Cubic Yard Calculator
Work out cubic yards for soil, gravel, mulch, sand or concrete from feet, inches, yards or meters, with waste and cost.
Results
| Item | Value |
|---|
Quick Answer
To find cubic yards, multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 12 ft by 10 ft area, 4 inches deep, is 40 cubic feet, or 1.48 cubic yards. With 10% extra, order about 1.63 cubic yards.
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Table of Contents
- Cubic Yard Calculator
- Quick Answer
- Related Calculators
- How This Cubic Yard Calculator Works
- How to Use the Cubic Yard Calculator
- Core Formulas
- Key Terms
- Worked Example
- Real-Life Examples
- Cubic Yards vs Tons
- Cubic Yards by Area and Depth
- Common Depths
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References & Sources
How This Cubic Yard Calculator Works
Bulk materials such as topsoil, mulch, gravel, sand and concrete are sold by the cubic yard. Pick a shape, enter the sizes in any unit, and the calculator converts everything to feet and gives cubic yards.
Quick explanation: 1 cubic yard = 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet.
- Mixed units: length in feet and depth in inches is fine.
- Waste: add 5% to 10% for settling and uneven ground.
- Weight: for tons, use our Gravel Calculator.
How to Use the Cubic Yard Calculator
- Choose the shape of the area: rectangle, circle or triangle.
- Pick the unit you measured the length in, then enter the sizes.
- Pick the depth unit and enter the depth.
- Optionally, add extra for waste and a price per cubic yard.
- Press Calculate to see cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic meters and the cost.
Core Formulas
- Rectangle area: length × width
- Circle area: π × diameter² ÷ 4
- Triangle area: base × height ÷ 2
- Cubic feet: area × depth (ft)
- Cubic yards: cubic feet ÷ 27
To change inches to feet, divide by 12. One cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic meters.
Key Terms
- Cubic yard: a cube 3 ft on each side, equal to 27 cubic feet or about 0.765 cubic meters.
- Cubic foot: a cube 1 ft on each side, equal to 1,728 cubic inches.
- Bulk material: loose material such as soil, gravel or mulch, sold by volume or weight.
- Waste allowance: extra material ordered to cover settling, spills and uneven ground.
- Compaction: how much a material shrinks when packed down. Gravel and soil can lose volume when compacted.
- Depth: how thick the layer of material will be once spread.
Worked Example
You want to fill a round bed 8 ft across with soil, 6 inches deep.
- Area = π × 8² ÷ 4 = 50.27 sq ft
- Cubic feet = 50.27 × 0.5 = 25.13 cu ft
- Cubic yards = 25.13 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cu yd
Real-Life Examples
- Topsoil for a lawn: 1,000 sq ft at 4 inches deep is 12.35 cubic yards. With 10% extra, order about 13.6 cubic yards.
- A concrete patio: 12 ft by 12 ft at 4 inches is 1.78 cubic yards. Concrete suppliers often add 5% to 10% for waste.
- Raised garden beds: three beds of 8 ft by 4 ft, filled 12 inches deep, need 3.56 cubic yards of soil.
- A sandbox: 6 ft by 6 ft at 9 inches deep is 1.00 cubic yard of sand.
Cubic Yards vs Tons
- Cubic yards: measure volume, the space a material fills. Mulch and soil are often sold this way.
- Tons: measure weight. Gravel and sand are often sold by the ton.
- Converting: multiply cubic yards by the material’s weight per cubic yard. It differs by material and moisture, so ask your supplier.
- For gravel in tons: use our Gravel Calculator.
Cubic Yards by Area and Depth
Cubic yards, before any extra for waste.
| Area | 2 in | 3 in | 4 in | 6 in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 | 0.46 | 0.62 | 0.93 |
| 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 |
Common Depths
- Mulch: often 2 to 4 inches.
- Topsoil for lawns: often 4 to 6 inches.
- Gravel paths: often 2 to 4 inches.
- Concrete slabs: often 4 inches for patios.
These are rough guides. Check what suits your project.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing feet and inches. Choose the right unit for each size, or convert first.
- Dividing by 9 instead of 27. 9 converts square feet to square yards. Cubic yards need 27.
- Ordering without extra. Settling and uneven ground often use more than the exact amount.
- Guessing depth. Measure in a few spots and use the average.
- Forgetting minimum orders. Many suppliers have a minimum delivery size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Multiply length, width and depth in feet, then divide by 27.
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
One cubic yard covers about 81 square feet at 4 inches deep, or 162 square feet at 2 inches.
Change the depth to feet by dividing by 12, then multiply by the area and divide by 27.
It depends on the material. Gravel is about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so a ton is about 0.7 cubic yards.
It depends on the truck. Many hold about 10 to 15 cubic yards, but ask the supplier.
Multiply square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27.
About 162 square feet.
References & Sources
| Source | Used For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| NIST, Unit conversion | US customary volume units. | https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/unit-conversion |
| Wikipedia, Cubic yard | Definition and conversions. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_yard |