Surface Area Calculator

Calculate total and lateral surface area for 11 common 3D geometric shapes with step-by-step formulas, visual diagrams, and full unit conversion (meters, kilometers, feet, inches, miles, and more) — just like calculator.net.

Sphere / Ball Surface Area

Select Type:

Radius (r):

Cone Surface Area

Base Radius (r):

Height (h):

Cube Surface Area

Edge Length (a):

Cylinder Surface Area

Base Radius (r):

Height (h):

Rectangular Prism Surface Area

Length (l):

Width (w):

Height (h):

Capsule Surface Area

Radius (r):

Cylinder Length (a):

Circular Cylinder / Pipe Surface Area

Cylinder Type:

Radius (r):

Inner Radius (r2):

Height / Length (h):

Conical Frustum Surface Area

Top Radius (r):

Bottom Radius (R):

Height (h):

Triangular Prism Surface Area

Side a:

Side b:

Side c:

Prism Height (h):

Square Pyramid Surface Area

Base Edge (a):

Height (h):

Ellipsoid Surface Area

Axis 1 (a):

Axis 2 (b):

Axis 3 (c):

How to Calculate Surface Area of 3D Objects

Surface area measures the total exposed region of a 3D solid. All calculators on this page accept a different unit for every dimension (millimeters to miles) — values are converted internally and the result can be displayed in any common area unit. Core formulas used:

Sphere: Total area = 4πr²
Cone: Total area = πr(r + √(r² + h²))
Cylinder: Total area = 2πr(r + h)
Rectangular Prism: Total area = 2(lw + lh + wh)
Capsule: Total area = 4πr² + 2πra
Conical Frustum: Total area = π(r₁² + r₂² + (r₁ + r₂)s)
Ellipsoid (approx.): Total area ≈ 4π[((ab)^1.6 + (ac)^1.6 + (bc)^1.6)/3]^(1/1.6)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Total Surface Area (TSA) measures all exterior faces including top and bottom bases. Lateral Surface Area (LSA) excludes the base areas, measuring only the surrounding sides.

The surface area of a sphere is calculated using the formula A = 4πr², where r is the radius.

For an open pipe, the surface area includes inner and outer lateral sides plus ring bases: A = 2πh(R + r) + 2π(R² - r²).

Slant height is the distance along the side face from base to apex. It is used in cones, frustums, and pyramids to compute lateral surface areas via Pythagorean relationships.

Yes. Each input has its own unit dropdown, so you can enter every dimension in whatever unit you have on hand — the calculator converts everything internally before computing the result.

Surface area is expressed in square units, such as square centimeters (cm²), square meters (m²), square feet (ft²), or square inches (in²). Use the "Result unit" dropdown next to each answer to switch between them instantly, including hectares and acres.