Cylinder formulas
- Volume: V = π × r² × h (area of the circular base times the height)
- Side (lateral) area: 2 × π × r × h
- Total surface area: 2 × π × r × (r + h)
Worked examples
A can with a 2 cm radius and 5 cm height holds π × 4 × 5 ≈ 62.8 cm³. A water tank 1.5 m across (r = 0.75 m) and 1.8 m tall holds π × 0.5625 × 1.8 ≈ 3.18 m³, about 3,180 litres.
Pipes
The water in a 30 m garden hose with a 1.6 cm inner diameter (r = 0.8 cm = 0.008 m) is π × 0.008² × 30 ≈ 0.006 m³, or 6 litres. Use the inside radius for capacity and the outside radius for paint or insulation.
How this works
The page computes the base area πr² and multiplies by the height for the volume. The side area is the circumference 2πr times the height, and the total surface adds the two circular ends, 2πr². Results carry your unit cubed for volume and squared for areas. Everything runs in your browser.
Frequently asked
What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder?
V = πr²h: the area of the round base times the height.
How many litres does a cylindrical tank hold?
Compute the volume in m³ and multiply by 1,000, or in cm³ and divide by 1,000.
What radius should I use for a pipe?
The inside radius for how much it holds; the outside radius for its outer surface.
Does a slanted cylinder have a different volume?
No. An oblique cylinder with the same base and vertical height has the same volume.
Sources
Reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · test vectors fixtures/calculators/math/volume/cylinder/