Surface Area Calculator

Calculate surface area of any 3D shape — sphere, cylinder, cone, and more.

Surface Area Calculator

Total Surface Area

150

square units

Lateral Surface Area

100

Base Area(s)

50

SA = 6a² = 6 × 5² = 150

Surface Area Calculator Formula & How It Works

Sphere: 4πr² | Cylinder: 2πr(r+h) | Cone: πr(r+l) | Cube: 6s²
  • Rectangular prism: 2(lw + lh + wh)
  • Cylinder: 2 circular ends + lateral surface = 2πr² + 2πrh
  • Cone slant height: l = √(r² + h²)
  • Pyramid: base area + ½ × perimeter × slant height

Surface area is the total area of all faces/surfaces of a 3D shape. Useful for calculating material needed to cover or wrap objects (paint, foil, packaging). Lateral surface area excludes the bases. Total surface area includes all faces including top and bottom.

Surface Area Calculator FAQs

What is the difference between surface area and volume?

Surface area measures the outer 2D covering of a 3D shape (in square units: cm²). Volume measures the 3D space inside (in cubic units: cm³). A sphere with r=3 has Surface Area = 113.1 cm² and Volume = 113.1 cm³ (coincidentally equal at r=3).

How do you calculate the surface area of a cylinder?

Total SA = 2πr² + 2πrh = 2πr(r+h). Two circles (top + bottom) = 2πr². Lateral (side) = 2πrh. For r=4, h=10: SA = 2π×4×(4+10) = 2π×4×14 ≈ 351.9 cm².

Related Calculators

Volume Calculator

Calculate the volume of any 3D shape — sphere, cylinder, cone, cube, and more.

Area Calculator

Calculate the area of any shape — circle, triangle, rectangle, and more.

Circle Calculator

Calculate area, circumference, diameter, and radius — enter any one measurement.

Triangle Calculator

Solve any triangle — find area, perimeter, angles, and altitudes from known sides/angles.