Calculate powder volume from mass using typical bulk densities for flour, sugar, salt and more, or enter your own bulk density to solve mass or density.

Find loose bulk volume from mass and measured bulk density.

Tapped density and container
Blank omits tapped volume and Carr index. Use the same powder sample and compatible measurement method.

Blank omits container planning.

Default 80% applies only to an entered container. This is a planning setting, not a safe operating limit.

Powder Volume Formula

The following formula calculates loose bulk volume. Use matching mass and density units; bulk density includes spaces between particles and depends on packing and handling. The calculator converts units internally, including g/mยณ for the examples below.

PV = PM / BD
  • Where PV is the Powder Volume (m3)
  • PM is the powder mass (g) 
  • BD is the bulk density (g/m3) 

To calculate loose powder volume, divide mass by loose bulk density. Optional tapped density gives tapped volume and Carr index: 100 ร— (1 โˆ’ loose density / tapped density), using the same powder and compatible measurements. Container working fill is a user-selected geometric planning allowance, not a safe handling or equipment rating.

How to Calculate Powder Volume?

The following example problems outline how to calculate Powder Volume.

Example Problem #1:

  1. First, determine the powder mass (g).
    1. The powder mass (g) is given as 40.
  2. Next, determine the bulk density (g/m3).
    1. The bulk density (g/m3) is provided as 300.
  3. Finally, calculate the Powder Volume using the equation above: 

PV = PM  / BD

The values given above are inserted into the equation below:

PV = 40  / 300 = .1333 (m3)

Example Problem #2: 

The variables needed for this problem are provided below:

powder mass (g) = 60

bulk density (g/m3) = 700

Entering these values and solving gives:

PV = 60 g รท 700 g/mยณ โ‰ˆ 0.085714 mยณ (85.714 L). Choose grams, g/mยณ and cubic meters to reproduce this illustrative example.