A regular sized 3×3×3 cube has an edge length of about 56-58mm. There is a size range of about 45-60mm, where a cube is comfortable to handle. However, it is great fun to collect different sized cubes, as long a they are of good quality. There are a few manufacturers who produce really crappy cubes. In most cases, these can be identified by faint and/or odd sticker colors, and sharp outer edges.
The smallest mass-produced commercial cube has a total edge length of 10.0mm (including stickers), and it even comes assembled and stickered. The previously smallest cube with 15.6mm edge length (including stickers) was only available as DIY kit. The smallest "original" cube has an edge length of 21.0mm. For more examples, see the Tiny Cubes below.The largest mass-produced cube has a total edge length of about 38cm, with an increasing number of models down to an edge length of about 18cm.
Leaving out these extremes, most cubes have an edge length from 30mm to 90mm. For more information on 3×3×3 cube sizes, see the Size Categories below.
The first higher order cubes were relatively large and heavy. Sometimes you'd either like a cube that does not take that much space in your luggage, or you'd just want to deal with less weight and size. However, smaller inner layers make turning single inner layers impossible, and require a two-step "forth and back" turning along each of the faces of the layer.
For strange reasons, there are no significantly smaller 4×4×4 cubes on the market.
Layers | Regular Size | Smaller | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 50mm | 25mm | ||
3 | 57mm | 47mm | other sizes: see above | |
4 | 62mm | 56mm | ||
5 | 62-64mm | 58mm | ||
6 | ~65mm | - | the former regular size was 69mm | |
7 | ~69mm | 66mm | the former regular size was 77mm | |
8 | 69mm | the former regular size was 84mm | ||
9 | 75mm | the former regular size was 92mm | ||
10 | 84mm | the former regular size was 102mm | ||
11 | 89mm | the former regular size was 109mm | ||
12 | 91-94mm | cubic, ~500-530g; pillowed: 100mm, ~600g | ||
13 | 98-100mm | cubic, ~600-630g; pillowed: 128mm, ~1060g | ||
14 | 109mm | pillowed, ~800g | ||
15 | 106mm | pillowed, ~920g; formerly: 120mm, ~1150g | ||
16 | 120mm | pillowed, ~1000g | ||
17 | 123mm | pillowed, ~1080g; formerly: 176mm, ~3000g | ||
19 | 131mm | pillowed, ~1380g | ||
21 | 150mm | pillowed, ~2000g |
Note: After the GAN 328 (28mm) cubes became available, I adjusted the range for "tiny" to less than 25mm. That keeps this category exclusive. Whenever new cubes between 21mm and 28mm become available, I might re-adjust the cutover point.
Category | size range | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tiny | less than 25mm | The smallest cubes have 10.0mm and 15.6mm. | |||
Small | 25mm | to | less than 46mm | ||
Slightly smaller | from 46mm | to | less than 54mm | Popular models: ShengShou LingLong 3X3X3 (46.8mm) and QiYi Valk3 Mini 4.74 (4.74mm). | |
Regular | from 54mm | to | less than 60mm | This is the range, where a cube does not feel "off-size". The original cube size was 57mm. | |
Slightly larger | from 60mm | to | less than 70mm | Popular models: QiYi Sail 6.0cm (60.4mm) and QiYi Sail 6.8cm (68.5mm). | |
Large | from 70mm | to | 130mm | Popular models: ShengShou Big Legend (70mm) and QiYi QIMENG (90mm). | |
Huge | more than 130mm | The currently largest cube has about 38cm edge length. |
Tiny 3×3×3 Cubes: (1) 10.0mm, (2) 15.6mm, (3) 20.0mm, (4) 20.5mm, (5) 21.0mm. |
Here are the Tiny Cubes from my collection. See the photo at the right, cubes left to right.
This is the list of the largest 3×3×3 cubes as of end of 2023.
Size | Brand | Model | Item number |
---|---|---|---|
380mm | QiYi | Warrior Plus Max Box | |
380mm | QiYi | Warrior Plus Max | |
349mm | DianSheng | 348MM "Googol 34.8cm" | T22009 |
300mm | SiteLun | 30cm | L888 |
189mm | DianSheng | 188MM "Googol 18.8cm" | T22008 |
188mm | QiYi | Warrior Plus 18.8CM | QY3147 |
180mm | HeShu | 18cm | NO.660 |
129mm | DianSheng | DS-167 | |
120mm | Paladone | Rubik's Cube Light | 127078 |