What is a cuboid?
A cuboid is a 3D shape with six rectangle faces, like a box.
The answer
A cuboid has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices.
Cuboid diagram and properties
| Property | Count |
|---|---|
| Faces6 rectangles, in 3 matching pairs | 6 |
| Flat faces | 6 |
| Curved faces | 0 |
| Edges | 12 |
| Vertices (corners) | 8 |
Key facts about the cuboid
- Opposite faces are identical rectangles, so the 6 faces come in 3 pairs.
- Volume = length × width × height.
- Every corner is a right angle, and three faces meet at each vertex.
- A cube is a cuboid whose faces are all squares.
Where you see it
A cereal box, a brick, a shoebox and a fridge.
The common mistake
Adding the three measurements instead of multiplying them to find the volume. A 5 cm by 3 cm by 2 cm box holds 30 cubes, not 10.
An 11+ style question
A cuboid is 5 cm long, 3 cm wide and 2 cm high. What is its volume?
Answer: 30 cm³
- Volume of a cuboid = length × width × height.
- 5 × 3 × 2 = 30, so the volume is 30 cm³.
Related shapes and skills
More shapes
Questions parents ask
How many faces, edges and vertices does a cuboid have?
A cuboid has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices. In a net of a cuboid the 3 matching pairs must end up opposite each other, so a net question often comes down to checking where each pair of equal rectangles lands.
Is a cube a cuboid?
Yes. A cuboid has six rectangular faces, and a square is a special rectangle, so a cube is a cuboid with all its edges equal.
What is the difference between volume and surface area?
Volume is the space inside, counted in cubes (cm³). Surface area is the total area of the six faces, counted in squares (cm²). Surface area is taught in Key Stage 3, but some 11+ papers include it.
Shape questions are quick marks in the 11+
Angles, symmetry, nets and 3D shapes come up in 11+ maths and non-verbal reasoning. The free diagnostic checks maths, English and both kinds of reasoning, and shows what to practise next. No card is required.