How to Calculate the Circumference of a Circle

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The circumference is the enclosing boundary of a circle. In essence, it is the continuous line that makes up the shape. To work out its length, you will need the values for the circle’s diameter and π.

The diameter is the length of a line passing from one side of the circle to the other through the circle’s center point. If the circle is drawn to scale, you can measure this manually. However, if it isn’t drawn to scale, it is likely that you will be provided with the diameter's measurement or that of the radius. If you have the radius, simply multiply it by two to find the diameter.

The number π is a numerical value for which the decimals run to infinity. Many calculators will provide you with a version of π to use in equations. However, if you don’t have a calculator with this feature, use the number 3.14. This is π to two decimal places.

Multiply the diameter and π together to find the circumference, ensuring your answer uses the same measurements as those given for the diameter.