Cubic Yard Calculator
Turn length, width and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres for soil, sand, gravel, mulch or concrete, with weight, bags, truck loads and cost.
Mulch 2–3 in, topsoil for a lawn 4–6 in, a concrete slab 4 in.
5–10% is common for soil, mulch and gravel; 10% or more for fill that will be packed hard.
Follows the usual bag for the material until you change it. An 80 lb bag of concrete mix makes about 0.6 cu ft.
Dump trucks often carry 10–15 cu yd; a concrete mixer about 8–10 cu yd; a pickup about 1–2 cu yd. Ask your supplier.
How your cubic yards are worked out
Area × depth gives cubic feet; 27 cubic feet make one cubic yard.
- 1
Find the area
10 × 10 ft= 100 sq ft
- 2
Times the depth
3 in = 0.25 ft100 × 0.25= 25 cu ft
- 3
Divide by 27
25 ÷ 27= 0.926 cu yd= 0.708 m³
- 4
No extra added
Order 0.926 cu yd1 cu yd covers 108 sq ft
Read more: the formula for every shape, a worked example, weights and coverage
A cubic yard is the space inside a box 3 ft long, 3 ft wide and 3 ft high. Soil, sand, gravel, mulch and ready-mix concrete are often sold by the cubic yard (or by the m³ outside the US), so the job is to find the volume of your area and turn it into yards.
The formula
area: rectangle = length × width · circle = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² · triangle = base × height ÷ 2
triangle from three sides = √(s × (s − a) × (s − b) × (s − c)), where s = (a + b + c) ÷ 2
trapezoid = (side 1 + side 2) ÷ 2 × distance between them · ring = π ÷ 4 × (outside² − inside²)
volume = area × depth × how many (a sloped area uses the average of the two depths)
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic metres ÷ 0.764555
to order = volume × (1 + extra % ÷ 100)
weight = volume to order × weight per volume · bags = volume to order ÷ one bag, rounded up
truck loads = volume (or weight) ÷ one load, rounded up
Worked example
A bed 10 ft long and 10 ft wide, filled 3 in deep. The area is 10 × 10 = 100 sq ft. 3 in is 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft, so the volume is 100 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft. Divide by 27: 25 ÷ 27 = 0.926 cu yd. In metric that is 25 × 0.0283168 = 0.708 m³ (708 litres).
A second one: a 12 ft × 12 ft area at 4 in deep is 144 × (4 ÷ 12) = 48 cu ft, and 48 ÷ 27 = 1.778 cu yd (1.359 m³). As topsoil at a typical 1,280 kg per m³, that weighs 1.359 × 1,280 = 1,740 kg, about 1.92 US tons, or 64 bags of 0.75 cu ft.
Typical weights
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Tonnes per m³ | Usual bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsoil (dry, loose; wet soil is heavier) | 1.08 | 1.28 | 0.75 cu ft |
| Fill dirt (dry, loose subsoil) | 1.21 | 1.44 | 1 cu ft |
| Sand (dry; damp sand is heavier) | 1.35 | 1.6 | 0.5 cu ft |
| Gravel (mixed gravel, dry) | 1.42 | 1.68 | 0.5 cu ft |
| Mulch (wood chips or bark) | 0.34 | 0.4 | 2 cu ft |
| Concrete (wet, normal weight; an 80 lb bag makes about 0.6 cu ft) | 2.02 | 2.4 | 0.6 cu ft |
Typical figures used as rules of thumb, not your supplier's numbers. Water adds a lot of weight: wet soil or sand can be a quarter heavier. Use your supplier's figure in the weight box when you have it.
How far one cubic yard goes
| Depth | 1 cu yd covers | 1 m³ covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in (2.5 cm) | 324 sq ft | 39.4 m² |
| 2 in (5 cm) | 162 sq ft | 19.7 m² |
| 3 in (7.5 cm) | 108 sq ft | 13.1 m² |
| 4 in (10 cm) | 81 sq ft | 9.8 m² |
| 6 in (15 cm) | 54 sq ft | 6.6 m² |
| 12 in (30 cm) | 27 sq ft | 3.3 m² |
1 cu yd covers 324 ÷ depth in inches square feet. 1 m³ covers 1 ÷ depth in metres square metres (the m² column uses the exact inch depth, so 1 in = 0.0254 m).
Tips
- Ready-mix concrete is ordered in cubic yards or m³, often in steps of a quarter or half yard, with a small-load fee under a few yards. Many suppliers suggest 5–10% extra for concrete.
- Under about 1 cu yd, bags are often easier. Above that, bulk delivery is usually cheaper; check the minimum order.
- Measure odd shapes as several simple shapes and add each one as its own area.
Common questions
How do I work out cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A patch 10 ft by 10 ft at 3 in deep is 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft, and 25 ÷ 27 = 0.926 cubic yards. If you measure in metres, multiply to get m³ and divide by 0.764555.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft on each side, so it holds 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. It is also exactly 0.764554857984 m³, or about 765 litres. One m³ is about 1.308 cubic yards.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
Divide 324 by the depth in inches to get square feet. One cubic yard covers 162 sq ft at 2 in deep, 108 sq ft at 3 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends on the material. As typical figures: mulch about 0.34 tons, topsoil 1.08, fill dirt 1.21, sand 1.35, gravel 1.42 and concrete 2.02 US tons per cubic yard. Wet material is heavier, so check with your supplier.
Should I order extra?
Usually yes. Soil and mulch settle, gravel packs down and some always gets spilled. Many people add 5–10%; for fill dirt that will be packed hard, suppliers often suggest more. In Advanced, add your extra % and every result, from bags to cost, includes it.
How do I measure an odd-shaped area?
Split it into simple shapes, such as rectangles, triangles and circles, and measure each one. In Advanced, add each one as its own area with its own depth, and the calculator adds them up. If the ground slopes, enter the depth at both ends and the average is used.
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