Open the app
  1. Home
  2. Lessons
  3. GCSE & IGCSE Mathematics
  4. Volume and surface area

Volume and surface area

Volume measures the space inside a 3D shape; surface area is the total area of its faces.

Prisms

A prism has the same cross-section all the way through.
Volume = area of cross-section × length
Cuboid: l × w × h. Cylinder: πr2h.

Surface area

Add the areas of every face. A cuboid has three pairs of identical rectangles.
Cylinder: two circles plus the curved surface: 2πr2 + 2πrh.

Cones, pyramids and spheres (Higher)

Pyramid or cone: 13 × base area × height.
Sphere: volume 43πr3, surface area 4πr2.
These formulae are usually given in the exam.
Worked example

A cylinder has radius 3 cm and height 10 cm. Find its volume to 1 d.p.

  1. π × 32 × 10
  2. = 90π
  3. = 282.7 cm3

Answer: 282.7 cm3

Key idea

Prism volume = cross-section area × length. Surface area = total of all faces. Cones and pyramids are a third of a prism; sphere V = (4/3)πr3.

Check you have got it

Answer 6 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.