Surface Area Calculator

Calculate the surface area of various 3D shapes with our easy-to-use calculator. Simply select a shape, enter the required dimensions, and get accurate results with detailed calculation steps.

Select a Shape

Cube

Shape Information

A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six equal square faces.

What is Surface Area?

Surface area is the total area of all the faces or surfaces that enclose a three-dimensional object. It measures how much material would be needed to cover the entire object.

Different 3D shapes have different formulas for calculating their surface areas, depending on their geometry. Our calculator supports the most common shapes: cubes, rectangular prisms (cuboids), spheres, cylinders, and cones.

Surface Area Formulas

Here are the formulas used to calculate the surface area of different shapes:

Cube Surface Area:

SA = 6a²

Cuboid Surface Area:

SA = 2(lb + lh + bh)

Sphere Surface Area:

SA = 4πr²

Cylinder Surface Area:

SA = 2πr² + 2πrh

Cone Surface Area:

SA = πr² + πrl

where l is the slant height of the cone.

In these formulas: a = side length of a cube, l = length, w = width, h = height, r = radius, and π (pi) is approximately 3.14159.

How to Use the Surface Area Calculator

  1. Select the shape you want to calculate the surface area for.
  2. Enter the required dimensions for the selected shape.
  3. Click the 'Calculate' button to compute the surface area.
  4. View the result and the step-by-step calculation process.

Applications of Surface Area Calculations

Surface area calculations are used in many real-world scenarios:

  • Manufacturing: Determining the amount of material needed to create a container or object.
  • Architecture: Calculating the amount of paint needed to cover a building.
  • Packaging: Designing efficient packaging for products.
  • Science: Understanding heat transfer, chemical reactions, and other phenomena that depend on surface area.