Hexagonal Prism Volume Calculator

Enter the side length and height of a regular hexagonal prism for its volume and surface area, drawn to scale. Click a dimension on the drawing to change it.

Dimensions

Hexagonal Prism
Blueprint · Isometric Click an amber dimension to edit it · isometric, not to printed scale

Result

Volume of a hexagonal prism

A hexagonal prism has two regular six-sided ends joined by six rectangles. Its volume is the hexagon's area, (3√3⁄2)a², times the height. The surface adds the two ends to the six sides.

Editing on the drawing

Click the side length or the height on the figure, type a new value and press Enter to redraw the prism to scale.

How to find the volume of a hexagonal prism

A hexagonal prism has two regular six-sided ends connected by six rectangles — the shape of a pencil, a nut or a paver. Two measurements set a regular one: the side length of the hexagon and the height of the prism.

The formulas

The volume is the hexagon's area times the height. A regular hexagon of side a has area (3√3⁄2)a² — six equilateral triangles. The surface adds the two hexagonal ends to the six rectangular sides.

V = (3√3⁄2)·a²·h
A = 3√3·a² + 6ah

Worked example

Take a hexagonal prism with side 40 and height 84.

Step 1 — base area

Area of a regular hexagon.

(3√3⁄2) × 40² = (3√3⁄2) × 1,600 ≈ 4,157
Step 2 — volume

Base area times height.

V = 4,157 × 84 ≈ 349,181
Step 3 — surface area

Two ends plus six rectangles.

A = 2 × 4,157 + 6 × 40 × 84 ≈ 8,314 + 20,160 ≈ 28,474

What else the calculator returns

You also get the base area, the lateral area, and the two key widths: across flats (√3·a, between opposite sides) and across corners (2a, between opposite vertices).

Where it comes up

Hexagonal-prism volumes describe bolts and nuts, pencils, paving and tiling, structural sections and honeycomb.

Frequently asked questions

How do you find the volume of a hexagonal prism?

Multiply the hexagon's area, (3√3⁄2)a², by the height h.

What is the area of a regular hexagon?

For side length a it is (3√3⁄2)a², the same as six equilateral triangles of side a.

What is the difference between across flats and across corners?

Across flats is the distance between opposite sides, √3·a; across corners is between opposite vertices, 2a. Spanner and bolt sizes quote across flats.

How do I find the height from the volume?

Divide the volume by the base area: h = V / ((3√3⁄2)a²).

Does this assume a regular hexagon?

Yes — all six sides equal and all angles 120°. An irregular hexagon needs its own measured cross-section area.