Volume Calculator
Volume of boxes, cylinders, spheres, cones and tanks.
Geometry Calculators
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Surface Area Calculator
Total and lateral surface area of any common solid.
Surface Area Calculator tool
Length, radius or side.
Width.
Height.
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Total surface area
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Lateral (sides only)
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In square metres
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In square feet
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Volume
| Part | Area |
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About the Surface Area Calculator
Surface Area Calculator gives both the total surface area and the lateral area -- the sides without the ends -- for each common solid. The distinction matters in practice: painting a tank needs the total, wrapping a label around it needs only the lateral.
The breakdown table shows which part contributes what. For a cylinder, the curved side and the two circular ends are listed separately, so you can see where the area is and adapt the figure if, say, the base will not be painted. For a cone the slant height is shown, because it is the measurement the formula needs and the one you cannot measure directly.
Surface area and volume scale differently, and the two figures side by side make it visible. Double every dimension and the surface area quadruples while the volume grows eightfold. That ratio is why small animals lose heat faster than large ones, and why a large tank needs proportionally less insulation than a small one.
The page shows its working, not just its answer. Where there is a formula it is printed with your own numbers substituted in, so you can check the result rather than take it on trust -- which is the difference between a calculator you can use for something that matters and one you cannot.
Everything runs inside your browser. What you type is never uploaded, never logged and never stored, and the calculator keeps working if your connection drops after the page has loaded.
Looking for something this does not cover? FreeToolStation.com is a second collection of the same kind of everyday tools, and it is worth a look if surface area calculator is only part of what you are working on.
How to use the Surface Area Calculator
- Choose shape and measurements inThe fields below change to match what you pick, so only the figures that matter to your case are asked for.
- Enter a, b and cDecimals are fine, and thousands separators are accepted and ignored.
- Read the total surface area, lateral (sides only) and in square metresThe figures update as you type. The Calculate button is there if you would rather press something, but nothing waits for it.
- Copy or check the resultCopy the summary with the copy button, or open the table to check it row by row and read the formula with your own numbers in it.
Features
- Shows total surface area, lateral (sides only), in square metres, in square feet and volume together, so you are not running it twice
- A results table you can read across
- Prints the formula with your own figures substituted in
- Updates as you type, with no button to press and no page reload
- Copy the result in one click
- Free, no sign-up, and it runs entirely in your browser
Who uses this tool
The surface area calculator is used by writers, developers, students, marketers and anyone else who needs the job done once without installing software. Common cases include:
- Working out paint or coating needed for a tank
- Calculating material for a box or container
- Finding the lateral area for a wrap or label
- Comparing surface area with volume for insulation
Frequently asked questions
What is lateral surface area?
The area of the sides only, excluding the top and bottom. For a cylinder it is the curved part; for a box it is the four walls.
Why does the cone need a slant height?
Because the curved surface slopes. The slant height is found from the radius and the vertical height by Pythagoras, and the calculator shows it.
How do I allow for openings?
Work out the full area here and subtract the openings yourself. The calculator deals with whole solids.
Related tools
If the surface area calculator is not quite what you need, these other free tools solve closely related problems, and there are 16 more in geometry calculators.
Cylinder Volume Calculator
Cylinder volume in litres, with partial fill.
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Sphere Calculator
Sphere volume, surface area, radius and diameter.
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Paint Calculator
Paint needed for walls and ceiling, by coats.
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Area Calculator
Area and perimeter for ten shapes, with the formula and the working.
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Checked and rebuilt on 2026-10-14. The method this calculator uses is described in the section above, and corrections go through the contact page.