Rectangle Calculator

Rectangle Calculator | Area, Perimeter, Diagonal Formula

Rectangle Calculator

Calculate area, perimeter, diagonal, and side lengths of any rectangle. Enter any two values and instantly solve for all the rest.

Rectangle Calculator
a (length) b d (diagonal)
PropertyValue

Rectangle Formulas Reference

Rectangle formulas are the foundation for all rectangle calculations. All four properties are related through three core equations.

Area: A = a × b

Perimeter: P = 2a + 2b

Diagonal: d = √(a² + b²)

where a and b are the two side lengths.

Known ValuesFormula for Unknown
a and bA = ab, P = 2a+2b, d = √(a²+b²)
Area A and side ab = A/a
Area A and side ba = A/b
Perimeter P and side ab = (P − 2a) / 2
Perimeter P and side ba = (P − 2b) / 2
Diagonal d and side ab = √(d² − a²)
Diagonal d and side ba = √(d² − b²)

Rectangle Properties Explained

Rectangle properties are defined by four key measurements that are all mathematically linked through the formulas above.

Area of a Rectangle

The area of a rectangle measures the two-dimensional space inside its boundaries, expressed in square units. It is calculated by multiplying side a (length) by side b (width). Doubling either side doubles the area. If you know the area and one side, simply divide to find the other.

Perimeter of a Rectangle

The perimeter is the total distance around the outside of the rectangle. Since opposite sides of a rectangle are equal, the perimeter equals two times the sum of both sides: P = 2(a + b). Perimeter is always measured in the same linear units as the sides.

Diagonal of a Rectangle

A rectangle has two diagonals, both equal in length. The diagonal connects opposite corners and is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem because the diagonal, the length, and the width form a right triangle. The formula is d = √(a² + b²). The diagonal is always longer than either side individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

The area of a rectangle equals length multiplied by width (A = l × w). For example, a rectangle 8 meters long and 5 meters wide has an area of 40 square meters.
The perimeter of a rectangle equals twice the length plus twice the width (P = 2l + 2w). For a rectangle 8 meters long and 5 meters wide, the perimeter is 2(8) + 2(5) = 16 + 10 = 26 meters.
The diagonal of a rectangle is found using the Pythagorean theorem: d = √(l² + w²). For a rectangle with length 8 and width 5, the diagonal is √(64 + 25) = √89 which is approximately 9.434.
If you know the area and one side, divide the area by the known side to find the other. For example, if the area is 40 and one side is 8, the missing side is 40 ÷ 8 = 5.
A square is a special type of rectangle where all four sides are equal in length. Every square is a rectangle, but not every rectangle is a square. All rectangle formulas apply to squares by setting a equal to b.