Capsule Surface Area Calculator
Calculate the surface area of a capsule by entering the radius and cylindrical height. A capsule is a cylinder with hemispherical ends.
💊 Capsule Surface Area
Formula
Capsule Surface Area Formulas
Total Surface Area
Sphere surface area plus cylindrical surface area
Spherical Ends
Surface area of both hemispherical ends combined
Cylindrical Surface
Curved surface area of the cylindrical middle section
Volume
Cylinder volume plus sphere volume
Capsule Surface Area Examples
Example 1: Small Capsule
Given: Radius = 2 cm, Height = 6 cm
Spherical ends: 4π × 2² = 16π cm²
Cylindrical surface: 2π × 2 × 6 = 24π cm²
Total: SA = 16π + 24π = 40π ≈ 125.66 cm²
Example 2: Medium Capsule
Given: Radius = 3 cm, Height = 10 cm
Spherical ends: 4π × 3² = 36π cm²
Cylindrical surface: 2π × 3 × 10 = 60π cm²
Total: SA = 36π + 60π = 96π ≈ 301.59 cm²
Example 3: Large Capsule
Given: Radius = 5 cm, Height = 15 cm
Spherical ends: 4π × 5² = 100π cm²
Cylindrical surface: 2π × 5 × 15 = 150π cm²
Total: SA = 100π + 150π = 250π ≈ 785.40 cm²
Capsule Surface Area FAQ
What is a capsule?
A capsule (also called a spherocylinder) is a 3D shape consisting of a cylinder with hemispherical ends. It's commonly seen in pill shapes and some architectural elements.
How do you calculate capsule surface area?
Add the surface area of a complete sphere (4πr²) to the lateral surface area of the cylinder (2πrh). Total: SA = 4πr² + 2πrh.
What's the difference between total length and cylindrical height?
Total length includes the hemispheres (total = h + 2r), while cylindrical height (h) is just the straight middle section.
How is a capsule different from a cylinder?
A cylinder has flat circular ends, while a capsule has rounded hemispherical ends. This affects both surface area and volume calculations.