wikiHow Calculating Mass Calculator The formula for calculating mass is: mass = density x volume where: mass = the amount of matter in an object (in kilograms) density = the measure of how much matter is packed into a given volume (in kilograms per cubic meter) volume = the amount of space an object occupies (in cubic meters) To calculate mass, you need to know the density and volume of the object. You can measure the volume directly, or calculate it from measurements of length, width, and height. Here are the steps to calculate mass: 1. Determine the density of the object in question. You can find this information in a reference book, online database, or by measuring the object's mass and volume and using the formula density = mass / volume. 2. Measure the volume of the object in cubic meters. If you are calculating the mass of a rectangular object, you can use the formula volume = length x width x height. For irregularly shaped objects, you can measure the volume by submerging the object in water and measuring the amount of displaced water. 3. Multiply the density by the volume to find the mass. Example: Suppose you have a rectangular object with dimensions of 2 meters by 3 meters by 4 meters, and a density of 1000 kilograms per cubic meter. What is the mass of the object? 1. Calculate the volume of the object: volume = length x width x height = 2 meters x 3 meters x 4 meters = 24 cubic meters 2. Multiply the density by the volume: mass = density x volume = 1000 kilograms per cubic meter x 24 cubic meters = 24,000 kilograms Therefore, the mass of the object is 24,000 kilograms. Page