Cylinder: properties & formulas
A right circular cylinder has two parallel circular bases joined by a curved surface. Its volume is the base area multiplied by the perpendicular height.
- 2 circular faces
- 1 curved surface
- 2 curved edges
- 0 vertices
Properties of a cylinder
| Flat faces | 2 circular bases, parallel and equal |
|---|---|
| Curved surfaces | 1 |
| Edges | 2 circular edges (no straight edges) |
| Vertices | None |
| Cross-section parallel to the base | A circle equal to the base |
| Net | Two circles and a rectangle 2πr by h |
Cylinder formulas
| Volume | V = πr²h |
|---|---|
| Total surface area | S = 2πr² + 2πrh = 2πr(r + h) |
| Lateral (curved) area | L = 2πrh |
| Base area | B = πr² |
Cylinder volume & surface area calculator
Give your shape a size.
Use the same unit for every dimension. Changing the unit relabels the measurements; it does not convert them.
From dimensions to an answer
A worked example
For r = 3 and h = 8, volume is 72π ≈ 226.195 cubic units and total surface area is 66π ≈ 207.345 square units.
Cylinder: common questions
Wondering about the why? Start here.
How many faces, edges, and vertices does a cylinder have?
A cylinder has 2 flat circular faces and 1 curved surface. The two circular rims where they meet are its 2 curved edges, and it has no vertices. Some curricula count only the flat circles as faces.
How do I calculate the volume of a cylinder?
Multiply the area of the circular base by the perpendicular height: V = πr²h. A cylinder with radius 2 and height 5 has volume 20π cubic units. All lengths must use the same unit.
Read the volume formulasDoes cylinder surface area include the top and bottom?
Yes. Total surface area is 2πr² + 2πrh: two circular bases plus the curved side. For a container without a top, subtract one base area, πr², from the total shown.
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