This cubic yard calculator converts a length, width, and depth into cubic yards — the unit that concrete, mulch, gravel, topsoil, and fill dirt are sold by. Enter the footprint in feet and the depth in inches, and it returns the volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters.
Whether you are working out yards of concrete for a slab or bags of mulch versus a bulk delivery, the math is the same: convert everything to feet, multiply, and divide by 27. The sections below spell out the formula, common conversions, and how far one cubic yard actually goes at different depths.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards (Formula)
A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on each side, so it contains 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. To calculate cubic yards from measurements in feet and inches:
cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × (depth in ÷ 12)) ÷ 27
- Step 1: divide the depth in inches by 12 to convert it to feet.
- Step 2: multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet.
- Step 3: divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
A useful shortcut for coverage: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, so coverage (sq ft) = 324 ÷ depth in inches. For irregular areas, break the shape into rectangles, calculate each one, and add the volumes together.
Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion Table
Use these conversions when a bag or spec sheet lists cubic feet instead of yards:
- 27 cu ft = 1 cubic yard
- 13.5 cu ft = 0.5 cubic yard
- 9 cu ft = 0.33 cubic yard
- 3 cu ft (large mulch bag) = 0.111 cubic yard, so 9 bags = 1 yard
- 2 cu ft (standard mulch bag) = 0.074 cubic yard, so 13.5 bags = 1 yard
- 0.6 cu ft (60 lb concrete bag) = 0.022 cubic yard, so 45 bags = 1 yard
- 1 cubic yard = 0.765 cubic meters = 201.97 US gallons
Bagged material typically costs 2–3 times more per yard than bulk delivery, so anything over about half a yard is usually cheaper in bulk.
Example: Yards of Concrete for a 12 × 10 ft Slab
Suppose you are pouring a 12 ft × 10 ft patio slab at the standard 4-inch thickness.
Step 1 — depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft. Step 2 — cubic feet: 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 cu ft. Step 3 — cubic yards: 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³.
Order 1.75 yd³ to allow roughly 10% for uneven subgrade and spillage. At $150–$180 per yard delivered, the concrete costs about $265–$315. The same math works for landscaping materials: that identical 120 sq ft footprint needs 1.11 yd³ of mulch at 3 inches deep or 0.74 yd³ of topsoil at 2 inches deep.
How Many Cubic Feet in a Cubic Yard?
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard. If you are asking how many cubic feet in a yard, that is the same question — a yard is 3 feet, and volume needs all three dimensions cubed: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
This is the conversion people get wrong most often, because the instinct is to divide by 3. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. To go the other way, multiply by 27.
The same logic applies one step down: a cubic foot is 12 × 12 × 12 = 1,728 cubic inches, not 12.
In metric, one cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters, since a yard is exactly 0.9144 m and 0.9144³ = 0.764554858.
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|
| 27 cu ft | 1 | 0.765 |
| 54 cu ft | 2 | 1.529 |
| 100 cu ft | 3.704 | 2.832 |
| 135 cu ft | 5 | 3.823 |
| 270 cu ft | 10 | 7.646 |
| 405 cu ft | 15 | 11.468 |
| 540 cu ft | 20 | 15.291 |
| 810 cu ft | 30 | 22.937 |
How Big Is a Cubic Yard?
How much is a cubic yard? It is a cube measuring 3 ft on every side — roughly the size of a large household washing machine, or a box you could just about sit inside.
Some reference points:
- 27 cubic feet of volume
- About 202 US gallons if it held liquid
- Roughly 202 five-gallon buckets
- About 9 to 14 wheelbarrow loads, since a standard contractor wheelbarrow holds 2 to 3 cubic feet
Spread across an area, one cubic yard covers:
- 324 sq ft at 1 inch deep
- 162 sq ft at 2 inches deep
- 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep
- 81 sq ft at 4 inches deep
- 54 sq ft at 6 inches deep
That last set is the most useful for landscaping. A cubic yard of mulch spread 3 inches deep covers a little over 100 square feet — which is why a large garden bed often needs several yards.
Square Feet to Cubic Yards
Square footage measures area; cubic yards measure volume. Converting between them needs a depth, because volume is area multiplied by thickness.
The formula:
Cubic yards = (Square feet × Depth in feet) ÷ 27
Depth is almost always given in inches, so divide it by 12 first. For 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches deep:
1,000 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 1,000 × 0.3333 ÷ 27 = 12.35 cubic yards
A quicker version for mental estimates: cubic yards = square feet × inches of depth ÷ 324. The 324 comes from 27 × 12 and gives the same answer in one step.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 9.26 | 13.89 | 18.52 | 27.78 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 12.35 | 18.52 | 24.69 | 37.04 |
Round up when ordering. Suppliers sell in whole or half yards, and running short mid-pour is far more expensive than a little surplus.
Cubic Yards to Tons by Material
There is no single cubic-yards-to-tons conversion, because it depends entirely on what you are moving. A cubic yard of mulch and a cubic yard of concrete occupy identical space and differ in weight by roughly ten times.
The conversion is:
Tons = Cubic yards × (pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2,000)
So 10 cubic yards of gravel at 2,700 lb per yard is 10 × 1.35 = 13.5 tons.
This matters for two practical reasons. Delivery is often priced by the ton while the quantity you calculated is in yards, and vehicle or driveway load limits are expressed in weight. Ten yards of topsoil sounds modest until it turns out to weigh over 13 tons.
| Material | Pounds per cubic yard | US tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Mulch (bark) | 400 – 800 | 0.20 – 0.40 |
| Topsoil | 2,000 – 2,700 | 1.00 – 1.35 |
| Gravel | 2,400 – 2,900 | 1.20 – 1.45 |
| Sand | 2,600 – 3,000 | 1.30 – 1.50 |
| Concrete | 3,700 – 4,050 | 1.85 – 2.02 |
Ranges are typical dry weights and vary with moisture, compaction, and aggregate size. Wet material can weigh 20% more. Confirm with your supplier before ordering by weight, especially for anything load-bearing or delivered by the ton.
Dumpster Sizes in Cubic Yards
Roll-off dumpsters are sized in cubic yards, which is why the arithmetic above is worth knowing before you rent one:
- 10 cubic yard = 270 cubic feet, typically for small renovations or concrete and dirt
- 15 cubic yard = 405 cubic feet
- 20 cubic yard = 540 cubic feet, a common whole-house cleanout size
- 30 cubic yard = 810 cubic feet, for construction debris and larger projects
Two cautions worth pricing in. Heavy debris like concrete, soil, and roofing shingles usually carries a weight limit well below the container’s volume, so a 10-yard dumpster of concrete may hit its tonnage cap while looking half empty. And volume in a dumpster is rarely used efficiently, since irregular debris leaves air gaps — estimate your waste in cubic yards, then size up one step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27. A yard is 3 feet, and volume cubes all three dimensions: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27 — not by 3, which is the most common mistake.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches deep: 1,000 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 12.35 cubic yards. A one-step shortcut is square feet × inches of depth ÷ 324.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cube 3 ft on each side — 27 cubic feet, or about 202 US gallons of volume. Roughly the size of a large washing machine, and about 9 to 14 contractor wheelbarrow loads.
How many cubic yards is a ton?
It depends on the material. A ton of mulch is about 2.5 to 5 cubic yards, a ton of gravel roughly 0.7 to 0.8 cubic yards, and a ton of concrete about 0.5 cubic yards. Weight per cubic yard ranges from around 400 lb for bark mulch to over 4,000 lb for concrete.
How many cubic feet are in a yard of mulch?
How many cubic feet in a yard of mulch? 27 — the same as any cubic yard, because the material does not change the volume. Since bagged mulch is usually sold in 2 cubic foot bags, one cubic yard equals about 13.5 bags.
How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost?
Pricing varies by region, mix, and delivery distance, so get a local quote. What the calculator gives you is the quantity: multiply your cubic yards by the quoted price per yard, and add 5–10% since suppliers charge for short loads and running out mid-pour means a cold joint.
How many cubic yards is a 10 yard dumpster?
Ten cubic yards, or 270 cubic feet. Note that heavy debris such as concrete, soil, and shingles usually hits a weight limit before the container is full, so a 10-yard dumpster of concrete may cap out looking half empty.
How do you calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. For example, a 12 × 10 ft area 4 inches deep is 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 cubic feet, and 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. A yard is 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. That equals 13.5 standard 2-cubic-foot mulch bags or nine 3-cubic-foot bags.
How many cubic yards of concrete do I need for a 10x10 slab?
A 10 × 10 ft slab needs 1.23 cubic yards of concrete at 4 inches thick, or 1.85 cubic yards at 6 inches thick. Order about 10% extra — 1.5 yards for the 4-inch slab — to cover uneven ground and spillage.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches, and 81 sq ft at 4 inches. Divide 324 by your depth in inches to get coverage in square feet.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is about 9–14 wheelbarrow loads: 13.5 loads with a common 2-cubic-foot wheelbarrow, or 9 loads with a larger 3-cubic-foot contractor model. Plan on 14 trips if you heap loads conservatively.