Graduated Cylinder: Uses and How to Use It
Graduated Cylinder: Uses and How to Use It
A graduated cylinder is a tall, narrow glass or plastic cylinder with a volume scale on its wall, used to measure liquid volumes with moderate accuracy. It is more accurate than a beaker or Erlenmeyer flask but less accurate than a volumetric pipette, burette, or volumetric flask.
What is a graduated cylinder used for?
- Measuring liquid volumes, e.g. 25 mL of distilled water for a solution.
- Dispensing solvents or reagents that do not need analytical accuracy.
- Finding the volume of irregular solids by water displacement.
- Collecting liquid temporarily during experiments, e.g. a distillate.
Parts of a graduated cylinder
- 1Rim and spout – for pouring without dripping
- 2Volume scale – mL lines; each cylinder states its tolerance, e.g. ±0.5 mL
- 3Cylinder body – borosilicate glass or PP/PMP plastic
- 4Base – hexagonal or round base for stability
How to use a graduated cylinder
Stand it on a level surface
Choose the smallest cylinder that holds the volume (e.g. 10 mL for 8 mL) and stand it upright on a level bench. Do not read it while holding it in the air, as it tilts easily.
Pour slowly, finish with a dropper
Pour from a beaker until just below the target volume (1). Add the rest drop by drop with a dropper (2) so you do not overshoot.
Read the bottom of the meniscus at eye level
Lower your head until your eye is level with the liquid surface. For water and clear solutions, read the line touching the bottom of the curve (concave meniscus).
Avoid parallax error
Reading from above makes the volume look larger, from below smaller. Only a horizontal line of sight is correct.
Hold the body, not the rim
Grip the body of the cylinder when moving it. Pinching the rim or spout makes it easy to drop and break.
Common mistakes
- Using a 100 mL cylinder to measure 5 mL: the relative error is large.
- Heating the cylinder or filling it with hot liquid: the scale can shift and the glass may crack.
- Mixing or reacting chemicals inside it. Use a beaker or Erlenmeyer flask instead.
Care and safety
- Wash with a soft brush, rinse with distilled water and dry upside down on a rack, not in a hot oven.
- Fit a plastic bumper ring on tall glass cylinders to protect them if they tip over.
Types and sizes
Common sizes are 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mL. Borosilicate glass resists chemicals and is easy to read; plastic (PP or PMP) cylinders are more robust. Class A has roughly half the tolerance of class B and is used for more precise work.
Graduated Cylinder at AMI Scientific
Examples of graduated cylinder available in our store. Prices exclude VAT.
Gelas Ukur Kelas A Skala Amber Iwaki PA 3022From Rp119.000
Gelas Ukur Plastik PP Bel-Art F28450000From Rp166.000
Gelas Ukur Kelas A Tutup Plastik Skala Amber Iwaki PA 2982From Rp224.000
Gelas Ukur Kelas A Tutup Kaca Skala Amber Iwaki PA 2982From Rp231.000
AMI Scientific supplies laboratory glassware, instruments and chemicals with tax invoices and delivery across Indonesia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a graduated cylinder and a beaker?
A graduated cylinder is made for measuring volume with a fine, accurate scale. A beaker's scale is only approximate; beakers are for mixing, heating and holding liquids.
How do you read a graduated cylinder correctly?
Stand it on a level surface, bring your eye level with the liquid and read the line touching the bottom of the meniscus.
Can a graduated cylinder be heated?
No. Heating can change the glass volume so the scale is no longer accurate, and tall cylinders crack easily.
Related equipment
Compiled by the AMI Scientific team from standard laboratory practice. Illustrations: AMI Scientific. Updated: 06-11-2026.
Need a graduated cylinder for your laboratory?
AMI Scientific supplies laboratory glassware, instruments and chemicals with tax invoices and delivery across Indonesia.
Available at AMI Scientific
Gelas Ukur Kelas A Skala Amber Iwaki PA 3022
From Rp119.000