AbstractEdge‐based and face‐based smoothed finite element methods (ES‐FEM and FS‐FEM, respectively) are modified versions of the finite element method allowing to achieve more accurate results and to reduce sensitivity to mesh distortion, at least for linear elements. These properties make the two methods very attractive. However, their implementation in a standard finite element code is nontrivial because it requires heavy and extensive modifications to the code architecture. In this article, we present an element‐based formulation of ES‐FEM and FS‐FEM methods allowing to implement the two methods in a standard finite element code with no modifications to its architecture. Moreover, the element‐based formulation permits to easily manage any type of element, especially in 3D models where, to the best of the authors' knowledge, only tetrahedral elements are used in FS‐FEM applications found in the literature. Shape functions for non‐simplex 3D elements are proposed in order to apply FS‐FEM to any standard finite element.