In this paper, we study the dynamic behavior of the cylindrical shells subjected to static and time-varying (periodic) radial loading. Flügge-Luré-Byrne shell theory has been used to derive dynamic equations in the form of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). Linearization of PDEs about the steady-state periodic solutions, followed by Galerkin projection, yields a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with time-varying periodic coefficients. Those are similar to the higher-order Mathieu-Hill equations and their stability analyses have been ascertained using Floquet theory. Dynamic instabilities of the cylindrical shells have been presented through stability charts in the plane of forcing parameters, namely, the static component of the pressure, the amplitude and frequency of the fluctuating component of the pressure. Also, possible sub and super harmonic resonances have been explored through the stability charts. Four different boundary conditions, viz., simply supported, clamped–free, pinned–free (axial constraint at the pinned end) and pinned–free (axial constraint at the free end) have been considered in the present analysis. Presented charts can be very useful during the design of the shell structures subjected to static/dynamic loading. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd