In this study, free vibration behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube‐reinforced composite (FG‐CNTRC) cylinders subjected to uniform temperature environment or thermal gradient loading is investigated by a mesh‐free method. The nanocomposite cylinders are made of a polymer matrix and wavy single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The volume fraction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are assumed variable along the radial direction of the axisymmetric cylinder. Also, material properties of the polymer and CNT are assumed temperature‐dependent and mechanical properties of the nanocomposite are estimated by a micromechanical model in volume fraction form. In the mesh‐free analysis, moving least squares shape functions are used to approximate displacement field in the weak form of motion equation and the transformation method is used to impose essential boundary conditions. The material properties and natural frequency of the nanocomposite cylinders are derived after the derivation of cylinder temperature and by considering of the temperature and location. Effects of CNT distribution pattern and volume fraction, thermal, cylinder dimensions and CNT aspect ratio and waviness are investigated on the vibration behavior of the nanocomposite cylinders. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E826–E834, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers