Cylinder Surface Area
Unroll the side and it becomes a rectangle of circumference by height, so 2πrh. Add the two circular ends for the total. For a wraparound label, the lateral area is all you need.
Your numbers
Surface area
402.12cm²
Lateral area
301.59cm²
Base area
50.27cm²
Volume
603.19cm³
Formula
Surface area = 2 × π × Radius × (Radius + Height)
A can uses least material when diameter equals height. Real cans are taller because of grip and shelf presentation.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Radius (cm)Centre to edge — half the diameter. | 4 | 0 and up |
| Height (cm)The perpendicular height from the base — not the slanted side. | 12 | 0 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Radius (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Radius (cm) | Surface area (cm²) | Lateral area (cm²) | Base area (cm²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 175.93 | 150.8 | 12.57 |
| 3 | 282.74 | 226.19 | 28.27 |
| 4 | 402.12 | 301.59 | 50.27 |
| 6 | 678.58 | 452.39 | 113.1 |
| 8 | 1,005.31 | 603.19 | 201.06 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Surface area (cm²)The total area of a solid’s outer skin. | 402.12 |
| Lateral area (cm²)The side surface only, without the bases — the size of a wraparound label. | 301.59 |
| Base area (cm²)The area of one base face. | 50.27 |
| Volume (cm³)The space a solid holds — length cubed. | 603.19 |
Common mistakes
A can uses least material when diameter equals height. Real cans are taller because of grip and shelf presentation.
Glossary
- Radius
- Centre to edge — half the diameter.
- Height
- The perpendicular height from the base — not the slanted side.
- Surface area
- The total area of a solid’s outer skin.
- Lateral area
- The side surface only, without the bases — the size of a wraparound label.
- Base area
- The area of one base face.
- Volume
- The space a solid holds — length cubed.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Cylinder Surface Area calculated?
Surface area = 2 × π × Radius × (Radius + Height) — Unroll the side and it becomes a rectangle of circumference by height, so 2πrh. Add the two circular ends for the total. For a wraparound label, the lateral area is all you need.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Radius 4cm, Height 12cm, the answer is Surface area 402.12cm².
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Radius, Height. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Radius (cm) moves the answer to Radius (cm) 2 → Surface area (cm²) 175.93 and Radius (cm) 8 → Surface area (cm²) 1,005.31. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
A can uses least material when diameter equals height. Real cans are taller because of grip and shelf presentation.
Related calculators
Keep your length units consistent across inputs — mixing centimetres and metres throws results far off.