Area of a Parallelogram: Formula & Examples

The area of a parallelogram is A = base × height (A = a × h). A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides of equal length. This formula is taught from grade 4 in primary school and revisited in middle school. This short guide is for primary and middle school students and parents helping at home.

How to Calculate the Area of a Parallelogram + Example

Use the formula:

Where: a = the base length, h = the height (the perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite side). Important: the height is not the length of the slanted side.

Example: A parallelogram has base a = 10 cm and height h = 7 cm. What is its area?

• Step 1 — write the formula: A = a × h
• Step 2 — substitute the values: A = 10 × 7
• Step 3 — calculate: A = 70

✅ Area = 70 cm²

Why This Formula Matters

Parallelograms are often seen as tricky because students mistakenly use the slanted side as the height. In fact, a parallelogram has the same area as a rectangle when the base and height match — a concept that bridges to the area of a triangle (half a parallelogram) and the area of a trapezoid. It appears often in school and national assessment problems.

Other Math Topics

• Area of a Rectangle
• Area of a Trapezoid
• Area of a Triangle
• The Pythagorean Theorem

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