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Cylinder Volume Calculator

Get the volume of a cylinder from radius and height instantly

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How to use

  1. 1.Enter the base radius (r) of the cylinder in the first field, using any consistent unit such as cm, inches, or meters.
  2. 2.Enter the height (h) in the second field using the same unit.
  3. 3.Read the cylinder volume instantly below, along with the base area, side area, and total surface area — no button needed.

About Cylinder Volume Calculator

The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h, where r is the base radius and h is the height. Type your radius and height into this cylinder volume calculator and it returns the volume the moment you stop typing, along with the base area, the side (lateral) area, and the total surface area — no button to press and nothing sent to a server. Every number stays in your browser.

The formula comes from a simple idea: a cylinder is a circle swept straight up. The circular base has area πr², and stacking that base through a height h gives volume = base area × height = πr² × h = πr²h. That is why doubling the height doubles the volume, but doubling the radius quadruples it — the radius is squared while the height is not. Keep r and h in the same unit and the volume comes out in that unit cubed: centimeters give cubic centimeters (cm³, equal to milliliters), inches give cubic inches, meters give cubic meters.

It helps to compare a cylinder with a cone that shares the same base and height. The cone holds exactly one third as much: (1/3)πr²h. Turned around, a cylinder holds three times the volume of the matching cone, which is a fast sanity check when you are estimating capacity by eye.

Alongside volume, the calculator reports three areas that often matter more in practice. Base area (πr²) is one flat circular end. Lateral area (2πrh) is the curved wall — picture unrolling the side into a rectangle whose width is the base circumference 2πr and whose height is h. Total surface area (2πr(r + h)) adds both circular ends to that wall, which is what you need for painting, wrapping, or sheet-metal material.

These numbers show up everywhere cylinders do: sizing a water tank, storage drum, or paint can; working out how much liquid a pipe or tube carries; checking the capacity of a mug, silo, or fuel cylinder; and school geometry homework. If you know the diameter instead of the radius, just halve it first (r = d ÷ 2), then enter that value.

The tool accepts whole numbers and decimals, treats a radius or height of 0 as a volume of 0, and flags negative or non-numeric entries so a typo never returns a misleading answer. Extremely large inputs that would overflow are caught rather than shown as a broken result. Use it for quick estimates or to double-check a hand calculation — the underlying math (Math.PI and πr²h) is the same either way.

Frequently asked questions

What is the formula for the volume of a cylinder?
The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h, where r is the base radius and h is the height. In words, it is the circular base area (πr²) multiplied by the height. Keep r and h in the same unit and the result is that unit cubed.
How do I calculate cylinder volume from the diameter?
First convert the diameter to a radius by halving it: r = d ÷ 2. Then use V = πr²h. For example, a 10 cm diameter gives a 5 cm radius, so the volume is π × 5² × h. Enter that radius in the calculator and it does the rest.
How does a cylinder's volume compare to a cone's?
A cylinder holds exactly three times the volume of a cone with the same base radius and height, because a cone's volume is (1/3)πr²h. Put another way, the cone fills only one third of the matching cylinder.
What units does the cylinder volume calculator use?
It is unit-agnostic: enter the radius and height in whatever unit you like, as long as both use the same one. The volume comes out in that unit cubed — centimeters give cm³ (milliliters), inches give cubic inches, and meters give cubic meters.
How do I find the surface area of a cylinder?
The total surface area is 2πr(r + h): the curved side (lateral area 2πrh) plus the two circular ends (2 × πr²). This calculator shows the base area, lateral area, and total surface area next to the volume automatically.

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