Volume of cuboids
Length × width × height (cm³ or m³). Year 5/6.
Volume is the space inside a 3D shape, measured in cubic units (cm³, m³). For a cuboid: V = l × w × h. Year 6 SATs include problems involving volume of stacked or partial cuboids.
Worked examples
4 cm × 3 cm × 2 cm cuboid: V = 24 cm³.
Cube of side 5 cm: V = 5×5×5 = 125 cm³.
1 litre = 1,000 cm³. Useful: a 10cm cube holds exactly 1 litre.
Frequently asked questions
Difference between capacity and volume?
Capacity is the amount a container holds (usually in litres or ml). Volume is the space the container itself, or any 3D shape, occupies. They're often used interchangeably for liquids.
Cubic metres in real life?
1 m³ = 1,000 litres. A bath holds about 0.15 m³.