Types of polygons

There are many different types of polygons. To explore them all along with their properties can be a course in itself. Basically, a polygon is a closed plane figure made of three or more sides.

Number of sides	Name of polygon
3	triangle
4	quadrilateral
5	pentagon
6	hexagon
7	heptagon
8	octagon
9	nonagon
10	decagon
12	dodecagon

Examples of polygons

Triangle

A triangle has the following basic properties:

3 sides and 3 vertices
No diagonal
Sum of the interior angles is 180 degrees

Quadrilateral

A quadrilateral has the following basic properties:

Four sides and four vertices
Two diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 360 degrees

Pentagon

A pentagon has the following basic properties:

Five sides and five vertices
Five diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 540 degrees

Hexagon

A hexagon has the following basic properties:

Six sides and six vertices
Nine diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 720 degrees

Heptagon

A heptagon has the following basic properties:

Seven sides and seven vertices
Fourteen diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 900 degrees

Octagon

An octagon has the following basic properties:

Eight sides and eight vertices
Twenty diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 1080 degrees

Nonagon

A nonagon has the following basic properties:

Nine sides and nine vertices
Twenty-seven diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 1260 degrees

Decagon

A decagon has the following basic properties:

Ten sides and ten vertices
Thirty-five diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 1440 degrees

Dodecagon

A dodecagon has the following basic properties:

Twelve sides and twelve vertices
Fifty-four diagonals
Sum of the interior angles is 1800 degrees

Types of polygons based on their sides and angles

If we classify polygons based on their sides and angles, then the polygons are either regular polygons or irregular polygons.

Regular polygons

If a polygon is a regular polygon, all sides are the same and all interior angles are the same. See below some examples of regular polygons. Starting from left to right and from top to bottom, the regular polygons shown below are the triangle, the square, the regular pentagon, the regular hexagon, the regular heptagon, the regular octagon, the regular nonagon, and the regular decagon.

A square is a regular polygon because the sides are equal and each of the four interior angles is equal to 90 degrees.

Irregular polygons

If a polygon is an irregular polygon, the sides are not the same and the interior angles are not the same. See below some examples of irregular polygons.

For example, a rectangle is an irregular polygon because only opposite sides are equal although each of the four interior angles is equal to 90 degrees.

Types of polygons based on their angles

Polygons can be classified based on the size of the interior angle made by adjacent sides.

If there is an interior angle that is bigger than 180 degrees, the polygon is a concave polygon.

If no interior angle is bigger than 180 degrees, the polygon is a convex polygon.

See the lessons about convex polygons and concave polygons to learn more.

If you can build a polygon so that all interior angles are equal, then the polygon is an equiangular polygon. Notice that the sides of the polygons may not be the same. A rectangle is an equiangular polygon.

A triangle can be further classified into many different types such as scalene triangle, equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle, etc...

See the lesson about types of triangles to learn more

A quadrilateral can be further classified into many different types such as rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, trapezoid, etc...

See the lesson about types of quadrilaterals to learn more

Polygons are all around. Take a close look around you in your house, at the work place, or in an amusement park, you will find many real life examples of polygons.