In this guide, you’ll learn how to calculate the volume of your 3D captures in Polycam with the Volume Measurement tool. You can use it to measure both enclosed areas, such as mounds or containers, and open spaces like swimming pools.
Plan Availability
| iOS | Web | Android | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Basic | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Pro LEGACY | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Business | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Enterprise | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Supported Capture Types
Volume Measurement is available for specific capture types and formats.
| Capture Mode | Volume Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Object Mode (Mesh) | ✅ | Fully supported |
| Object Mode (Gaussian Splat) | ❌ | Not supported |
| Space Mode | ✅ | LiDAR Layer Only |
| Floorplan Mode | ❌ | Not supported |
| 360 Mode | ❌ | Not supported |
How to Measure Volume
Follow these steps to accurately measure the volume of your captures.
1Open Your Capture
In your Capture Library, navigate to the capture you want to measure and open it to access the capture editor.
2Access the Volume Tool
Select the Volume icon from the toolbar in the capture editor.
3Calculate Volume
Once you've cropped to your desired area, click the Calculate button. Polycam will process your cropped capture and calculate its volume.
4Review Results
After the calculation is complete, you'll see a purple highlight surrounding your capture, indicating successful volume calculation. The volume measurement will be displayed in cubic meters (m³) or cubic feet, depending on your set unit of measurement.
If you need to start over, click the Reset button to clear your calculation and begin again.
Understanding Volume Measurements
The Volume Measurement tool can calculate two types of volumes, each suited for different use cases.
Internal Volumes
Hollow Spaces: Measures empty space within an object, such as swimming pools, containers, or any cavity where you want to measure the interior volume.
Example use cases: Pool volume, tank capacity, excavation depth
Enclosed Volumes
Solid Masses: Measures the total volume of solid objects or piles of material, such as piles of dirt, rocks, inventory, or any solid form.
Example use cases: Material stockpiles, earthwork calculations, inventory volume
Volume Tool Accuracy
The Volume Measurement tool provides highly accurate results, with up to 99% accuracy under good conditions when compared to measurements from other professional software. Understanding the factors that affect measurement accuracy will help you get the most reliable results.
Accuracy Under Different Conditions
Polycam conducted an extensive accuracy study measuring various object types and scanning conditions. Click each category below to view detailed accuracy results.
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small object | 100% | Optimal conditions for small objects |
| Large object | 99.23% | Accuracy closer to 99% with proper mesh trimming. |
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cropped to small area | 99.50% | Accurate cropping essential; without it, accuracy may drop significantly |
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closed mesh | 100% | Watertight meshes provide optimal results |
Basic Surfaces
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closed surface | 99.90% | High accuracy with properly formatted models |
| Open surface | 99.67% | Excellent results even with open surfaces |
| Open surface - Curved | 99.94% | Near-perfect accuracy |
Polysurfaces
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Closed polysurface | 99.78% | Consistently high accuracy |
| Open polysurface - Tube | 99.20% | Tube model with uncapped ends |
| Closed polysurface - Tube | 99.71% | Tube model with capped ends |
| Open polysurface - No overlap | 99.62% | No overlapping surfaces |
| Closed polysurface - Curved | 99.41% | Curved geometry with consistent results |
Complex Geometries
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple objects | 99.94% | Handles complex multi-object scenes |
| Curved objects | 99.99% | Exceptional accuracy with complex geometries |
Large Objects
| Object Attributes | Accuracy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large open polysurface | 99.20% | Large object with curved surfaces |
| Large closed polysurface | 99.26% | Large object with consistent accuracy |
Mesh Requirements
The Volume Measurement tool can work with both watertight meshes and open meshes. A watertight mesh is a 3D model where all surfaces are completely closed with no gaps or holes, while an open mesh may have openings or incomplete surfaces. For best accuracy, watertight meshes are recommended.
Cropping for Precision
Precise cropping is essential for accurate volume measurements. Well-cropped objects can achieve up to 99% accuracy. Make sure to crop tightly around your target area, removing any unnecessary geometry that could affect the calculation.
Factors Affecting Accuracy
Several factors can influence the accuracy of your volume measurements:
- Scan Quality: Higher resolution scans with good coverage produce more accurate results
- Cropping Precision: Tight, accurate cropping around the target area significantly improves accuracy
- Mesh Completeness: Watertight meshes without holes or gaps provide the most reliable measurements
- Object Complexity: Simple, well-defined geometries are easier to measure accurately than complex, irregular shapes
- Lighting Conditions: Consistent, adequate lighting during capture improves scan quality and subsequent accuracy