Volume of a Hollow Cylinder

Q: What is the formula for the volume of a hollow cylinder?

The formula is V = π·h·(R² − r²), where R is the outer radius, r the inner radius and h the height. It amounts to subtracting the inner cylinder from the outer one.

Q: What is the surface area of a hollow cylinder?

It is calculated with A = 2π·h·(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²): the outer and inner walls plus the two ring-shaped ends.

Q: How many faces, edges and vertices does a hollow cylinder have?

It has 4 faces (the outer wall, the inner wall and the two ring-shaped ends), 4 curved edges and no vertices.

Q: What is the difference between a hollow cylinder and a solid one?

A hollow cylinder has a cylindrical hole through its center, like a pipe or tube, whereas a solid one is filled. That is why the inner hole is subtracted from its volume.

Volume =

π×height×(R²−r²)

Volume calculator for a hollow cylinder

Enter the outer radius (R), the inner radius (r) and the height (h) of the hollow cylinder and you will be able to calculate the volume automatically

Outer radius (R)

Inner radius (r)

Height (h)

Volume

Description, how many faces, edges and vertices are there in a hollow cylinder

A hollow cylinder or tube is a cylinder with a smaller cylinder removed from its center, leaving a wall of uniform thickness. It is defined by the outer radius R, the inner radius r and the height h.

Examples of a hollow cylinder

You can find many hollow-cylinder-shaped objects: a pipe or tube, a cardboard paper roll, a ring, a thick washer or a duct. Can you think of any others? Leave us a comment in the box at the bottom of the page.

Formula for the volume of a hollow cylinder

To calculate the volume of a hollow cylinder you subtract the volume of the inner hole from that of the outer cylinder: π times the height times (R² − r²). You can also use the online tool to calculate the volume automatically.

Volume =

π×height×(R²−r²)

Surface area of a hollow cylinder

The total area adds the outer and inner walls (2π·height·(R + r)) and the two ring-shaped ends (2π(R² − r²)).

A = 2×π×height×(R + r) + 2×π×(R² − r²) [m²]

Worked example: volume of a hollow cylinder

Hollow cylinder with an outer radius of 5 cm, an inner radius of 3 cm and a height of 10 cm:

V = π × height × (R² − r²) = π × 10 × (25 − 9)

V = π × 10 × 16 ≈ 502.7 cm³

Frequently asked questions about the volume of a hollow cylinder

What is the formula for the volume of a hollow cylinder?

The formula is V = π·h·(R² − r²), where R is the outer radius, r the inner radius and h the height. It amounts to subtracting the inner cylinder from the outer one.

How do you calculate the volume of a hollow cylinder step by step?

Subtract r² from R², multiply by π and by the height. For example, with R = 5 cm, r = 3 cm and a height of 10 cm the volume is ≈ 502.7 cm³.

What is the surface area of a hollow cylinder?

It is calculated with A = 2π·h·(R + r) + 2π(R² − r²): the outer and inner walls plus the two ring-shaped ends.

How many faces, edges and vertices does a hollow cylinder have?

It has 4 faces (the outer wall, the inner wall and the two ring-shaped ends), 4 curved edges and no vertices.

What is the difference between a hollow cylinder and a solid one?

A hollow cylinder has a cylindrical hole through its center, like a pipe or tube, whereas a solid one is filled. That is why the inner hole is subtracted from its volume.