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Free online cylinder calculator. Enter the radius and height to quickly find the base area, lateral area, total surface area, and volume of any cylinder.
Please enter the cylinder's radius or diameter and height.
Overview
Understand what the tool solves, how it works, and the boundaries of its data.
Enter the radius or diameter of a circular base and the cylinder height. The calculator returns the radius, diameter, height, base circumference, area of one base, curved lateral area, total surface area, and volume. Choose one unit for both dimensions: millimeters, centimeters, meters, inches, or feet. Length results use that unit, areas use its square, and volume uses its cube.
For a right circular cylinder, the side unwraps to a rectangle whose width is the base circumference. With radius r and height h, base area is πr², circumference is 2πr, lateral area is 2πrh, total surface area is 2πr² + 2πrh, and volume is πr²h. Total surface area includes both circular ends; lateral area includes only the curved side.
Abase = πr² C = 2πr
Alateral = 2πrh Atotal = 2πr² + 2πrh
V = πr²h
For radius 2 in and height 5 in, the base area is about 12.57 in², lateral area 62.83 in², total area 87.96 in², and volume 62.83 in³. These values follow the standard right-cylinder formulas.
Guide
Follow the workflow and verify inputs and outputs with practical examples.
Use radius when you measured from the center to the circular edge. If you have the full width across the circle, select diameter; the calculator halves it to obtain the radius used in the formulas.
Provide positive dimensions and select mm, cm, m, in, or ft. Both measurements must use the selected unit; the calculator does not convert one input independently from another.
Choose how many decimal places to show, from zero through four. The display rounding affects presentation; keep additional precision if you are using values in a later calculation.
Use base area for one circular end, lateral area for the curved wall, total area for both ends plus wall, and volume for interior geometric capacity.
Use cases
See how the tool fits into real work and everyday tasks.
For a can-shaped container, calculate volume from its inside radius and usable height. Convert cubic inches to gallons separately if that is the unit you need.
Use lateral area when covering only the side. Include total surface area when both circular ends are also covered; an open container needs a different selected surface area.
Compare a radius input with a diameter input that is twice as large. Both should produce the same set of results when height and unit match.
Q&A
Find concise answers to common questions and confusing cases.
Select diameter mode and enter the full across measurement. The calculator derives the radius as half that value.
No. Select one unit and express both dimensions in it first; otherwise the resulting area and volume units would be inconsistent.
Yes. Total surface area adds two circular base areas to the curved side. For an open top, subtract one base area if you need that custom surface total.
This calculator uses one circular radius and perpendicular height for a right circular cylinder. A hollow pipe needs inner and outer radii, and a slanted or irregular shape needs a different model.
Notes
Review scope, result limitations, and important precautions before use.
The result assumes an ideal, solid right circular cylinder. It does not account for wall thickness, a hollow center, rounded rims, taper, deformation, or manufacturing tolerances. For a real vessel, use internal dimensions for capacity and account for unusable space. Material estimates should also account for overlap, seams, waste, and the exact surfaces being covered.
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