The thickness W and the surface energy σ_A at the free surface of superfluid ⁴He are studied. Results of calculations carried out using density functionals for cylindrical an spherical systems are presented in a unified way, including a comparison with planar slabs. It is found that for large species W are compared with prior theoretical results and experimental data. Experimental data favor results evaluated by adopting finite range approaches. The behavior of σ_A and Wσ_A exhibits overshoots similar to that found previously for the central density, and the trend of these observables towards their asymptotic values is examined.