Modeling · Beginner

Voxel

A tiny cube of 3D space, like a pixel with depth

What is a voxel?

A voxel is a tiny cube that stores a value at one spot in a 3D grid, the way a pixel stores a color in a 2D image. Together, voxels describe solid volumes, inside and out. They are used in medical scans, sculpting tools, simulations and blocky game worlds.

Think of it like this

Building with toy bricks on a grid: every brick is a voxel. Use enough small ones and you can build any shape, solid all the way through.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How a voxel works

  1. 01Space is divided into an even 3D grid of small cubes.
  2. 02Each cube stores a value, such as filled or empty, a color or a density.
  3. 03The filled cubes together make up the object’s volume.
  4. 04To render or print, software often wraps a mesh surface around the filled cubes.

Voxel vs polygon

PropertyVoxelPolygon
DescribesVolume, inside and outOnly the outer surface
ShapeBlocky unless very fineSmooth or sharp, as modeled
MemoryGrows fast with resolutionLight for most models
Common inScans, simulation, blocky gamesGames, film, animation

Use voxels when the inside of an object matters or you want blocky sculpting; use polygons for almost everything that ends up animated, textured or in a game.

Where a voxel is used

Beginner tip

Voxel memory grows fast. Doubling the resolution on every axis makes eight times as many cubes, so raise detail in small steps and watch your memory use.

Terms related to a voxel

Voxel FAQ

Voxel vs pixel: what is the difference?
A pixel is a square in a flat 2D image. A voxel is a cube in a 3D grid. The name blends volume and pixel, and the idea is the same: a grid of tiny cells, each holding a value.
What is voxel art?
A style of 3D art built from visible cubes, like pixel art with depth. Artists place voxels one by one in dedicated editors to make blocky characters, scenes and game assets.
Why do voxel models look blocky?
Each voxel is a cube of fixed size, so curves turn into steps. Smaller voxels hide the steps but need far more memory, and many tools smooth a mesh over the voxels before rendering.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms