Lateral, base, and total surface area of a right circular cylinder
Reviewed by [email protected], Geometry Calculator Developer & Online Math Educator Last updated May 12, 2026
The surface area of a right circular cylinder splits into three pieces: two circular ends (each area πr²) plus the curved side (a rectangle of height h and width 2πr, the unrolled circumference). Add or omit pieces depending on whether you have a closed solid, an open tube, or a one-ended pipe.
| Name | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Surface Area | SA = 2πr² + 2πrh = 2πr(r + h) |
Closed solid cylinder — both circular ends + curved side. |
| Lateral Surface Area | SA_lat = 2π × r × h |
Curved side only (e.g. label area of a can). Equals circumference × height. |
| Base Area | A_base = π × r² |
Each of the two circular ends. |
| Open-Top Cylinder | SA = πr² + 2πrh |
One end only — e.g. drinking glass, open bucket. |
| Hollow Tube (Open Both Ends) | SA = 2πrh |
Just the lateral surface. Pipe section. |
| Hollow Cylindrical Shell | SA = 2π(R + r)(R − r) + 2π(R + r)h |
Tube of inner radius r, outer R, height h: two annular ends + outer + inner curves. |
| Volume (for reference) | V = π × r² × h |
Volume scales with r²; surface area scales with r — important for "smaller cylinders are relatively more wasteful of material" intuitions. |
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