Enter length, width and depth in feet, inches or meters to get cubic yards, with cubic feet, cubic meters and the weight of common materials.
How to use the cubic yard calculator
- Choose a rectangle for beds, slabs, trenches and truck beds, or a circle for round areas, holes and tanks.
- Enter each measurement in the unit you used. Mixing feet and inches is fine: pick the unit next to each box.
- Pick a material if you also want the approximate weight in tons.
Cubic yard formulas
Rectangle: cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27 Circle: cubic yards = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth ÷ 27 1 yd³ = 27 ft³ = 0.764555 m³ = 201.97 US gallons
A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Because a yard is exactly 0.9144 m, a cubic yard is 0.764555 m³.
Worked example: a 10 × 10 ft area, 6 in deep
- Convert the depth to feet: 6 in ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft.
- Cubic feet: 10 × 10 × 0.5 = 50 ft³.
- Cubic yards: 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³.
A raised bed 4 × 12 ft and 18 in deep holds 2.67 yd³. A round area 10 ft across and 4 in deep is 0.97 yd³.
Cubic yards per 100 square feet
| Depth | Cubic yards per 100 ft² | Area one cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 | 324 ft² |
| 2 in | 0.62 | 162 ft² |
| 3 in | 0.93 | 108 ft² |
| 4 in | 1.23 | 81 ft² |
| 6 in | 1.85 | 54 ft² |
| 12 in | 3.7 | 27 ft² |
Material-specific calculators
For ordering, the material calculators add bag sizes, prices and the right weight per yard:
gravel, sand, fill dirt,
topsoil, mulch and concrete.
Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide by 27. 100 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.70 yd³.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
324 ÷ depth in inches: 108 ft² at 3 in, 81 ft² at 4 in and 54 ft² at 6 in.
How many tons is a cubic yard?
It depends on the material: about 1.35 tons for gravel or sand, about 1.2 tons for dirt and about a third of a ton for mulch, per North Bay Materials’ density chart.
Sources
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: Factors for units listed alphabetically, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Used for: Exact inch and foot definitions; cubic foot, cubic yard and gallon conversions. - Landscape Materials Density Chart, North Bay Materials.
Used for: Typical weights per cubic yard for gravel, sand, dirt and mulch.