Being able to determine the surface area of a 3-dimensional figure is an important measurement skill. To determine the surface area, you can calculate the sum of the areas of particular faces or surfaces of a 3-dimensional solid or use the lateral area and total surface area formulas.

Method 1: Sum of Areas of Faces/Surfaces

If you have a net, it is frequently easier to calculate the area of each figure (polygon or circle), and then add the areas together to get either the lateral area or total surface area.

Method 2: Using the Formulas

If you have a figure with dimensions labeled, it may be easier to use the lateral area and surface area formulas.