What is a cube calculator?
A cube calculator computes the volume and surface area of a cube from a single input: the side length. A cube is a 3D shape with six equal square faces, twelve equal edges, and eight vertices. You enter the side length (the length of any edge); the calculator gives you volume = side³ and surface area = 6 × side². No sign-up or download is required; the tool runs in your browser and is useful for geometry, construction, and any task involving cubic shapes.
Cubes appear in dice, boxes, storage units, and many real-world objects. Knowing the volume helps with capacity and packing; surface area helps with material, paint, or wrapping. This free cube calculator gives you volume in cubic units and surface area in square units—meters, feet, inches—as long as you use the same unit for the side. Because all edges are equal, one dimension defines the entire cube.
How to use this cube calculator
Enter the side length of your cube in the input box. The side must be a positive number—the length of any edge. You can use decimals (e.g. 2.5) or whole numbers (e.g. 3). As soon as the value is valid, the results appear: volume in cubic units and surface area in square units. The formulas are shown under the input: volume = side³, surface area = 6 × side². If you enter zero or a negative value, the calculator will ask you to enter a positive side length. Use the same unit for side as you want for volume (cubic) and surface area (square); for example, if the side is in meters, volume is in cubic meters and surface area in square meters.
Cube volume formula
The volume of a cube is V = side × side × side = side³. So the volume is the side length raised to the third power. For example, if the side is 3 units, volume = 3³ = 27 cubic units. A cube is a special rectangular prism with length, width, and height all equal, so volume = length × width × height becomes side³. The cube calculator applies this formula so you get an accurate volume without doing the arithmetic by hand. Volume is always in cubic units when the side is in a linear unit.
Surface area of a cube
The surface area of a cube is the total area of all six square faces. Each face has area side², so total surface area = 6 × side². For a cube with side 3, surface area = 6 × 9 = 54 square units. Use surface area when you need to paint the cube, wrap it, or know how much material covers it. The cube calculator gives you both volume and surface area from the same side length. Surface area is always in square units when the side is in a linear unit.
Cube vs square and rectangular prism
A square is a 2D shape with four equal sides; a cube is the 3D analogue with six square faces. The square’s area is side²; one face of the cube has the same area, and the cube has six such faces. A rectangular prism has three dimensions (length, width, height); a cube is a special case where all three are equal. So you can use the rectangular prism formula V = l × w × h with l = w = h = side to get volume = side³, and the prism surface area formula reduces to 6 × side² for a cube. This cube calculator is dedicated to cubes, so you only enter one value (the side) and get volume and surface area without entering three dimensions.
Space diagonal of a cube
The space diagonal of a cube is the line from one vertex to the opposite vertex, passing through the center. Its length is side × √3. For example, a cube with side 3 has space diagonal 3√3 ≈ 5.20 units. This calculator focuses on volume and surface area; if you need the space diagonal, it equals side × √3. The face diagonal of one square face is side × √2 (same as for a square). These diagonals are useful in design and when checking whether a cube fits in a given space.
Applications of cube calculations
Cube volume and surface area are used in many fields. In geometry, the cube is a fundamental 3D shape and a building block for volume and surface area concepts. In construction and packaging, cubic containers and storage units use these formulas. In chemistry and physics, cubic crystals and cells are sometimes modeled as cubes. In education, the cube is often the first 3D solid students learn. This cube calculator gives you quick, accurate results from the side length. Always measure the side in the same units you want for volume (cubic) and surface area (square).
Summary
This cube calculator finds the volume and surface area of a cube from the side length. Enter the side (a positive number) and get volume = side³ and surface area = 6 × side² instantly. The tool is free, runs in the browser, and requires no account. Use it for homework, design, or any cubic shape. One input gives you both measurements. Keep units consistent for accurate results.