What is included
Total surface area includes the curved side plus the two circular ends. For an open cylinder, subtract one or both circular ends.
Example
For radius 3 and height 10, total surface area is 2 x pi x 3 x (3 + 10), or about 245.04 square units.
When to use it
Use total surface area for coating, wrapping or material on the entire outside of a closed cylinder. Use lateral area only when the top and bottom are not included.
Common mistakes
Do not use diameter as radius. If the cylinder is open, remember to remove the area of the missing circular end.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17