Cubic Yard Calculator
Turn length, width and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres for gravel, soil, mulch, sand or concrete, with extra for waste, an approximate weight and a bag count.
How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube that measures 1 yard (3 feet) on every side. Bulk gravel, topsoil, mulch, sand and ready-mix concrete are sold by the cubic yard in the US, so almost every landscaping or hardscape order starts by turning a length, a width and a depth into cubic yards. Many suppliers simply call it a "yard", which is why this tool is also known as a yard calculator.
- Measure the area. For a rectangle, measure length and width in feet. For a round bed or pad, measure the diameter. For an irregular shape, split it into rectangles, circles and triangles, add up their areas and use the Known area option.
- Measure the depth in inches (or centimetres). Take several readings on uneven ground and use the average.
- Multiply and convert. Area × depth gives the volume; divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
- Add extra for waste, settling or compaction, then round up to what your supplier sells, often whole or half yards.
Cubic yard formula
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27Order = cubic yards × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)For a circle, the area is π × (diameter ÷ 2)², or about 0.7854 × diameter². In metric, multiply metres × metres × depth in metres to get cubic metres directly; 1 cubic yard is 0.7646 m³, and 1 m³ is 1.308 yd³.
If you already know the volume in cubic feet, just divide by 27. If the depth is in feet (a hole or a deep trench, say), skip the ÷ 12 step: a 3 × 3 × 3 ft hole is exactly 27 cu ft, or 1 cubic yard.
Worked examples
Rectangle: a 12 × 10 ft patio base, 4 inches deep, with 10% extra.
- Area: 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft.
- Volume: 120 × 4 ÷ 12 = 40 cu ft, or 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³ exact.
- With 10% extra: 40 × 1.1 = 44 cu ft, and 44 ÷ 27 = 1.63 yd³ (1.25 m³).
- If the material is gravel at 1.4 tons per cubic yard, that is about 1.63 × 1.4 = 2.28 tons.
Circle: a round bed 10 ft across, 3 inches deep. Area = 0.7854 × 10² = 78.5 sq ft; volume = 78.5 × 3 ÷ 12 = 19.6 cu ft = 0.73 yd³, or about 0.8 yd³ with 10% extra.
Metric: a 3.6 × 3 m area at 10 cm is 3.6 × 3 × 0.10 = 1.08 m³, or 1.19 m³ with 10% extra (about 1.55 cubic yards).
Cubic yards for common sizes
| Area | Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Cubic metres |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 4 in | 33.3 | 1.23 | 0.94 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 6 in | 50 | 1.85 | 1.42 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 4 in | 48 | 1.78 | 1.36 |
| 10 × 20 ft | 3 in | 50 | 1.85 | 1.42 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 4 in | 133.3 | 4.94 | 3.78 |
| 24 × 24 ft | 6 in | 288 | 10.67 | 8.16 |
Volumes are exact, before any extra for waste or compaction.
Cubic yard conversions
| Unit | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cu ft · 46,656 cu in · 0.7646 m³ · 764.6 L · about 202 US gallons |
| 1 cubic foot | 0.037 yd³ · 1,728 cu in · 28.32 L |
| 1 cubic metre | 1.308 yd³ · 35.31 cu ft · 1,000 L |
Coverage of one cubic yard: 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, 54 sq ft at 6 inches and 27 sq ft at 12 inches. The rule is simply 324 ÷ depth in inches, because 27 cu ft × 12 = 324. In metric, 1 m³ covers 10 m² at 10 cm or 20 m² at 5 cm.
From cubic yards to tons and bags
Suppliers of stone and sand often sell by weight, so the calculator also multiplies the volume by a typical density. Pick a material to load a planning figure, or type your supplier's number:
| Material | Typical US tons per yd³ | Approx. lb per yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or crushed stone | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Crusher run / road base | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| Dry sand | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Fill dirt, loose and dry | 1.2 | 2,400 |
| Topsoil, loose and dry | 1.0 | 2,000 |
| Wood mulch | about 0.3, varies widely | about 600 |
| Fresh concrete | about 2.0 | about 4,000 |
These are rounded planning figures, not specifications: wet material can weigh noticeably more, and products differ. For bagged material, the bag count is the volume divided by the bag size printed on the label, rounded up. One cubic yard fills 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 9 bags of 3 cu ft or 27 bags of 1 cu ft. Bagged concrete is sold by weight instead, so use the concrete calculator for 40, 60 and 80 lb bags.
How much extra to order
The exact volume is rarely enough. Ground is never perfectly flat, some material is lost while spreading, and loose material settles. A 5% to 10% allowance suits mulch and decorative stone that is only raked level. Material that will be compacted, such as road base or fill dirt, shrinks more, and 10% to 20% or more is a common planning range; the dirt calculator and gravel calculator cover those jobs in more detail. Ready-mix concrete is usually ordered with a little extra and rounded up to the next quarter or half yard.
Before you order, check the minimum load and delivery fee: for small jobs, a delivery charge can cost more than the material itself, and bags may work out cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, because a cubic yard is a cube 3 ft long, 3 ft wide and 3 ft deep, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply by 27.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. For example, a 12 × 10 ft area at 4 inches is 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 cu ft, and 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
Divide 324 by the depth in inches. One cubic yard covers about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, 81 sq ft at 4 inches and 54 sq ft at 6 inches.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Many gravels and crushed stones weigh roughly 1.3 to 1.5 US tons per cubic yard (about 2,600 to 3,000 lb) loose and dry, and 1.4 tons is a common planning figure. Stone type, size and moisture all change it, so ask your supplier for the weight of their material.
How many cubic yards are in a cubic metre?
One cubic metre is about 1.31 cubic yards, and one cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic metres. The calculator shows the other system's volume alongside the main result.
What is a yard calculator?
In landscaping and concrete, people often say a yard when they mean a cubic yard, the unit most US suppliers use for bulk gravel, soil, mulch and ready-mix. A yard calculator is the same thing as a cubic yard calculator: it turns your measurements into the volume to order.
Related guides
- How Much Pea Gravel Do I Need for a Patio?Work out how much pea gravel a patio needs in cubic yards, tons and bags, with depth advice, a base layer, coverage tables and worked examples.
- How Thick Should a Concrete Patio Slab Be?The standard concrete patio is 4 inches thick on a 4-inch gravel base. When to go to 5 or 6 inches, plus reinforcement, joints and how much concrete to order.
Related calculators
- Gravel CalculatorVolume and weight for driveways and bases, with presets for common gravel types.
- Dirt CalculatorDirt and fill dirt in cubic yards and tons, with compaction and bag counts.
- Concrete CalculatorCubic yards or metres and bag counts for slabs, footings and round columns.
- Mulch CalculatorMulch in bags or cubic yards, and which is cheaper with delivery.