About Surface Area Calculations

Surface area calculations are essential in geometry, engineering, and design. They help determine material requirements, heat transfer rates, and structural properties for various 3D objects.

Calculation Formulas

Cube: 6 × side²
Rectangular Prism: 2(lw + lh + wh)
Sphere: 4πr²
Cylinder: 2πr² + 2πrh
Cone: πr² + πrl
Square Pyramid: base area + 2bl

Practical Example

For a cylinder with radius 5 units and height 10 units:
Base area = π × 5² = 78.54 units²
Side area = 2π × 5 × 10 = 314.16 units²
Total surface area = 78.54 × 2 + 314.16 = 471.24 units²

Reference Table

Shape	Variables Needed
Cube	Side length
Rectangular Prism	Length, width, height
Sphere	Radius
Cylinder	Radius, height
Cone	Radius, height
Pyramid	Base length, height

Frequently Asked Questions

What units should I use?

Use any consistent units (cm, m, inches). Results will be in square units of your input.

How precise are the calculations?

Calculations use JavaScript floating point precision (about 15 decimal digits). Results are rounded to 4 decimal places.

Are all surfaces included?

Yes, calculations include all exposed surfaces. For hollow objects, subtract inner surfaces manually.

Surface Area Calculator - 3D Shapes

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Surface Area Calculator - 3D Shapes Explained

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