Net of a Cuboid (Rectangular Prism) — free printable diagram

What the net of a cuboid looks like

A net is a 3D shape opened out flat, so that folding it back up rebuilds the solid. The net of a cuboid is six rectangles, in three matching pairs. Folded, it makes a solid with 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 vertices.

Solid

Cuboid (rectangular prism)

Net is made of

six rectangles, in three matching pairs

Faces

6

Edges

12

Vertices (corners)

8

Shape of each end

Rectangle

• A prism keeps the same cross-section all the way along. This one has a rectangle at each end, joined by 4 rectangles — so 4 + 2 = 6 faces in total.
• Every cuboid has 12 edges (3 × 4) and 8 vertices (2 × 4), whatever size it is drawn at.
• Euler's formula holds for any solid with flat faces: faces + vertices − edges = 6 + 8 − 12 = 2. It is a quick way to check a count.
• Not every arrangement of the right pieces folds up correctly, so it is worth cutting a net out and testing it rather than assuming it works.
• The area of the net is the surface area of the solid, which is why nets are usually introduced just before surface area.