Tank size decides how much light, fertiliser and how many plants and fish you need. Enter your tank’s inside or outside dimensions below to get its volume in litres.
Quick answer: To calculate aquarium volume in litres, multiply length × width × height in centimetres and divide by 1,000. For inches, multiply the three dimensions and multiply by 0.0164. A standard Indian 2-feet tank of 60 × 30 × 30 cm holds about 54 litres in total and roughly 45–50 litres of water once substrate and decor are added.
Aquarium volume calculator
How the calculation works
- Centimetres: L × W × H ÷ 1,000 = litres.
- Inches: L × W × H × 0.0164 = litres.
- Feet: L × W × H × 28.3 = litres.
Substrate, rocks and driftwood take up space, so the real water volume is usually around 10–20% lower. The calculator uses 15% as a rough estimate.
How many plants for your tank?
As a rough starting point, plan about 4–7 plants per foot of tank length, mixing slow hardscape plants with a few fast background plants. See the plant lists for a 2-feet tank and a 3-feet tank.
More tank setup guides:
Frequently asked questions
How many litres is a 2-feet aquarium?
A standard 60 × 30 × 30 cm (24 × 12 × 12 inch) tank holds about 54 litres in total, or roughly 45–50 litres of water after substrate and decor.
How many litres is a 3-feet aquarium?
A 90 × 45 × 45 cm tank holds about 182 litres in total, roughly 155 litres of water. Narrower 3-feet tanks hold less.
Should I measure inside or outside the glass?
Inside dimensions are more accurate, but outside measurements are close enough for dosing and planning.
Not sure what to buy? Try the aquarium plant finder.
Not sure how many plants to order? See how many aquarium plants you need for your tank size.
