Cylinder Surface Area Calculator
The surface area of a cylinder consists of three components: the curved lateral surface and two circular bases. The lateral surface area is 2πrh, where r is the radius and h is the height. The area of each circular base is πr², for a total base area of 2πr². The total surface area is 2πr(r+h). This calculator computes the lateral, base, and total surface areas of a cylinder from its radius and height.
Cylinder surface area formulas
Lateral Surface Area = 2 * π * r * h
Base Area = π * r²
Total Surface Area = 2 * π * r * (r + h)
Reference values
| Radius | Height | Lateral | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 cm | 5 cm | 62.83 cm² | 87.96 cm² |
| 5 cm | 10 cm | 314.16 cm² | 471.24 cm² |
| 3 m | 7 m | 131.95 m² | 188.50 m² |
Cylinder surface area calculator: frequently asked questions
What is lateral surface area?
The lateral surface is just the curved side, excluding the circular bases. It equals 2πrh.
What is total surface area?
Total surface includes the curved side plus both circular bases: 2πr(r+h).
What is the difference?
Lateral surface = 2πrh. Total surface = Lateral + 2 bases = 2πrh + 2πr² = 2πr(r+h).
How do base area calculations work?
Each circular base has area πr². With two bases, the total is 2πr².
Where is this used?
Surface area calculations apply to paint coverage, material wrapping, and heat transfer analysis.
Official sources
- Khan Academy: Volume and surface area.
- NIST: National Institute of Standards.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.