Which table should I use for diesel?

Diesel is a refined product (Group B). Use Table 53B (observed density to density at 15 °C) or Table 54B (density at 15 °C to VCF) in metric units; in imperial, Tables 5B/6B.

How many decimal places does the VCF come back at?

Five decimal places, matching the API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 convention used for custody transfer.

Does the calculator charge for a calculation?

No — the on-page calculator is free. Credits or quota only apply when you call the API with your own key.

Can I use this for weight correction factors?

VCFAPI implements the 28 temperature-correction tables of API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 — Tables 5/6/23/24/53/54/59/60 per product group — which produce the Volume Correction Factor for volume. Weight correction is a separate, related calculation: it combines the corrected volume with the base density or gravity, which the density tables (5/23/53/59) also return here. If you need the corrected volumetric VCF first, this calculator covers that step.

Can both buyer and seller use the same calculation?

Yes — that is exactly what the API is for. When trading partners run the same table, the same units, and the same rounding through one calculation layer, both sides get the same result. Each call returns a request ID and every request is recorded in the usage log, so if the numbers ever differ the question becomes whether the inputs were the same — not whose calculation was right. You are still free to validate independently; the point is that one shared, auditable reference removes an entire class of dispute.

Volume Correction Factor Calculator

Compute the VCF for crude oil, refined products, and lubricants per ASTM D1250-04 / API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 — across 28 tables in °F and °C, with VCF to 5 decimal places.

Calculate a VCF

TableTemperature (°F)API gravity at 60 °F (°API)Observed volume (optional)

If provided, the standard volume = observed volume × VCF.

VCF result

Volume Correction Factor · Table

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How to use the VCF calculator

Pick a table — Crude Oil → 5A/6A · Refined Products → 5B/6B or 53B/54B · Lube Oil → 5D/6D or 53D/54D. Use the preset buttons for a quick start.
Enter temperature and density in the table's units (°F/°C, °API/relative density/kg/m³).
Read the VCF and multiply your observed volume by it to get standard volume. Enter an observed volume to compute it directly.

Example — crude oil custody transfer

A 1,000 bbl cargo of crude is gauged at 86 °F with an API gravity of 35 °API (Table 6A). The VCF is approximately 0.98765, so:

standard volume = 1,000 bbl × 0.98765 = 987.65 bbl at 60 °F

A 0.01% error on that tank is worth several hundred dollars at $70/bbl — custody transfer volume is what a buyer and seller actually trade on.

Read the calculation methods or try it above and integrate it via API.

Popular ASTM tables

Fast answers for the tables most used in custody transfer and inventory. Pick the right one below, or use the calculator above for any of the 28 tables.

ASTM Table 6A calculator — crude oil (°F)

Converts API gravity at 60 °F plus the observed temperature into the Volume Correction Factor for crude oil. Enter the API gravity (e.g. 35 °API) and the tank temperature in °F — the default preset in the calculator. The result is the VCF used to correct a measured crude volume to standard volume at 60 °F.

ASTM Table 54B calculator — diesel & refined (°C)

Converts density at 15 °C plus the observed temperature into the Volume Correction Factor for refined products — diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and fuel oils. Enter density in kg/m³ (e.g. 840) and the temperature in °C. Metric standard (15 °C) custody transfer uses this table family.

ASTM Table 53B — observed density to density at 15 °C

When you measure density in the field at tank temperature, Table 53B corrects the observed density to the standard density at 15 °C first — then pass that density into Table 54B for the VCF. This two-step flow matches how meters and lab results are reported.

ASTM Table 6A vs 6B — crude vs refined in °F

Table 6A applies to crude oil; Table 6B to refined products. Both take API gravity at 60 °F and a temperature in °F. Using the wrong table for the product group shifts the VCF — crude and products expand differently with temperature.

What is a Volume Correction Factor (VCF)?

A volume correction factor (VCF) is the multiplier that converts oil volume measured at an observed temperature to its equivalent volume at standard reference conditions — typically 60 °F, 15 °C, or 20 °C depending on the table family. It is the most frequently-performed calculation in custody transfer and inventory accounting.

Standard volume = observed volume × VCF. VCFAPI implements the published API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 tables directly, returning the VCF to 5 decimal places with no custom math.

Frequently asked

Which table should I use for diesel?: Diesel is a refined product (Group B). Use Table 53B (observed density to density at 15 °C) or Table 54B (density at 15 °C to VCF) in metric units; in imperial, Tables 5B/6B.
How many decimal places does the VCF come back at?: Five decimal places, matching the API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 convention used for custody transfer.
Does the calculator charge for a calculation?: No — the on-page calculator is free. Credits or quota only apply when you call the API with your own key.
Can I use this for weight correction factors?: VCFAPI implements the 28 temperature-correction tables of API MPMS Chapter 11.1-2004 — Tables 5/6/23/24/53/54/59/60 per product group — which produce the Volume Correction Factor for volume. Weight correction is a separate, related calculation: it combines the corrected volume with the base density or gravity, which the density tables (5/23/53/59) also return here. If you need the corrected volumetric VCF first, this calculator covers that step.
Can both buyer and seller use the same calculation?: Yes — that is exactly what the API is for. When trading partners run the same table, the same units, and the same rounding through one calculation layer, both sides get the same result. Each call returns a request ID and every request is recorded in the usage log, so if the numbers ever differ the question becomes whether the inputs were the same — not whose calculation was right. You are still free to validate independently; the point is that one shared, auditable reference removes an entire class of dispute.