Surface Area Of Cylinder
Find the total (TSA) and lateral (LSA) surface area of any right circular cylinder using radius and height. Free online geometry tool with formula breakdown, chart visualization, and instant results for students and professionals.
About This Calculator
The Surface Area Of Cylinder Calculator computes both the total surface area (TSA = 2pir^2 + 2pirh) and the lateral surface area (LSA = 2pirh) of a right circular cylinder. Enter the radius of the circular base and the height to get instant results with a visual breakdown chart showing how each component contributes to the total.
A right circular cylinder is one of the most common 3D shapes in everyday life -- found in cans, pipes, tanks, columns, batteries, and rollers. Understanding its surface area is essential for material estimation, manufacturing, painting, packaging, and coating. The total surface area combines the two circular end caps (base area) with the curved lateral surface. The calculator provides both the combined total and the lateral portion separately, along with a pie chart and bar chart for visual comparison.
This tool is perfect for students learning 3D geometry formulas, engineers designing cylindrical containers, manufacturers calculating raw material needs, and painters or coaters estimating surface coverage. The formula is derived by unfolding the cylinder into a net: two circles (the bases) and one rectangle (the lateral surface). The rectangle's width equals the circumference (2pir) and its height equals the cylinder height (h), giving a lateral area of 2pirh.
Regional notes: Works with any unit system. US users typically use inches/feet (in^2/ft^2), while UK and Indian users use metric (cm^2/m^2). Always use the same unit for both radius and height -- the result will be in the corresponding square unit. For example, entering cm for both gives cm^2, inches gives in^2, and meters gives m^2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the formula for the total surface area of a cylinder?
The total surface area of a right circular cylinder is TSA = 2pir^2 + 2pirh = 2pir(r + h), where r is the radius and h is the height. This includes the area of both circular end caps plus the curved lateral surface.
What is the lateral surface area of a cylinder?
The lateral surface area is LSA = 2pirh, which covers only the curved side of the cylinder. It excludes the top and bottom circular faces. Think of it as the area of a rectangle wrapped around the cylinder (circumference x height).
What units does the surface area result use?
The result uses square versions of whatever units you enter. Enter radius and height in meters for square meters (m^2), inches for square inches (in^2), or centimeters for square centimeters (cm^2). Always use the same unit for both inputs.
Is this surface area calculator free?
Yes, all calculators on Calculy are completely free to use with no limits or registration required.
How is surface area different from volume?
Surface area measures the total area of the cylinder's outer surface (in square units), while volume measures the space inside the cylinder (in cubic units). For a cylinder with radius 3 and height 5, the surface area is about 150.8 square units and volume is about 141.4 cubic units.
What if I only know the diameter?
Divide the diameter by 2 to get the radius, then enter that value. For example, a cylinder with diameter 8 cm has radius 4 cm. If the height is 10 cm, the total surface area is 2pi x 4 x (4 + 10) ≈ 351.86 cm^2.
Why are both end caps and lateral area shown separately?
Showing the breakdown helps you understand how the total surface area is composed. In manufacturing, you might need the lateral area for labeling or wrapping, while the end cap area matters for material estimates like paint or coating.