Area of a Rectangular Pyramid
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
Understanding the area of a rectangular pyramid is essential for students, educators, and professionals alike. A rectangular pyramid, also known as a rectangular-based pyramid, is a three-dimensional geometric shape with a rectangular base and four triangular faces that meet at a common point called the apex.
In this article, we will discuss the surface area of a rectangular pyramid in detail.
What is a Rectangular Pyramid?
A rectangular pyramid is a three-dimensional object that has a rectangular base upon which are erected four triangular faces that meet at a common point called the apex. It has a total of five faces, i.e., a rectangular base, four triangular faces, five vertices, and eight edges. In a rectangular pyramid, all the triangular faces are congruent to the opposite face. A rectangular pyramid is classified into two types, i.e., a right rectangular pyramid and an oblique rectangular pyramid.
Types of Rectangular PyramidA right rectangular pyramid is a rectangular pyramid that has its apex directly above the centre of its base, whereas an oblique rectangular pyramid is a rectangular pyramid where the apex is not aligned right above the centre of its base. The height of an oblique rectangular pyramid is the perpendicular line drawn from the apex to the base of the pyramid.
Net of Rectangular Pyramid
Net of the Rectangular Pyramid is shown in the image added below:
Net of Rectangular PyramidSurface Area of a Rectangular Pyramid
Surface area is defined as the total region occupied by the surfaces of a three-dimensional figure, and it is measured in terms of square units such as cm2, m2, in2, ft2, etc. A rectangular pyramid has two types of surface areas, i.e., the lateral surface area and the total surface area.
Lateral Surface Area of Rectangular Pyramid
The lateral surface area of a rectangular pyramid is equal to the sum of the areas of its four lateral faces (triangular faces). In a rectangular pyramid, the areas of the opposite triangular faces are the same. To find the surface area of a rectangular pyramid, we need to know the measures of the base length, base width, and slant height of the triangular face.
Lateral Surface Area of a Pyramid (LSA) = Sum of Areas of Lateral surfaces (triangles) of Pyramid
Slant height of length face of the pyramid = √[h2 + (w/2)2]
Slant height of width face of the pyramid = √[h2 + (l/2)2]
We know that,
Area of a Triangle = ½ × base × height
Area of the triangle that has a length as the base = ½ × l × {√[h2 + (l/2)2]}
Area of the triangle that has a width as the base = ½ × w × {√[h2 + (w/2)2}
Now, LSA = ½ × l × {√[h2 + (w/2)2]} + ½ × w × {√[h2 + (l/2)2} + ½ × l × {√[h2 + (w/2)2]} + ½ × w × {√[h2 + (l/2)2}
= 2 × {½ × l ×√[h2 + (w/2)2]} + 2 × {½ × w ×√[h2 + (l/2)2]}
= l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2]
Lateral Surface Area of Rectangular Pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2]
where,
- "l" is the Base Length
- "w" is the Base Width
- "h" is the Height of Pyramid
Total Surface Area
Total surface area of a rectangular pyramid is equal to the sum of the areas of its four lateral faces (triangular faces) and the area of its rectangular base. To determine the total surface area of a rectangular pyramid, we need to find the area of its rectangular base and its lateral surface area, i.e., the sum of the areas of its four triangular faces.
Total surface area of a pyramid (TSA) = Lateral Surface Area of Pyramid + Area of Base
Area of rectangular base = l × w
So, TSA = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2] + l × w
TSA of a Rectangular Pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2] + l × w
where,
- "l" is the Base Length
- "w" is the Base Width
- "h" is the Height of Pyramid
How to Calculate the Surface Area of a Rectangular Pyramid?
The surface area of a rectangular pyramid is calculated by converting the 3-D shape into its 2-D net. After opening the Rectangular pyramid, we get four triangles and one rectangle. To find its surface area follow these steps.
Steps used to calculate the surface area of a rectangular pyramid is:
Step 1: Find the area of the rectangular base. The area of the rectangle is calculated using its length and breadth.
Step 2: Find an area of the triangle faces. The area of a triangle is calculated using its base and height.
Step 3: Now for finding the required surface area the area of the rectangular base and the triangular face are added accordingly.
Step 4: Area obtained in Step 3 is the required area it is measured in unit2
Study the examplesadded below to find the area of rectangular pyramid.
Article Related to Area of a Rectangular Pyramid:
Examples on Surface Area of Rectangular Pyramid
Example 1. Determine the lateral surface area of a rectangular pyramid if the base length is 10 inches and the base width is 8 inches, and the height of the pyramid is 12 inches.
Solution:
Given data,
- Base length (l) = 16 inches
- Base width (w) = 12 inches
- Height of the pyramid (h) = 15 inches
We know that,
Lateral Surface Area of a Rectangular Pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2]
= 10 × √[122 + (8/2)2] + 8 × √[122 + (10/2)2]
= 10 × √(144 + 16) + 8 × √(144 + 25)
= 10 × √160 + 8 × √169
= 10 × 12.649 + 8 × 13
= 126.49 + 104 = 230.49 sq. in
Hence, the lateral surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 230.49 sq. in.
Example 2. Find the surface area of a rectangular pyramid if the base length is 8 cm and the base width is 6 cm, and the height of the pyramid is 10 cm.
Solution:
Given data,
- Base length (l) = 8 cm
- Base width (w) = 6 cm
- Height of the pyramid (h) = 10 cm
We know that,
Total surface area of a rectangular pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2] + l × w
= (8 × √[102 + (6/2)2] + 6 × √[102 + (8/2)2] + 8 × 6
= 8 × √(100 + 9) + 6 × √(100 + 16) + 48
= 8 × √109 + 6 × √116 + 48
= 8 × 10.440 + 6 × 10.770 + 48
= 83.522 + 64.621 + 48 = 196.143 sq. cm
Hence, the surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 196.143 sq. cm.
Example 3. Find the total surface area of a rectangular pyramid if the base length is 12 cm and the base width is 10 cm, and the height of the pyramid is 15 cm.
Solution:
Given data,
- Base length (l) = 12 cm
- Base width (w) = 10 cm
- Height of the pyramid (h) = 15 cm
We know that,
Total surface area of a rectangular pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2] + l × w
= (10 × √[152 + (12/2)2] + 12 × √[152 + (10/2)2] + 12 × 10
= 10 × √(225 + 36) + 12 × √(225 + 25) + 120
= 10 × √261 + 12 × √250 + 120
= 10 × 16.155 + 12 × 15.811 + 120
= 161.554 + 189.736 + 120 = 471.29 sq. cm
Hence, the surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 471.29 sq. cm.
Example 4. Determine the lateral surface area of a rectangular pyramid if the base length is 8 m and the base width is 4 m, and the height of the pyramid is 9 m.
Solution:
Given data,
- Base length (l) = 8 m
- Base width (w) = 4 m
- Height of the pyramid (h) = 9 m
We know that,
Lateral surface area of a rectangular pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2]
= 8 × √[92 + (4/2)2] + 4 × √[92 + (8/2)2]
= 8 × √(81 + 4) + 4 × √(81 + 16)
= 8 × √85 + 4 × √97
= 8 × 9.219 + 4 × 9.849
= 73.756 + 39.395 = 113.151 sq. m
Hence, the lateral surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 113.151 sq. m.
Example 5. Find the surface area of a rectangular pyramid if the base length is 20 inches and the base width is 16 inches, and the height of the pyramid is 25 inches.
Solution:
Given data,
- Base length (l) = 20 inches
- Base width (w) = 16 inches
- Height of the pyramid (h) = 25 inches
We know that,
Total surface area of a rectangular pyramid = l√[h2 + (w/2)2] + w√[h2 + (l/2)2] + l × w
= (20 × √[252 + (16/2)2] + 16 × √[252 + (20/2)2] + 20 × 16
= 20 × √(625 + 36) + 16 × √(625 + 100) + 320
= 20 × √689 + 16 × √250 + 320
= 20 × 26.249 + 16 × 26.925 + 320
= 524.976 + 430.813 + 320 = 1,275.789 sq. in
Hence, the surface area of the given rectangular pyramid is 1,275.789 sq. in.
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