What this calculator does
The surface area of a cylinder is the total area of material needed to cover it entirely: the curved side plus the two flat circular ends. It is the figure you need for painting, wrapping, cladding or working out how much sheet metal or fabric a cylindrical shape actually requires.
This calculator keeps the focus on that surface, leading with the total surface area of a cylinder and breaking it down into the curved (lateral) surface and the area of the two ends. For how much the same shape can hold rather than how much it takes to cover, the volume of a cylinder calculator answers that instead.
The formula
Total surface area is A = 2πr² + 2πrh: the two circular ends (2πr²) plus the curved side unrolled into a rectangle (2πrh, the base circumference times the height). The curved surface alone, without the ends, is just the 2πrh term.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Total surface area: the two circular ends plus the curved side, 2πr² + 2πrh. |
| r | Radius of the circular ends. |
| h | Height, the distance between the two circular ends. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Radius | The radius of the circular ends. |
| Height | The height of the cylinder, the distance between the two ends. |
When to use it
Painting or cladding a cylindrical tank
The surface area of a cylinder, in total or split into curved side and ends, gives the coverage needed for paint, insulation wrap or cladding material.
Working out sheet material for a can or drum
Manufacturing a cylindrical container from flat sheet stock starts with the surface area of cylinder, or just the curved part if the ends are formed separately.
Comparing the area of a cylinder against a similarly sized box
For the same footprint and height, a cylindrical shape has less surface area than a rectangular box, which can matter for material cost or heat loss comparisons.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How does cylinder surface area change with radius?
A fixed height of 20, across a range of radius values.
| Radius | Total surface area | Curved (lateral) surface |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 131.947 | 125.664 |
| 2 | 276.460 | 251.327 |
| 5 | 785.398 | 628.319 |
| 10 | 1,884.96 | 1,256.64 |
| 15 | 3,298.67 | 1,884.96 |
| 20 | 5,026.55 | 2,513.27 |
How does cylinder surface area change with height?
A fixed radius of 5, across a range of height values.
| Height | Total surface area | Curved (lateral) surface |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 314.159 | 157.080 |
| 10 | 471.239 | 314.159 |
| 20 | 785.398 | 628.319 |
| 40 | 1,413.72 | 1,256.64 |
| 60 | 2,042.04 | 1,884.96 |
| 100 | 3,298.67 | 3,141.59 |
Questions
What is the formula for surface area of a cylinder?
A = 2πr² + 2πrh: the two circular ends (2πr² together) plus the curved side (2πrh). Leaving off the 2πr² term gives the curved surface alone.
What is the curved surface area of a cylinder used for?
The curved, or lateral, surface is the area of the side wall only, without the top and bottom. It is the relevant figure for a label wrapped around a can, or a pipe with open ends.
How is area of a cylinder different from its volume?
Surface area measures the material needed to cover the outside, in square units; volume measures the space enclosed inside, in cubic units. They use the same radius and height but answer different questions.
Do the two circular ends always need to be included?
Not always. A pipe or tube open at both ends only has curved surface area; a sealed tank or can needs the full total, including both ends.
For the volume this same cylinder holds, see the volume of a cylinder calculator. For both volume and surface area together from one set of inputs, see the full cylinder calculator.