Sphere volume and surface area
A sphere is fixed by its radius alone. Give the radius or the diameter and this calculator returns the volume, the surface area, and the great-circle circumference around the middle.
The formulas
With radius r: volume = four-thirds times pi times r cubed, and surface area = four times pi times r squared. The diameter is 2r and the great-circle circumference is 2 pi r — the distance around the widest part.
Volume versus surface
Volume grows with the cube of the radius while surface area grows with the square, so larger spheres enclose far more space per unit of surface. That ratio is why bubbles and droplets minimize surface for a given volume.
Related geometry tools
For the flat circle, use the circle calculator; for a round-sided solid with straight walls, the cylinder calculator.
Worked example
A radius of 5 gives a volume of four-thirds times pi times 125, about 523.6, and a surface area of four times pi times 25, about 314.2.
FAQ
How much bigger is a sphere than a cylinder of the same radius and height?
A sphere of radius r has two-thirds the volume of the cylinder that exactly encloses it — a classic result of Archimedes.
What units?
Whatever you enter; volume comes out in those units cubed and surface area in units squared.