Perimeter and Area Worksheets

Create printable perimeter and area practice for common shapes

This generator produces worksheets where every problem asks students to calculate perimeter, area, or both for rectangles, squares, triangles, and compound L-shapes. Each question includes a small diagram drawn with the shape's dimensions labelled in centimetres, so learners see what they're measuring. You control the shape type, whether to focus on perimeter or area (or mix both), how many problems to include, and whether to attach an answer key.

What you can customise

• Shape family: rectangle, square, triangle, compound L-shape, or mixed (a random selection across all four).
• Mode: perimeter only, area only, or both (the generator randomly picks one per problem).
• Problem count: choose how many questions appear on the worksheet.
• Answer key: include a separate page with worked solutions, or leave it off.
• Title and name/date fields: add a custom heading and optional student-info fields at the top.
• Paper size: A4 or US Letter, to match your printer.

Who these worksheets are for

Teachers

Print a set for geometry units in primary or middle school. The diagram on each problem saves board-drawing time, and the seeded random generator means every worksheet is unique—no two students get identical homework.

Parents and homeschoolers

Reinforce area and perimeter concepts at home with clear, visual practice. The answer key lets you check work without recalculating every triangle or compound shape yourself.

Tutors

Generate targeted drills for students who struggle with one shape type or need extra perimeter practice before moving to area calculations.

How to use the tool

1. Pick a shape family from the drop-down: square, rectangle, triangle, compound, or mixed.
2. Select whether problems should ask for perimeter, area, or both (random mix).
3. Set the number of problems you want on the worksheet.
4. Tick the answer-key box if you want solutions on a second page.
5. Add a custom title or leave the default, and decide whether to show name and date fields.
6. Choose your paper size (A4 or US Letter).
7. Click Generate. Your branded PDF downloads immediately, ready to print.

Worked classroom example

A Year 5 teacher selects rectangle, both mode, and twelve problems. The generator produces a worksheet where some questions ask for perimeter of a 9 cm by 6 cm rectangle (answer: 30 cm), others ask for area of a 7 cm by 4 cm rectangle (answer: 28 cm²). Each problem shows a labelled rectangle diagram. With the answer key enabled, the teacher prints one copy for the overhead projector to review solutions as a class after independent work time.

How the generator works under the hood

The engine uses a seeded random-number generator (mulberry32) to pick dimensions for each shape. Squares get a single side length between 3 and 12 cm. Rectangles draw widths from 3–14 cm and heights from 2–10 cm. Triangles are given base, height, and side lengths for perimeter or area questions. Compound shapes are L-forms built from two overlapping rectangles, with the generator calculating outer perimeter or total area. Every problem is rendered with a small vector diagram using pdf-lib, so dimensions are drawn to rough scale and labelled on the PDF.

Designed for A4 and US Letter printing

The layout engine adjusts margins and spacing so worksheets fit cleanly on both A4 (210 × 297 mm) and US Letter (8.5 × 11 in) paper. Select your region's standard when you generate, and the PDF will print without clipping headers, diagrams, or answer grids.

Teaching tips

Start with perimeter-only worksheets for squares and rectangles before introducing area, so students master one concept at a time. Once they're confident, switch to both mode and watch them decide which formula to apply. For compound shapes, encourage learners to sketch how the L-shape splits into two rectangles—they can find each area separately and add them, or calculate the outer perimeter by tracing the edge. Remind students that perimeter answers are in cm and area answers in cm²; marking units correctly is half the skill.