kg/m3). Example: 500g object with 200 cm3 volume has density 500/200 = 2.5 g/cm3. Objects with density >1 g/cm3 sink in water; <1 g/cm3 float.
Density is mass per unit volume, measuring how much matter is packed into a given space. The formula is ρ = m/V (density equals mass divided by volume). Higher density means more mass in the same volume. Water's density is 1000 kg/m³ or 1 g/cm³.
Ice floats because it's less dense than liquid water (917 kg/m³ vs 1000 kg/m³). Water is unusual - most substances are denser as solids. Ice's lower density is due to hydrogen bonding creating an open crystal structure.
Specific gravity (SG) is the ratio of a substance's density to water's density. It's dimensionless (no units). SG = 1.0 means same density as water. If SG > 1, it sinks in water; if SG < 1, it floats.
Temperature: heating usually decreases density (expansion). Pressure: increasing pressure increases density (compression). Phase changes: solids are usually denser than liquids, which are denser than gases (water is an exception).
For regular shapes: measure dimensions to calculate volume, weigh for mass, divide. For irregular shapes: use water displacement (Archimedes' method) - submerge object and measure water displaced. For liquids: use a hydrometer or pycnometer.
Bulk density includes air spaces between particles (like sand or powder). It's lower than true density because of gaps. Important for shipping, storage, and material handling. Bulk density = total mass / total volume including air gaps.
Density
2.0000 g/cm3