Box / room
Also: rectangular prism, bed, trench, room
V = L × W × H
L = length, W = width, H = height or depth.
Example: A raised garden bed 12 ft × 4 ft, filled 18 in (1.5 ft) deep: 12 × 4 × 1.5 = 72 cu ft ÷ 27 = 2.67 cu yd of soil.
Quick answer: cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27. Turn inches of depth into feet by dividing by 12 first. A 20 × 10 ft bed, 4 in deep, needs 20 × 10 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards.
How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft on every side, which holds 27 cubic feet. Landscape yards, ready-mix plants and quarries all sell bulk material by the cubic yard, so this is the number you need when you call to order. Working it out takes three steps:
- Measure in feet. Length and width in feet. For depth, measure in inches and divide by 12 (4 in = 0.333 ft). The calculator lets you keep the depth in inches and does this for you.
- Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Then round up: most suppliers sell in whole or half yards.
Cubic yards = L (ft) × W (ft) × D (ft) ÷ 27
A flower bed 20 ft long and 10 ft wide needs mulch 4 in deep.
4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft. 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft. 66.7 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cu yd.
Order 2½ yards, or 34 bags of 2 cu ft if you would rather buy bags.
If the area is not a rectangle, pick its shape at the top of the calculator, or split it into simple pieces and use “Add this area to a project total” for each one. The calculator adds them up and rounds the order for you.
Cubic yard formulas for common shapes
Work every formula in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. These are the shapes that come up most when ordering bulk material; all 17 shapes, with drawings, are on the cubic feet calculator.
Area × depth
Also: square feet to cubic feet
V = A × d
A = area, d = depth or thickness.
Example: Topsoil for a 500 sq ft lawn repair, 4 in (0.333 ft) deep: 500 × 0.333 = 166.7 cu ft ÷ 27 = 6.17 cu yd.
Cylinder
Also: round hole, post hole, tank, planter
V = π × r² × h
r = radius (half the diameter), h = height.
Example: Mulch for a tree ring 6 ft across, 3 in deep: π × 3² × 0.25 = 7.07 cu ft ÷ 27 = 0.26 cu yd, or four 2 cu ft bags.
Trench / trapezoid
Also: ditch, berm, swale, trapezoidal prism
V = (a + b) ÷ 2 × h × L
a = top width, b = bottom width, h = depth, L = length.
Example: A drainage trench 2 ft wide at the top, 1 ft at the bottom, 3 ft deep and 50 ft long: (2 + 1) ÷ 2 × 3 × 50 = 225 cu ft ÷ 27 = 8.33 cu yd of fill.
Cone
Also: pile, mound, heap
V = 1⁄3 × π × r² × h
r = base radius, h = height.
Example: A delivered pile 12 ft across and 5 ft high: 1⁄3 × π × 6² × 5 = 188.5 cu ft ÷ 27 = 6.98 cu yd. Handy for checking what was dropped off.
Sloped slab
Also: ramp, uneven depth, tapered bed
V = L × W × (h₁ + h₂) ÷ 2
L = length, W = width, h₁ and h₂ = depth at each end.
Example: A gravel driveway 40 × 10 ft, 6 in deep at the street and 4 in at the house: 40 × 10 × (0.5 + 0.333) ÷ 2 = 166.7 cu ft ÷ 27 = 6.17 cu yd.
How much does a cubic yard cover?
Spread thinner, a yard goes further. Use this chart to see how many square feet one cubic yard covers at the depths people use most, or switch it around to check a quote.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cu yd | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft | Top dressing a lawn, compost |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft | Refreshing mulch, decorative stone |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft | New mulch beds, gravel paths |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft | Topsoil for new lawns, concrete slabs, gravel |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft | Driveway base, garden beds |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft | Raised beds, sandboxes, backfill |
Cubic yards by area and depth
Already know your square footage? Read the cubic yards straight off this chart.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 250 sq ft | 1.54 | 2.31 | 3.09 | 4.63 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
Volume is how you order; weight is how you haul. A yard of mulch is easy to carry home in a pickup, while a yard of gravel can be more than the truck is rated for. These are typical figures for dry material; pick a material in the calculator, or enter your supplier’s density as a custom value.
| Material | lb per cu ft | lb per cu yd | Tons per cu yd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood mulch | ≈ 22 | ≈ 600 | ≈ 0.3 |
| Water | 62.4 | 1,685 | 0.84 |
| Topsoil | ≈ 80 | ≈ 2,160 | ≈ 1.1 |
| Sand, dry | ≈ 100 | ≈ 2,700 | ≈ 1.35 |
| Gravel | ≈ 105 | ≈ 2,835 | ≈ 1.4 |
| Concrete, wet | ≈ 150 | ≈ 4,050 | ≈ 2.0 |
Bulk or bags, and getting it home
Bagged material is convenient for small jobs, but it costs much more per yard. As a rule of thumb, once you need more than about a cubic yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and much less work. Here is how bags add up:
| Bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 cu ft | 27 |
| 1.5 cu ft | 18 |
| 2 cu ft | 13.5 (buy 14) |
| 3 cu ft | 9 |
When you pick up bulk material yourself, the limit is usually weight rather than space. Many half-ton pickups are rated for well under a ton of payload, which is less than one cubic yard of gravel or sand. Delivery trucks vary widely in size, so ask your supplier what they can bring in one trip and whether there is a minimum order.
Worked examples
Mulch for several beds
Three beds: 20 × 4 ft, 12 × 3 ft and a 6 ft circle, all 3 in deep. 20 cu ft + 9 cu ft + 7.07 cu ft = 36.07 cu ft = 1.34 cu yd. Add each bed to the project total in the calculator and it rounds the order up to 1½ yards.
Topsoil for a new lawn
A 30 × 40 ft yard needs 4 in of topsoil. 1,200 sq ft × 0.333 = 400 cu ft = 14.8 cu yd, about 16 tons at 1.1 tons per yard. Order 15 yards.
Concrete for a slab
A 10 × 12 ft shed slab, 4 in thick: 10 × 12 × 0.333 = 40 cu ft = 1.48 cu yd. Add 5–10% for uneven ground and spillage and order about 1.6 yards.
Common mistakes
- Multiplying inches by feet. 20 × 10 × 4 gives 800, which is not cubic feet. Convert the depth to feet first, or set “Depth in” to inches in the calculator.
- Mixing up square, linear and cubic yards. Turf and carpet are sold by the square yard; bulk material by the cubic yard.
- Forgetting settling. Loose soil and mulch settle after rain. Add about 10% extra for soil you need to reach a finished grade.
- Measuring one spot. Measure depth in several places and use the average, especially on sloping ground.
Notes for estimators and contractors
Bank, loose and compacted. Earth swells when dug (loose) and shrinks when compacted. Typical swell for common soil is around 20–30%. Quote excavation in bank yards and fill in compacted yards, and state which one you mean.
Sloped grades. Use the “Sloped slab” shape for fill that tapers from one end to the other, or split the area into strips and add them to the project total.
Ready-mix. Plants usually batch in quarter or half yards and may charge a short-load fee below a minimum. Order to the next increment after adding your waste allowance.
Density. Weights here are typical dry values. Ask the quarry for the density of the exact product and enter it as a custom value for accurate tonnage.
Tips
- Round up to the next half yard; a second delivery costs more than a little extra material.
- Check access: make sure a truck can reach the drop spot and won’t damage the lawn or driveway.
- Lay a tarp where the pile goes to make clean-up easier.
- Send the order to your supplier with WhatsApp or Email under the result.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Measure length, width and depth in feet, multiply them to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A bed 20 ft × 10 ft and 4 in deep is 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 cu ft, which is 2.47 cubic yards.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
It depends on the depth. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, because a yard is 3 ft and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
How many bags of mulch make a yard?
With 2 cu ft bags, 27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, so you need 14 bags for one cubic yard. With 3 cu ft bags it is exactly 9 bags.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends on the material: about 600 lb for wood mulch, roughly 2,200 lb for topsoil, around 2,700–2,800 lb for sand or gravel and about 4,000 lb for wet concrete. Moisture adds weight.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the weight of one cubic yard in tons. For gravel at about 1.4 tons per yard, 5 cu yd is about 7 tons. Pick a material in the calculator to see tons straight away.
Is a yard of material the same as a cubic yard?
Yes. When a supplier says “a yard” of dirt, mulch, gravel or concrete, they mean one cubic yard (27 cu ft), not a linear yard or a square yard.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
A full-size pickup bed holds roughly 2 cu yd of light material such as mulch, level with the sides. Heavy material like gravel or wet soil may exceed the truck’s payload long before the bed is full, so check the payload rating.