VolLab
Cube Volume Calculator
Everything about a cube from a single side.
Cube volume, surface area and space diagonal
Volume is the side cubed, surface area is six times the side squared, and the space diagonal is the side times the square root of 3.
| Side | Volume | Surface area | Space diagonal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.00 | 6.00 | 1.732 |
| 2 | 8.00 | 24.00 | 3.464 |
| 3 | 27.00 | 54.00 | 5.196 |
| 4 | 64.00 | 96.00 | 6.928 |
| 5 | 125.00 | 150.00 | 8.660 |
| 8 | 512.00 | 384.00 | 13.856 |
| 10 | 1000.00 | 600.00 | 17.321 |
| 12 | 1728.00 | 864.00 | 20.785 |
Volume overtakes surface area at a side of 6, which is the geometric reason large objects lose heat more slowly than small ones: volume grows with the cube of the side while surface area grows only with the square, so the ratio of surface to volume falls as things get bigger. The space diagonal is the corner-to-opposite-corner distance through the middle, always 1.732 times the side, and it is the longest straight line that fits inside the cube.
Why volume scales with the cube
Double a cube's side length and its volume increases 8-fold (2³), not 2-fold — a reminder that scaling a 3D object up quickly multiplies the material or capacity needed far more than intuition suggests.
Practical uses
Shipping boxes, storage bins, aquariums, and ice cubes are all cube or near-cube shapes — this formula sizes their capacity and the material needed to build them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the volume of a cube?
Volume = side³. A cube with side 4 cm has volume 4³ = 64 cm³. Surface area = 6 × side² = 6 × 16 = 96 cm². Space diagonal = side × √3 = 4 × 1.732 = 6.93 cm.
How many liters does a cubic container hold?
1 liter = 1,000 cm³. A cube with 10 cm sides has volume 1,000 cm³ = 1 liter. A 20 cm cube holds 8,000 cm³ = 8 liters. To convert: calculate volume in cm³, then divide by 1,000 for liters.
How do I find the side length from the volume?
Side = ∛Volume (the cube root). If volume = 27 cm³, side = ∛27 = 3 cm. For non-perfect cubes, use a calculator: ∛500 ≈ 7.94 cm.
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Last updated: September 6, 2026