
Math Education
Surface Area of a Cube: Formula & Examples

Dewi Lestari
Mathematics Specialist

The surface area of a cube is A = 6 × s² (6s²), where s is the edge length of the cube. A cube has 6 square faces that are all equal in size. Quick example: a cube with an edge of 5 cm has a surface area of 6 × 5² = 6 × 25 = 150 cm².
How to Calculate the Surface Area of a Cube + Worked Example
Every face of a cube is a square with area s × s = s². Because there are 6 identical faces, the surface area is simply multiplied by 6:
Worked example: A giant die is a cube with an edge length of 12 cm. What is the total surface area of all its faces?
Step 1: s = 12 cm. Step 2: s² = 144. Step 3: A = 6 × 144 = 864 cm².
So the surface area of the die is 864 cm².
Why It Matters
The surface area of a cube is taught in Grade 8 (solids with flat faces) and is a special case of the cuboid when all edges are equal. The concept is useful for estimating material to make boxes, the paint for a cube-shaped box, or cube packaging. Mastering the cube makes it easier to understand cuboids, prisms, and volume.
See also: Surface Area of a Rectangular Prism, Surface Area of a Cylinder, and Surface Area of a Sphere. Browse everything at Algonova Mathematics.
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