Rectangle or square
Length × width × depth ÷ 27
For a square, enter the same length and width.Cubic Yard Calculator
A clear measure of what you need.Calculate cubic yards for soil, gravel, mulch, sand, and concrete.
Free calculator. Mixed units and fractions welcome.1 yd³ = 27 ft³
From measurements to material
How to calculate cubic yards
For a rectangle or square, multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. If length and width are in feet and depth is in inches, divide by 324 instead. Choose the matching shape in the calculator for other footprints.
- 01
Measure the footprint
Measure length and width for a rectangle or square. For a round area, measure its diameter. If you already know the square footage, choose Known area in the calculator.
- 02
Add the depth
Enter the thickness of the material or the depth of the space. You can use feet for length and width and inches for depth. The calculator converts each measurement for you.
- 03
Calculate the volume
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. For several sections, calculate each volume and add them. Keep the full result until the final step.
A real calculationA 12 ft by 10 ft bed,
A 12 ft by 10 ft bed,
filled 4 inches deep.
- Footprint
- 12 × 10 = 120 ft²
- Depth in feet
- 4 ÷ 12 = ⅓ ft
- Volume
- 120 × ⅓ = 40 ft³
40 ÷ 271.481 yd³
The useful shortcuts
All dimensions in feetLength × width × depth ÷ 27
Length and width in feet, depth in inchesLength × width × depth ÷ 324
3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet
Put a yard in perspective
What is a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is a volume of 27 cubic feet. Picture a cube that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The same volume can take any shape: a thin layer of mulch, a garden bed, or a deep round hole.
A yard of bulk material usually means a cubic yard. A linear yard measures length. A square yard measures area. A cubic yard measures volume.
27cubic feet
46,656cubic inches
0.764555cubic meters, rounded
CY, cu yd, and yd³ are common ways to write cubic yards. Each edge of the cube is 36 inches, but its volume is 46,656 cubic inches. Compare different cubic yard quantities.
The same volume, spread differently
How much does a cubic yard cover?
One cubic yard covers 81 square feet at 4 inches deep, or 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. Coverage depends on the depth of the material. Change the depth below to suit your project.
square feet
Depth
One possible footprint, with a uniform material depth.
One cubic yard at common depths
| Depth | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 ft² |
| 2 inches | 162 ft² |
| 3 inches | 108 ft² |
| 4 inches | 81 ft² |
| 6 inches | 54 ft² |
| 12 inches | 27 ft² |
Coverage in square feet = cubic yards × 324 ÷ depth in inches. To find depth instead, multiply cubic yards by 324, then divide by square feet.
For linear feet along a path, you also need its width. Length in feet = cubic yards × 324 ÷ width in feet ÷ depth in inches.
Choose the right footprint
Cubic yard formulas for different shapes
First find the area of the shape. Then multiply by depth. The formulas below use dimensions in feet and give cubic yards.
Circle, cylinder, or round hole
π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth ÷ 27
The circle needs a depth to become a volume.Triangle or triangular prism
Base × perpendicular height × depth ÷ 54
Measure the height at a right angle to the base, or enter three sides.Trapezoid
(Parallel side A + parallel side B) ÷ 2 × height × depth ÷ 27
Useful when a bed or driveway widens at one end.Ring or circular border
π × (outer diameter² less inner diameter²) × depth ÷ 108
Measure both diameters through the center.Irregular areas or an L shape
Calculate each section, then add the volumes.
Split the footprint into shapes without counting any section twice.Already have a volume?
Convert to or from cubic yards.
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. To reverse it, multiply by 27. The converter also handles cubic inches and cubic meters.
cubic yards
All dimensions in inches? Multiply length × width × depth, then divide by 46,656.
All dimensions in yards? Multiply them directly. The answer is already in cubic yards.
Only have square feet or square yards? Choose Known area and enter a depth. Square yards × 9 gives square feet. Use the area and depth calculator.
One volume calculation, many projects
Use it for the material you need.
The geometry stays the same. Weight, finished depth, compaction, and ordering allowances depend on the material.
Soil and fill dirt
Measure the space you want to fill. Excavated soil can expand when loosened, while placed soil can settle or compact.
Estimate soilGravel and sand
Use the planned finished dimensions. Ask the supplier how their loose delivery volume relates to your required compacted layer.
Estimate gravelMulch
Calculate the bed area and the depth of the new layer. For bags, use the labeled volume and round the bag count up.
Estimate mulchConcrete
Use the actual form dimensions and slab thickness. For bagged concrete, use the mixed yield rather than the bag’s weight.
Estimate concreteBefore you place the orderMeasured volume.
Measured volume.
Thoughtful ordering.
The calculator’s starting result is the geometric volume of your measurements. Ordering options help you make the next decision without mixing assumptions into the math.
Choose an allowance deliberately
There is no single extra percentage for every project. Spillage, uneven ground, settlement, and compaction can change the quantity you need. Use the allowance your project or supplier calls for.
Keep weight separate from volume
A cubic yard has no fixed weight in pounds or tons. Enter a supplier density to estimate weight. The tool reports US short tons, with 2,000 pounds per ton. Convert weight and volume in either direction.
Use the supplier’s selling units
Enter a price per cubic yard, cubic foot, or cubic meter. Add an order increment if the supplier sells in set quantities. The estimated material cost excludes delivery, tax, and other charges.
Check measurements before rounding
Small depth changes can make a big difference across a large area. The tool keeps full precision internally, then displays a rounded result. Ordering increments and whole bag counts round up separately.
A few things worth getting right
Cubic yard questions, answered.
Why do you divide by 27 to get cubic yards?
One yard equals 3 feet, so a cube one yard on each side holds 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Divide a volume in cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by 27 to go the other way.
How many cubic yards is 12 feet by 15 feet?
You still need a depth. A 12 ft by 15 ft footprint is 180 square feet, or 20 square yards. At 3 inches deep, it holds about 1.667 cubic yards. At 4 inches deep, it holds about 2.222 cubic yards.
How do I calculate cubic yards with feet and inches?
You can enter each dimension with its own unit. To do it by hand, divide inches by 12 to convert them to feet. For example, 7 feet 3 inches is 7.25 feet. When length and width are in feet and depth is in inches, multiply the three numbers and divide by 324.
How do I calculate the cubic yards in a round hole?
Measure the diameter and the depth. Using feet for both, multiply π by the square of half the diameter, then by depth, and divide by 27. Choose Circle in the calculator. This calculates a cylindrical hole with straight sides; a tapered hole needs a different model.
Can I convert square feet directly to cubic yards?
Square feet describe area, while cubic yards describe volume. You must include a depth. Multiply square feet by depth in inches, then divide by 324. For square yards, convert the area to square feet by multiplying by 9 first, or select square yards under Known area.
How many inches are in a cubic yard?
Each edge of a cube holding one cubic yard is 36 inches long. Its volume is 36 × 36 × 36 = 46,656 cubic inches. Inches and cubic inches measure different things, so 36 inches is an edge length, not the volume.
How do I measure an irregular area or a sloped site?
Divide the area into rectangles, circles, or triangles, calculate each volume, and add the results. Use the Add another area control for sections with different depths. For a depth that changes evenly across a section, its average may be appropriate. Complex grading or irregular slopes need more detailed measurements.
Is a yard of soil the same volume as a yard of gravel?
Yes, when both mean one cubic yard. Each occupies 27 cubic feet, but their weights can differ substantially. Moisture, particle size, void space, and compaction affect bulk density. Use the supplier’s density for a weight estimate.
How many bags are in a cubic yard?
Divide 27 by the volume yield of one bag in cubic feet. One cubic yard is 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet each, so you would buy 14 whole bags. For a project total, the calculator uses the planned quantity, including any extra material and order increment you selected, then rounds the bag count up to whole bags.
Can I convert cubic yards to linear feet?
Only if you also know the width and depth. A long, narrow path and a short, wide path can hold the same volume. In the coverage helper, choose Path length and enter the volume, depth, and width to calculate the length in feet.
Can I use this cubic yard calculator on my phone?
Yes. The calculator is free and works in your browser on a phone, tablet, or computer. No download or account is needed for the calculator itself. Share estimate creates a link containing the measurements, so someone else can reopen the same calculation.
Why does my cubic yardage result look too large or too small?
Check the unit beside every field, especially the depth. Entering 4 feet instead of 4 inches changes that dimension by a factor of 12. Also check whether a circular measurement is a radius or diameter, whether sections overlap, and whether your dimensions describe the finished material layer.
The method behind the result
Dimensions are converted to feet, each shape’s area is multiplied by depth, and the total cubic feet are divided by 27. Metric conversions use an international foot of exactly 0.3048 meters, making one cubic yard exactly 0.764554857984 cubic meters.
Ordering allowances are applied after the measured volumes are added. No material density or compaction factor is assumed. The calculation steps show the measured volume separately from any optional order adjustments.
Choose your next calculation
Cubic Yard CalculatorMeasure a project with multiple shapes and areas.Find the tool for your project.
Start with a material, a unit conversion, or a quantity you already know.