Cylinder Surface Area Calculator
The surface area of a cylinder — total, or just the curved part if you only need the label that wraps around it.
Unroll a cylinder and the curved part becomes a rectangle: as tall as the cylinder and as wide as its circumference, so its area is 2πr × h.
How the cylinder surface area calculator works
Unroll a cylinder and the curved part becomes a rectangle: as tall as the cylinder and as wide as its circumference, so its area is 2πr × h. Add the two circular ends, each πr², and the total is 2πr(r + h). A tin's label needs only the curved part; the metal to make the tin needs all of it.
Formula: cube 6a²; box 2(lw+lh+wh); sphere 4πr²; cylinder 2πr(r+h); cone πr(r+l); pyramid a² + 2a·s
Worked examples
| Inputs | Total surface area | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Radius 2, height 5 | 87.9646 | 2π × 2 × 7 ≈ 87.96 |
| A drink can — radius 3.3, height 11.5 cm | 306.8708 | about 307 cm² of aluminium |
| A wide flat tin | 816.8141 | the ends dominate the total |
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is the surface area of a cylinder?
2πr(r + h) in total — the curved side 2πrh plus two circular ends of πr² each.
How much label wraps around a tin?
Only the curved area, 2πrh — the "Curved or side area" row.
What if the cylinder is open at one end?
Subtract one πr² end from the total.
Does it work for a pipe?
For the outside, yes. A pipe with a wall thickness also has an inner surface and two annular ends.
How do I get the volume?
πr²h, shown alongside — the base area multiplied by the height.
Where these figures come from
- NIST Digital Library of Mathematical Functions — reference definitions for elementary and special functions
- Wolfram MathWorld — definitions and formulas for every topic on this page
- NIST/SEMATECH e-Handbook of Statistical Methods — the statistical formulas (mean, variance, z, confidence intervals, sample size)
- National curriculum in England — Mathematics — the terms and methods taught in UK schools
Last checked: September 2026. Formulas are fixed by mathematics and do not change with tax years or regulations.