Surface Area of a Cube Formula
Geometry Formulas: Area, Volume, Perimeter
What is the formula for the surface area of a cube?
Answer
Surface area of a cube
S = 6 · a²
Here a is the side (or base). The result comes out in square units.
Where the formula comes from
S = 6 · a²
Six identical square faces, each of area a². Unfold the cube into a cross of six squares and the formula is simply counting them.
Worked examples
Let a = 4. Then the surface area of a cube = 96 square units.
Let a = 2.5. Then the surface area of a cube = 37.5 square units.
The common mistake
Writing 6a instead of 6a². Each face is a square, so the side is squared first and multiplied by six after.
Other quantities: Cube
Related Calculations
See Also
- Square Footage Calculator - Width × length in feet to square feet
- Square Feet to Square Meters (Sq Ft to Sq M) - Convert Square Feet to Square Meters
- Square Meters to Square Feet (Sq M to Sq Ft) - Convert Square Meters to Square Feet
- Gravel Calculator - Area to cubic yards, tons and coverage
- Topsoil Calculator - Cubic yards, weight and coverage for any area
- Multiplication Facts - Any two numbers from 1 to 9, with the working shown
Geometry Formulas: Area, Volume, Perimeter
These are the formulas for the area, perimeter, circumference, volume and surface area of the standard shapes — 31 of them. Each page shows not only the formula but where it comes from, what every letter stands for, two worked examples and the mistake that this particular shape invites. For example, it can help you find out what is the formula for the surface area of a cube? (The answer is: S = 6 · a²). Pick the pair — "Area of a circle", for instance — and hit the "Find out" button.
Geometry Formulas: Area, Volume, Perimeter
Values from the Formula
| If a = | Surface area |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6 square units |
| 2 | 24 square units |
| 3 | 54 square units |
| 4 | 96 square units |
| 5 | 150 square units |
| 10 | 600 square units |
FAQ
What is the formula for the surface area of a cube?
Surface area of a cube S = 6 · a²
Where does this formula come from?
Six identical square faces, each of area a². Unfold the cube into a cross of six squares and the formula is simply counting them.
What is the most common mistake here?
Writing 6a instead of 6a². Each face is a square, so the side is squared first and multiplied by six after.
How do I use this formula?
Put your own numbers in place of the letters. With a = 2.5, for instance, the formula S = 6 · a² gives = 37.5 square units.
See Also
- Area of a Trapezoid Formula
- Area of a Triangle Formula
- Circumference of a Circle Formula
- Diameter of a Circle Formula
- Perimeter of a Regular Polygon Formula
- Perimeter of a Rectangle Formula
- Perimeter of a Semicircle Formula
- Perimeter of a Square Formula
- Perimeter of a Triangle Formula
- Surface Area of a Cone Formula
- Surface Area of a Cylinder Formula
- Surface Area of a Pyramid Formula
- Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism Formula
- Surface Area of a Sphere Formula
- Surface Area of a Triangular Prism Formula
- Volume of a Cone Formula
- Volume of a Cube Formula
- Volume of a Cylinder Formula
- Volume of a Pyramid Formula
- Volume of a Rectangular Prism Formula
- Площадь поверхности куба
- Área de la superficie del cubo
- Área da superfície do cubo