About the square pyramid calculator
A square pyramid has a square base and four triangular faces meeting at an apex above the center. Be careful to distinguish the vertical height h from the slant height s (up the middle of a face) and the lateral edge e (up a corner); the calculator converts between all three.
Formulas
| Volume | V = a²h/3 |
| Slant height | s = √(h² + a²/4) |
| Lateral edge | e = √(h² + a²/2) |
| Surface area | S = a² + 2as |
Frequently asked questions
What is the volume of a pyramid?
One third of base area times height: V = a²h/3 for a square base.
What is the difference between height and slant height?
Height h is vertical, from the base center to the apex. Slant height s runs along a face, from the middle of a base edge to the apex: s = √(h² + (a/2)²).