ListSurfacePlot3D
✖
ListSurfacePlot3D
plots a three-dimensional surface constructed to fit the specified points.
Details and Options




- ListSurfacePlot3D attempts to reconstruct smooth surfaces defined by sets of points.
- Surfaces generated by ListSurfacePlot3D can "fold over", and do not need to have a single
value for given
and
values.
- The order in which
,
,
points are supplied to ListSurfacePlot3D does not affect the results.
- ListSurfacePlot3D[Tabular[…]cspec] extracts and plots values from the tabular object using the column specification cspec.
- The following forms of column specifications cspec are allowed for plotting tabular data:
-
{colx,coly,colz} plot values from columns colx, coly and colz - ListSurfacePlot3D has the same options as Graphics3D, with the following additions and changes: [List of all options]
-
Axes True whether to draw axes BoundaryStyle Automatic how to draw boundary lines for surfaces BoxRatios Automatic bounding 3D box ratios ColorFunction Automatic how to determine the color of the surface ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale arguments to ColorFunction MaxPlotPoints Automatic the maximum number of points to include Mesh Automatic how many mesh lines in each direction to draw MeshFunctions {#1&,#2&,#3&} how to determine the placement of mesh lines MeshShading None how to shade regions between mesh lines MeshStyle Automatic the style for mesh lines Method Automatic the method to use for interpolation and data reduction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to try to optimize PlotLegends None legends for surfaces PlotRange All the range of values to include PlotRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the range of values PlotStyle Automatic graphics directives to specify the style for the surface PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included ScalingFunctions None how to scale individual coordinates TextureCoordinateFunction Automatic how to determine texture coordinates TextureCoordinateScaling True whether to scale arguments to TextureCoordinateFunction - ListSurfacePlot3D yields a surface that fits the data provided, but may not necessarily contain the specific points defined by the data.
- The arguments supplied to functions in MeshFunctions and RegionFunction are x, y, and z. Functions in ColorFunction and TextureCoordinateFunction are by default supplied with scaled versions of these arguments.
- ListSurfacePlot3D returns Graphics3D[GraphicsComplex[data]].
- Possible settings for ScalingFunctions include:
-
sy scale the y axis {sx,sy} scale x and y axes - Common built-in scaling functions s include:
-
"Log" log scale with automatic tick labeling "Log10" base-10 log scale with powers of 10 for ticks "SignedLog" log-like scale that includes 0 and negative numbers "Reverse" reverse the coordinate direction "Infinite" infinite scale -
AlignmentPoint Center the default point in the graphic to align with AspectRatio Automatic ratio of height to width Axes True whether to draw axes AxesEdge Automatic on which edges to put axes AxesLabel None axes labels AxesOrigin Automatic where axes should cross AxesStyle {} graphics directives to specify the style for axes Background None background color for the plot BaselinePosition Automatic how to align with a surrounding text baseline BaseStyle {} base style specifications for the graphic BoundaryStyle Automatic how to draw boundary lines for surfaces Boxed True whether to draw the bounding box BoxRatios Automatic bounding 3D box ratios BoxStyle {} style specifications for the box ClipPlanes None clipping planes ClipPlanesStyle Automatic style specifications for clipping planes ColorFunction Automatic how to determine the color of the surface ColorFunctionScaling True whether to scale arguments to ColorFunction ContentSelectable Automatic whether to allow contents to be selected ControllerLinking False when to link to external rotation controllers ControllerPath Automatic what external controllers to try to use Epilog {} 2D graphics primitives to be rendered after the main plot FaceGrids None grid lines to draw on the bounding box FaceGridsStyle {} style specifications for face grids FormatType TraditionalForm default format type for text ImageMargins 0. the margins to leave around the graphic ImagePadding All what extra padding to allow for labels, etc. ImageSize Automatic absolute size at which to render the graphic LabelStyle {} style specifications for labels Lighting Automatic simulated light sources to use MaxPlotPoints Automatic the maximum number of points to include Mesh Automatic how many mesh lines in each direction to draw MeshFunctions {#1&,#2&,#3&} how to determine the placement of mesh lines MeshShading None how to shade regions between mesh lines MeshStyle Automatic the style for mesh lines Method Automatic the method to use for interpolation and data reduction PerformanceGoal $PerformanceGoal aspects of performance to try to optimize PlotLabel None a label for the plot PlotLegends None legends for surfaces PlotRange All the range of values to include PlotRangePadding Automatic how much to pad the range of values PlotRegion Automatic final display region to be filled PlotStyle Automatic graphics directives to specify the style for the surface PlotTheme $PlotTheme overall theme for the plot PreserveImageOptions Automatic whether to preserve image options when displaying new versions of the same graphic Prolog {} 2D graphics primitives to be rendered before the main plot RegionFunction (True&) how to determine whether a point should be included RotationAction "Fit" how to render after interactive rotation ScalingFunctions None how to scale individual coordinates SphericalRegion Automatic whether to make the circumscribing sphere fit in the final display area TextureCoordinateFunction Automatic how to determine texture coordinates TextureCoordinateScaling True whether to scale arguments to TextureCoordinateFunction Ticks Automatic specification for ticks TicksStyle {} style specification for ticks TouchscreenAutoZoom False whether to zoom to fullscreen when activated on a touchscreen ViewAngle Automatic angle of the field of view ViewCenter Automatic point to display at the center ViewMatrix Automatic explicit transformation matrix ViewPoint {1.3,-2.4,2.} viewing position ViewProjection Automatic projection method for rendering objects distant from the viewer ViewRange All range of viewing distances to include ViewVector Automatic position and direction of a simulated camera ViewVertical {0,0,1} direction to make vertical
List of all options




Examples
open allclose allBasic Examples (1)Summary of the most common use cases
Scope (13)Survey of the scope of standard use cases
Data (4)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-qbbdam

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ihh9ef


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-1r6qgt

Use MaxPlotPoints to limit the number of points used:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-6isz87

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-u6qsy

Use PlotRange to focus in on areas of interest:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-y07egu

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-onwpfp

Use RegionFunction to restrict the surface to a region given by inequalities:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-0iaqv4

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-qjcbbe

Tabular Data (1)
Presentation (8)
Provide an explicit PlotStyle for the surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-p9kshf

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ns02cj


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-04q9tq

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-t3ibr6


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ped7ph

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-q5iosn


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-rvl56s

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-lc48g1

Style the areas between mesh lines:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-0l5ypf

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-f0yphh

Use a theme with a dark background and grid lines:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-qyq1u2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-wrnp9m

Use a theme with minimum styling:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-o4vh6o

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ho7fbn

Use ScalingFunctions to flip the x axis:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-frexnu

Options (41)Common values & functionality for each option
BoundaryStyle (4)
Use a black boundary around the edges of the surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-0errjw

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ui1ujw

Use a thick boundary around the edges of the surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-rv88od

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-y21gvp

Use a thick red boundary around the edges of the surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-qp54jn

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-orwqrl

BoundaryStyle applies to holes cut by RegionFunction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-13tm2q

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ujhzpl

ColorFunction (4)
Color by scaled ,
, and
values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-hv6jen

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-lque6s

Named color gradients color in the direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-1u3tmp

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-6v6xbp

ColorFunction has higher priority than PlotStyle:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-p87sjr

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-wtggmi

ColorFunction has lower priority than MeshShading:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-dgnm8h

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-py9u12

ColorFunctionScaling (1)
Mesh (5)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-fe5nro

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-quq7d1


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-oue5i7

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-1rueur

Use 5 mesh lines in each direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-dmtdwp

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-bw6mll

Use 3 mesh lines in the direction and 6 mesh lines in the
direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-2vu15t

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-iox0j9

Use mesh lines at specific values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-nqhk7

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-pkl2jw

MeshFunctions (2)
Use a mesh evenly spaced in the ,
, and
directions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-wbhpfv

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-69osor

Use an arbitrary mesh function:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-b8kzrc

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-852jdr

MeshShading (4)
Use None to remove regions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-j2b6uz

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-3ofgxe

Lay a checkerboard pattern over a surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-33ides

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-caa3q2

MeshShading has a higher priority than PlotStyle:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-4mqh7f

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-o01i1a

MeshShading has a higher priority than ColorFunction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-u12ewp

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-5ievlu

MeshStyle (2)

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-6h5281

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-nf2pi

Use red mesh lines in the direction, blue in the
direction, and thick in the
direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-dx17v

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-egmqn1

PlotStyle (6)
Color a surface with diffuse cyan:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-30437o

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-zzidwc

Use Specularity to get highlights:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-wlqiqs

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-vlhm0x

Use Opacity to get transparent surfaces:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-rwnfya

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-60d9bo


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-k5e1mb

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-tq6k0u

ColorFunction has higher priority than PlotStyle:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-47rgsp

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-9b32an

MeshShading has a higher priority than PlotStyle:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-up2wkw

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ivto2k

PlotTheme (1)
RegionFunction (3)
ScalingFunctions (4)
By default, plots have linear scales in all directions:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-1kpw48

Log-scaled plots will only plot regions in which Log is defined:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-f9cxj3

Use a shifted log scale to show a function with negative values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-m2fch1

Use ScalingFunctions to reverse the coordinate direction in the direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-14jfvm

TextureCoordinateFunction (4)
Textures use scaled and
coordinates by default:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-m1lehk

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-0wrl6p


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-4c7cxf

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-kfsuno


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-y5vkt6

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-vtlkkj

Use textures to highlight how parameters map onto a surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-9r5psj


https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-opsm5p

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-d8mt20

Applications (1)Sample problems that can be solved with this function
Properties & Relations (13)Properties of the function, and connections to other functions
ListPlot3D always assumes a function surface with one sheet:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-iljh4w

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-b6897z

ListSurfacePlot3D can fill in any number of sheets:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-naskbg

ListSurfacePlot3D produces an approximating general surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-cur1zu

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-bba5ux

ListPlot3D constructs a function surface that oscillates rapidly in the direction:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-zi48s

When using multiple values for each
,
value, the duplicates are discarded by ListPlot3D:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-ch3eea

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-izzd5o

ListSurfacePlot3D still reconstructs the general surface:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-0y7f7

Use ListPointPlot3D to show three-dimensional points:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-1g2t5w

Use ListContourPlot3D to find contours through values associated with ,
,
data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-n8rpe2

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-r9fg06

Use ListContourPlot to create contours from continuous data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-za2cfb

Use ListDensityPlot to create densities from continuous data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-x9b2sj

Use ArrayPlot for arrays of discrete data:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-btkhyw

Use MatrixPlot for structural plots of matrices:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-bdl0fp

Use ReliefPlot for matrices corresponding to medical and geographic values:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-fxmvrn

Use ListLogPlot, ListLogLogPlot, and ListLogLinearPlot for logarithmic plots:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-o4ap4

Use ListPolarPlot for polar plots:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-r1ry4t

Use DateListPlot to show data over time:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-rpwvej

Use ParametricPlot3D for three-dimensional parametric curves and surfaces:

https://wolfram.com/xid/0ywi5diyv0k4-jid3us

Wolfram Research (2007), ListSurfacePlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html (updated 2025).
Text
Wolfram Research (2007), ListSurfacePlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html (updated 2025).
Wolfram Research (2007), ListSurfacePlot3D, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html (updated 2025).
CMS
Wolfram Language. 2007. "ListSurfacePlot3D." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html.
Wolfram Language. 2007. "ListSurfacePlot3D." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html.
APA
Wolfram Language. (2007). ListSurfacePlot3D. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html
Wolfram Language. (2007). ListSurfacePlot3D. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html
BibTeX
@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_listsurfaceplot3d, author="Wolfram Research", title="{ListSurfacePlot3D}", year="2025", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html}", note=[Accessed: 09-July-2025
]}
BibLaTeX
@online{reference.wolfram_2025_listsurfaceplot3d, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={ListSurfacePlot3D}, year={2025}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/ListSurfacePlot3D.html}, note=[Accessed: 09-July-2025
]}