Everyday utility

Cylinder Calculator

Enter radius and height to calculate cylinder volume, total surface area, and lateral surface area. Use radius (not diameter) — divide any measured diameter by 2 before entering.

Last reviewed May 19, 2026 by ToolSpilo Editorial Team.

Review method: Reviewed against standard cylinder geometry formulas.

Calculator tool

How this calculator works

Use the explanation to understand the formula, assumptions, and practical limits behind the calculator result.

What a Cylinder Is

A cylinder is a 3D solid with two identical circular ends (bases) and a curved side that connects them. A tin can, drinking glass, pipe, and tree trunk are all approximately cylindrical.

Formulas

Let rr be the base radius and hh the height.

MeasurementFormulaDescription
VolumeV=πr2hV = \pi r^2 hSpace inside
Lateral surface areaAL=2πrhA_L = 2\pi r hCurved side only
Total surface areaA=2πr(r+h)A = 2\pi r(r + h)Both caps + curved side

Worked Example

For a cylinder with radius 5 cm and height 10 cm:

V=π×52×10=250π≈785.40 cm3V = \pi \times 5^2 \times 10 = 250\pi \approx 785.40\text{ cm}^3
AL=2π×5×10=100π≈314.16 cm2A_L = 2\pi \times 5 \times 10 = 100\pi \approx 314.16\text{ cm}^2
A=2π×5×(5+10)=150π≈471.24 cm2A = 2\pi \times 5 \times (5 + 10) = 150\pi \approx 471.24\text{ cm}^2

Since 1 liter = 1,000 cm³, this cylinder holds about 0.785 L.

Lateral vs Total Surface Area

Lateral surface area is the area of the curved tube only — useful when calculating the material needed for a pipe or can body. Total surface area adds both circular caps — needed when calculating total material for a closed container.

Practical Uses

Cylinder calculations apply to pipe and tank sizing, can and bottle design, concrete column volume, tree trunk timber estimates, and swimming pool dimensions.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between lateral and total surface area?

Lateral surface area (2πrh2\pi rh) covers only the curved side of the cylinder, like the label on a tin can. Total surface area (2πr(r+h)2\pi r(r+h)) adds both flat circular ends — the top and bottom caps. Use lateral area when you need material for the side only (pipe coating, label printing). Use total area when manufacturing a closed container.

I measured the diameter, not the radius. What do I enter?

Divide the measured diameter by 2 to get the radius. A pipe with outer diameter 20 cm has radius 10 cm. Enter 10, not 20. Using the diameter as the radius will give a volume that is 4 times too large because volume scales with r2r^2.

Why does volume scale faster than height when the radius increases?

Volume is πr2h\pi r^2 h. Height appears once, so doubling the height doubles the volume. Radius is squared, so doubling the radius makes the volume 4 times larger. A short, wide cylinder can have a much larger volume than a tall, narrow one with the same height.

How do I find how many liters a cylindrical tank holds?

Enter dimensions in centimeters, read the volume in cm³, then divide by 1,000. A tank with radius 30 cm and height 80 cm has volume π×302×80≈226,195 cm3÷1,000≈226 L\pi \times 30^2 \times 80 \approx 226,195\text{ cm}^3 \div 1,000 \approx 226\text{ L}. For meters: multiply cubic meters by 1,000 to get liters.