Cylinder Surface Area Calculator
Find the surface area of a cylinder.
Results update as you type.
How it works
A cylinder is a solid with two parallel circular ends connected by a curved side, and this calculator finds its surface area from the radius and height. You enter the base radius and the height, and it returns the total surface area and the lateral surface area. The lateral surface is the curved part that wraps around the cylinder, like the label on a can; if you unrolled it, it would form a rectangle whose width is the circumference and whose height is the cylinder's height, giving an area of two pi times the radius times the height. The total surface area adds the two circular ends, each pi times the radius squared, to this lateral area. Whether you need the total or just the lateral area depends on the situation: a closed can or tank uses the total, while a pipe, tube, or label wrapping uses only the lateral area, since the ends are open or not counted. These formulas are widely used to calculate the material needed to make cans, tanks, pipes, and containers, to size labels and wraps, in construction and manufacturing, and in geometry class. Be sure to use the radius, not the diameter; halve the diameter first if that is what you have. The results are in square units of your input unit. Enter the radius and height to compute the cylinder's surface area.
Total = 2·π·r² + 2·π·r·h
A cylinder's total surface area is the two circular ends, each pi times the radius squared, plus the curved side that wraps around, two pi times the radius times the height. The lateral surface area is just that wrapping side, two pi times the radius times the height, which excludes the top and bottom.
Source:Solid geometry
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter base radius and height.
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Total surface area updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
How do you find the surface area of a cylinder?
Add the areas of the two circular ends, each pi times the radius squared, to the curved side area, two pi times the radius times the height. For a radius of 3 and height of 5, the total is about 150.8 square units. The calculator computes both the total and lateral areas from your inputs.
What is the lateral surface area of a cylinder?
The lateral surface area is the curved side that wraps around the cylinder, excluding the top and bottom. It equals two pi times the radius times the height. If you unrolled the curved surface flat, it would be a rectangle with the cylinder's circumference as its width and the height as its height.
When do I use total versus lateral area?
Use the total surface area for a closed cylinder like a can or sealed tank, where all surfaces including the two ends matter. Use the lateral area for open cylinders like pipes and tubes, or when sizing a label or wrap that covers only the curved side, since the ends are open or not being covered.
Do I use the radius or diameter?
Use the radius, the distance from the center of the circular end to its edge. If you know the diameter, the full width across the circle, divide it by two to get the radius first. Entering the diameter by mistake would make the calculated surface area much too large.
Where are these formulas used?
Cylinder surface area formulas are used to find the sheet metal or material needed to make cans, drums, tanks, and pipes, to size labels and shrink wraps, in construction of columns and ducts, and in packaging design. Whenever you need to know how much material covers a cylinder, these formulas apply.