Plaster Mold Volume Calculator

Estimates the volume of liquid plaster needed to make a one-part casting mold or a section of a two-part casting mold, based on the calculated volume of your model and container (ie. the cottles used to surround the model being molded). Just want to make drape mold by filling a container with plaster. More info on how to calculate plaster volume below.

Model Shape:

Model Height:

Model Width:

Model Length:

Or*, Model Radius:

Container Shape:

(To hold model - e.g. cottles)

Container Height:

Container Width:

Container Length:

Or*, Container Radius:

Volume Unit:

Also calculate: Water to Plaster Ratio, Clay Shrinkage

Entry Fields

*Use length and width for rectangular shapes; Use radius for cylinders, spheres, cones.
Enter model and container measurements in inches.
Half sphere can be used if your model is a bowl and is approximately half the size of a full sphere.
When calculating for one section of a two-part mold, measurements should reflect only the exposed section on which you are working.

Making Plaster Drape Mold

Currently, both the container and model fields are required since it's assumed you are making a casting mold. However, if you just want to determine the volume for making a drape mold, you can do the following: fill in all the fields for the model on the form. Because you need to fill in the container fields, just enter values that are larger than the model. Then, refer to the calculated model volume, which will be the approximate amount of plaster slurry in cubic inches required to make your hump mold.

Calculating Water and Plaster to Mix

PhotoPottery's Water to Plaster Ratio Calculator calculates how much plaster and how much water, when mixed, yield the required volume.

Tip: When this calculator displays the volume, use the provided link which goes directly to the Plaster to Water Ratio Calculator, with water and plaster amounts automatically calculated!