RuledPaperFree printable · PDF, PNG, SVG
Cylinder Net Template
A cylinder net is a rectangle that wraps into a tube, plus two circles for the ends. It is a staple of middle school geometry because it shows clearly where the surface area formula comes from. Crafters use the same template for gift tubes, pencil holders, lanterns and model towers.
Preview of page 1. 279.4 mm × 215.9 mm. Print at 100% (“Actual size”) to keep the spacing exact.
What people use it for
- Geometry lessons on surface area and volume
- Gift tubes and treat containers
- Pencil holders and desk organizers
- Model buildings, towers and chimneys
- Paper lanterns and seasonal decorations
Standard measurements
| Rectangle length | Circumference of the base: pi x diameter |
|---|---|
| Rectangle width | Height of the cylinder |
| Total surface area | 2 x pi x r squared + 2 x pi x r x h |
Tips for cylinder net
- Check the rectangle fits the page: its long side equals pi x diameter, so a 7 cm (2.75 in) diameter needs about 22 cm (8.7 in) of width.
- Add a glue strip of about 1 cm along one short edge, and small tabs around the circles if you want closed ends.
- Roll the rectangle around a bottle or glass of a similar size before gluing so it holds an even round shape.
- For math worksheets, label the rectangle's sides with r and h and ask students to work out the area of each part.
Printing tip: in the print dialog choose Actual size or 100%, not “Fit to page”, or the spacing shrinks slightly. How we keep sizes exact.
Questions
What does the net of a cylinder look like?
It is one rectangle and two circles. The rectangle's length equals the circumference of the circles, and its width equals the cylinder's height.
How do I find the surface area of a cylinder?
Add the two circular ends, 2 x pi x r squared, to the curved side, 2 x pi x r x h. Unrolling the net shows why the side is a simple rectangle.
What is the volume of a cylinder?
Volume is pi x r squared x h: the area of the base circle multiplied by the height.
My cylinder is too large for the page. What can I do?
Switch to A3 or landscape orientation, or split the rectangle into two halves and join them with an extra glue strip.
