Cylinder Calculator
Calculate volume, lateral surface area, total surface area, diameter, and circumference of a cylinder from its radius and height.
Cylinder dimensions
Volume
282.7433
- Diameter
- 6
- Circumference
- 18.8496
- Base area
- 28.2743
- Lateral surface area
- 188.4956
- Total surface area
- 245.0442
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cylinder Calculator
How do you calculate the volume of a cylinder?
Volume equals pi times radius squared times height: V = pi * r^2 * h. The base is a circle, and you stack that circular area through the height of the cylinder.
What is the difference between lateral and total surface area?
Lateral surface area covers only the curved side: 2 * pi * r * h. Total surface area also adds the two circular ends: 2 * pi * r^2 + 2 * pi * r * h. Use lateral for wrapping labels; use total for full painting or coating.
Can I use any unit?
Yes. The math is unit-agnostic. If r and h are in inches, area is in square inches and volume is in cubic inches. Keep both inputs in the same unit and the result will be consistent.
How do I get diameter or circumference from radius?
Diameter is just 2 times the radius. Circumference is 2 times pi times the radius. Both numbers appear in the result panel so you do not have to do the conversion yourself.
Why does the calculator reject zero or negative inputs?
A cylinder needs a positive radius and a positive height to exist. Zero would collapse the shape into a point or a line, and negatives have no geometric meaning. Enter positive values to get a result.