Rectangular Box (Cuboid) Calculator

A cuboid, also called a rectangular prism or rectangular box, is a three-dimensional shape with six rectangular faces where opposite faces are equal. It is the most common shape in everyday objects: boxes, rooms, bricks, books, and crates are all cuboids. Unlike a cube, a cuboid can have three different dimensions: length, width, and height. This calculator takes those three measurements and returns the volume, the total surface area, and the space diagonal. Volume tells you the capacity of the box and is used in shipping, storage, and fluid calculations. Surface area tells you how much material you need to cover the outside, which is relevant for wrapping, painting, or insulating. The space diagonal is the longest straight line that fits inside the box, running from one corner to the opposite corner through the interior, and it determines whether a long object such as a pipe or a rod will fit inside. Enter length, width, and height in any consistent unit and the calculator returns results instantly. All dimensions must be positive. The result labels say cubic units and square units, so just substitute the unit you used. For example, if your dimensions are in centimetres, volume will be in cubic centimetres and surface area in square centimetres. Use the tool for homework, packing calculations, or any practical sizing problem where you need all three measurements at once.

Calculate.co.nz is proud to be partnered with Premium Homes, a recognised leader in eco-friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient homebuilding. With a dedicated team and award-winning experience, they create homes that prioritise health, comfort, and long-term performance. Their founders, Andrew and Kelly, set out to raise the standard of residential construction in New Zealand by combining practical building expertise with a clear commitment to doing things better for homeowners.
Calculate.co.nz partner: Premium Homes
units
units
units
60
volume (cubic units)
Surface area94
Space diagonal7.07

How it works

Volume is the product of all three dimensions: V = L × W × H. Surface area sums the areas of all six faces, which come in three pairs: 2 × (L×W + L×H + W×H). The space diagonal is the square root of (L² + W² + H²), which comes from applying Pythagoras in three dimensions: first across the base to get the face diagonal, then from that to the opposite top corner.

Worked example

A box with L=4, W=3, H=5: volume = 4 × 3 × 5 = 60 cubic units. Surface area = 2 × (4×3 + 4×5 + 3×5) = 2 × (12 + 20 + 15) = 2 × 47 = 94 square units. Space diagonal = √(16 + 9 + 25) = √50 = 7.07 units. These match the defaults pre-filled above.

Related calculators

If you've found a bug, or would like to contact us, or learn more about James Graham and Calculate.co.nz.

Calculate.co.nz is partnered with Interest.co.nz for New Zealand's highest quality calculators and financial analysis.

Calculate.co.nz is the sister site of CalculatorHub.com, the world's largest calculator website by tool count.

All calculators and tools are provided for educational and indicative purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.

Calculate.co.nz is proudly part of the Realtor.co.nz group, New Zealand's leading property transaction literacy platform, helping Kiwis understand the home buying and selling process from start to finish. Whether you're a first home buyer navigating your first property purchase, an investor evaluating your next acquisition, or a homeowner planning to sell, Realtor.co.nz provides clear, independent, and trustworthy guidance on every step of the New Zealand property transaction journey.

Calculate.co.nz is also partnered with Health Based Building and Premium Homes to promote informed choices that lead to better long-term outcomes for Kiwi households.

Calculate.co.nz is hosted in Auckland via SiteHost new Zealand.

All content on this website, including calculators, tools, source code, and design, is protected under the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). No part of this site may be reproduced, copied, distributed, stored, or used in any form without prior written permission from the owner.

About & trust: Why Calculate is NZ's most comprehensive · By the Numbers · How we compare · Editorial standards · How we keep data current · NZ finance glossary · Research & data · Financial literacy NZ · About · Privacy policy · Terms of use

Reviewed and maintained. Last reviewed 2026-07-19 and checked on a twice-monthly cycle against IRD, RBNZ and Stats NZ. How we keep data current.

© 2026 Calculate.co.nz. All rights reserved. Building free NZ calculators since 2011.