Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert any box or cylinder to cubic yards — the unit used for concrete, soil, mulch, gravel and sand deliveries. Pick a material to see its approximate weight too.
To calculate cubic yards, multiply length × width × height in feet and divide by 27. For example, 10 ft × 10 ft × 0.5 ft = 50 cubic feet = 1.85 cubic yards. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet or 0.7646 cubic meters.
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What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high — 27 cubic feet. It is the standard unit for bulk concrete, topsoil, mulch, sand and gravel deliveries.
cylinder: cubic yards = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height (ft) ÷ 27
Use any unit above — the calculator converts everything to feet first. If you measure in inches, divide the total cubic inches by 46,656 (the number of cubic inches in a cubic yard).
Cubic yards for common depths
Cubic yards needed per 100 square feet of area at each depth:
| Depth | Cubic yards per 100 sq ft | Sq ft covered by 1 yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 | 324 |
| 2 in | 0.62 | 162 |
| 3 in | 0.93 | 108 |
| 4 in | 1.23 | 81 |
| 6 in | 1.85 | 54 |
| 12 in | 3.70 | 27 |
Volume formulas for other shapes
| Shape | Volume |
|---|---|
| Box | length × width × height |
| Cylinder | π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height |
| Cone | ⅓ × π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height |
| Pyramid | ⅓ × length × width × height |
| Hemisphere | ⅔ × π × (diameter ÷ 2)³ |
| Hollow cylinder (pipe, ring) | π × (outer radius² − inner radius²) × length |
Piles of loose material such as a mound of soil or gravel are best treated as a cone: measure the base diameter and the height, then use the cone option.
Worked examples
Garden bed: a 30 × 20 ft bed topped with 3 inches (0.25 ft) of compost holds 30 × 20 × 0.25 = 150 cubic feet, which is 150 ÷ 27 = 5.56 cubic yards.
Round pond or pit: a circular hole 12 ft across and 2 ft deep has π × 6² × 2 = 226 cubic feet, or 8.38 cubic yards of soil to haul away.
Gravel pile: a conical pile 8 ft across and 3 ft tall holds ⅓ × π × 4² × 3 = 50.3 cubic feet, about 1.86 cubic yards.
Which material needs which conversion?
Sellers quote different units for different materials, which is why the same yard of material can be priced three ways:
- Concrete is priced per cubic yard (ready-mix) or per bag (premix) — see the concrete calculator.
- Gravel and sand are priced per ton or per cubic yard.
- Mulch and topsoil are priced per cubic yard in bulk, or per cubic foot in bags.
Quick reference
| Unit | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 cubic feet |
| 1 cubic yard | 0.7646 cubic meters |
| 1 cubic yard | 201.97 US gallons |
| 1 cubic meter | 1.3080 cubic yards |
| 1 cubic yard | 46,656 cubic inches |
Cubic yards to tons
Weight depends on the material: topsoil about 1.1 tons per yard, gravel about 1.4, dry sand about 1.3, concrete about 2, and shredded mulch only about half a ton. Pick a material in the menu above for an estimate, or use the dedicated gravel, sand or topsoil calculators.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × height in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. If depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide the number of cubic feet by 27. For example, 54 cubic feet is 2 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards is a dump truck?
A single-axle dump truck holds about 5–6 cubic yards; a tandem-axle truck holds 10–14 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards are in a ton?
It depends on the material. A ton of gravel is roughly 0.7 cubic yards; a ton of dry sand about 0.77; a ton of topsoil about 0.9. Use the material menu above.
How many cubic yards of dirt do I need?
Multiply the area (sq ft) by the depth (ft) and divide by 27. For example, 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches deep is 12.3 cubic yards.
How do I convert inches to cubic yards?
Choose Inches in the unit menu and enter all three dimensions in inches. The calculator divides by 46,656 internally.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
A standard 6 cu ft wheelbarrow holds about a quarter yard when level, so a cubic yard is roughly 4–5 full loads.
Sources and further reading
- NIST Special Publication 811: conversion factors — National Institute of Standards and Technology
These references support the general guidance on this page. The calculator applies the standard formulas shown above to the numbers you enter.
Related calculators
. Estimates only. Always confirm quantities with your supplier or a qualified contractor before ordering, and add extra for waste and site conditions.