Square unit grid
Build shapes on a visible grid so students can count the unit squares.
Free maths tool
Area tool
A free classroom area grid for building rectangles, counting square units and comparing perimeter.
Width and height
Adjust rectangle dimensions and see the area and perimeter update.
Perimeter view
Show or hide the edge highlight when comparing area with perimeter.
Custom shapes
Paint or erase individual squares to make non-rectangular area examples.
What the tool does
The area tool gives teachers and students an open square-unit grid for modelling area, perimeter and rectangle dimensions.
- build rectangles from width and height controls
- count area in square units
- read the perimeter in units
- paint and erase custom shapes on the grid
- switch between 10 by 10, 12 by 12 and 16 by 16 grids
How teachers use it
Open it on a classroom display when students need to connect the rectangle, the square units and the perimeter edge before using formulas.
- build a rectangle and ask students to predict the area before checking the count
- change only the width or height and discuss how the area changes
- hide and show the perimeter to separate area from boundary length
- paint a custom shape and compare it with a rectangle that has the same area
Why it is useful
Area and perimeter are often confused because both describe a shape. A visible grid lets students see square units inside the shape and perimeter units around the edge.
- supports square-unit counting before formulas
- makes width, height, area and perimeter visible together
- works as a model before measurement practice questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the area tool free?
Yes. Teachers, students and families can open the area tool in a browser for free.
Can it show area and perimeter together?
Yes. The tool shows the area in square units and the perimeter in units for the shape on the grid.
Can students make custom shapes?
Yes. Students can use paint and erase modes to build custom shapes from square units.
Is this different from the measurement practice app?
Yes. The area tool is an open model for exploring shapes, while the measurement practice app gives students practice questions.