Cylinder Calculator

Calculate volume, surface area, and other properties of a cylinder. Perfect for tanks, pipes, and engineering calculations.

Radius of the circular base

Height/length of the cylinder

Volume = PIr^2h\nTotal Surface Area = 2PIr^2 + 2PIrh\nLateral Surface Area = 2PIrh\nBase Area = PIr^2\nDiameter = 2r\n\nWhere:\nr = radius\nh = height\nPI ≈ 3.14159
Example 1:\nRadius = 5 cm\nHeight = 10 cm\n\nVolume = PI * 5^2 * 10 = 785.40 cm^3\nTotal Surface Area = 2PI*25 + 2PI*5*10\n = 157.08 + 314.16 = 471.24 cm^2\nLateral Area = 314.16 cm^2\nBase Area = 78.54 cm^2\n\nCapacity: 0.785 liters\n\nExample 2 (Tank):\nRadius = 1 m\nHeight = 3 m\n\nVolume = PI * 1 * 3 = 9.42 m^3 = 9,420 liters

What are the formulas for a cylinder?

Volume = PIr^2h (area of base * height). Total Surface Area = 2PIr^2 + 2PIrh (two circles + rectangular side). Lateral Surface Area = 2PIrh (side only). Base Area = PIr^2. Where r = radius, h = height, PI ≈ 3.14159.

What is the difference between total and lateral surface area?

Total surface area includes top and bottom circles plus the side (2PIr^2 + 2PIrh). Lateral surface area is only the curved side, excluding top/bottom (2PIrh). Use lateral for open cylinders (pipes, cans without lids). Use total for closed cylinders.

How do I find the height if I know volume and radius?

Rearrange volume formula: h = V/(PIr^2). Example: Volume = 100 cm^3, radius = 2 cm. h = 100/(PI*4) = 7.96 cm. Similarly, can find radius if you know volume and height: r = sqrt(V/PIh).

What are real-world examples of cylinders?

Cans (soda, soup), pipes, tubes, water tanks, oil drums, drinking glasses, batteries (AA, AAA), pillars/columns, tree trunks, storage silos, pistons, rollers, cables, and hydraulic cylinders. Common in engineering and manufacturing.

How do I calculate cylinder capacity for liquids?

Use volume formula: V = PIr^2h. For horizontal cylinders (lying on side), calculation is complex—use online horizontal tank calculator. Units: 1 liter = 1000 cm^3, 1 gallon = 3785.41 cm^3. Example: r=10cm, h=30cm → V=9425 cm^3 = 9.4 liters.