Cubic Yard Calculator
Use this cubic yard calculator to estimate concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil, sand, fill dirt, landscape rock, compost, asphalt, and other bulk materials. Enter your dimensions, choose your units, add extra material, and get cubic yards, cubic feet, bags, weight, truckloads, and estimated cost.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume used for bulk materials in the United States. One cubic yard is the amount of material that fits inside a space that is 1 yard long, 1 yard wide, and 1 yard deep. Contractors, landscapers, homeowners, and suppliers commonly use cubic yards when ordering concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil, sand, fill dirt, compost, and landscape rock.
This cubic yard calculator helps answer a common question: how many cubic yards do I need? Instead of guessing, you can enter the length, width, and depth of your project and quickly calculate cubic yards for your material order.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards
To calculate cubic yards, first find the volume in cubic feet. For a rectangle or square area, multiply length by width by depth. Then divide the cubic feet by 27 because there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. This same method works for many projects, including yards of concrete, yards of gravel, yards of mulch, and yards of topsoil.
Cubic Yard Formula
The basic cubic yard formula for a rectangular area is:
Cubic yards = length × width × depth ÷ 27
Make sure length, width, and depth are all converted to feet before dividing by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide the inches by 12 to convert the depth to feet.
How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Cubic Yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. This is because one yard equals 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet, which equals 27 cubic feet. This is the most important conversion for cubic yards to cubic feet and cubic feet to cubic yards.
How to Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide the number of cubic feet by 27.
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
For example, 81 cubic feet divided by 27 equals 3 cubic yards.
How to Convert Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet
To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply the number of cubic yards by 27.
Cubic feet = cubic yards × 27
For example, 4 cubic yards multiplied by 27 equals 108 cubic feet.
How Many Bags Are in a Cubic Yard?
The number of bags in a cubic yard depends on the bag size. Since one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, divide 27 by the bag size in cubic feet. A 2 cubic foot bag covers 2 cubic feet, so one cubic yard requires about 14 bags because 27 ÷ 2 = 13.5, and you round up to the next whole bag.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Concrete
A concrete cubic yard calculator is useful for slabs, patios, sidewalks, driveways, footings, and pads. A common concrete slab depth is 4 inches, but some projects need 5 inches, 6 inches, or more depending on load, soil conditions, reinforcement, and local building requirements. Concrete is usually ordered by the cubic yard, and many people add 5% to 10% extra to avoid running short.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Gravel
A gravel cubic yard calculator helps estimate yards of gravel for driveways, walkways, drainage areas, shed pads, parking areas, and landscape projects. Gravel depth depends on the use. A walkway may need 2 to 4 inches, while a driveway often needs 4 to 6 inches or more. Gravel weight can vary by stone type and moisture, so check with your supplier before hauling large amounts.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Mulch
A mulch cubic yard calculator helps estimate yards of mulch for flower beds, tree rings, garden beds, and landscaping. Common mulch depth is 2 to 4 inches. A thinner layer may not control weeds as well, while too much mulch can hold excess moisture around plants and tree trunks.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Topsoil
A topsoil cubic yard calculator is helpful for lawns, raised beds, gardens, grading, and leveling low areas. Topsoil depth is commonly 2 to 6 inches depending on the project. New lawns, garden areas, and leveling jobs may need different depths, so measure carefully before ordering bulk material.
Cubic Yards to Tons
Converting cubic yards to tons depends on material density. Mulch is much lighter than gravel, and wet topsoil can weigh more than dry topsoil. A simple estimate is:
Tons = cubic yards × pounds per cubic yard ÷ 2000
The calculator above uses approximate pounds per cubic yard values to estimate weight and tons. Always confirm actual material weight with the supplier, especially when hauling with a pickup truck or trailer.
Common Material Depth Guide
| Project / Material | Common Depth |
|---|---|
| Mulch beds | 2 to 4 inches |
| Topsoil for lawns | 2 to 6 inches |
| Gravel walkway | 2 to 4 inches |
| Gravel driveway | 4 to 6 inches or more |
| Concrete slab | 4 to 6 inches |
| Sand base | 1 to 2 inches |
| Landscape rock | 2 to 3 inches |
| Compost | 1 to 3 inches |
Tips Before Ordering Bulk Material
- Measure the project area carefully before ordering.
- Convert inches to feet before calculating cubic feet.
- Add 5% to 15% extra for waste, settling, compaction, or uneven ground.
- Ask the supplier about minimum delivery amounts and delivery fees.
- Check weight limits before hauling gravel, concrete, sand, or soil in a pickup truck.
- For concrete projects, confirm slab thickness and reinforcement requirements before ordering.
Example Cubic Yard Calculations
Example 1: Concrete Slab
A concrete slab is 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 4 inches deep. Convert 4 inches to feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet. Cubic feet = 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.67 cubic feet. Cubic yards = 66.67 ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards. With 10% extra, you would order about 2.7 cubic yards.
Example 2: Mulch Bed
A mulch bed is 15 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 3 inches deep. Convert 3 inches to feet: 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet. Cubic feet = 15 × 8 × 0.25 = 30 cubic feet. Cubic yards = 30 ÷ 27 = 1.11 cubic yards. With 10% extra, you would order about 1.2 cubic yards.
Example 3: Gravel Driveway
A gravel driveway is 30 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 4 inches deep. Convert 4 inches to feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet. Cubic feet = 30 × 12 × 0.333 = 120 cubic feet. Cubic yards = 120 ÷ 27 = 4.44 cubic yards. With 10% extra, you would order about 4.9 cubic yards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length by width by depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Make sure all measurements are in feet before calculating.
What is the formula for cubic yards?
The formula is cubic yards = length × width × depth ÷ 27. For circular areas, calculate the circle area first, then multiply by depth and divide by 27.
How many cubic feet are in one cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27. For example, 54 cubic feet equals 2 cubic yards.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If each mulch bag contains 2 cubic feet, one cubic yard requires about 14 bags.
How many cubic yards of concrete do I need?
Measure the concrete area, multiply length by width by slab depth, and divide the cubic feet by 27. Many concrete orders include 5% to 10% extra.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need?
Multiply the gravel area by the desired depth, then divide by 27. Gravel depth depends on the project, with driveways often needing more depth than walkways.
How deep should mulch be?
Mulch is commonly spread 2 to 4 inches deep. Around trees, avoid piling mulch directly against the trunk.
How deep should gravel be for a driveway?
Gravel driveways often need 4 to 6 inches or more, depending on traffic, soil, base preparation, and stone type.
Should I order extra material?
Yes, many projects benefit from 5% to 15% extra material to account for waste, compaction, settling, uneven ground, and measurement differences.
How many cubic yards are in a pickup truck?
A small pickup may carry about 1 cubic yard, while a full-size pickup may carry about 2 cubic yards depending on bed size, weight limits, and material type.
How many cubic yards are in a dump truck?
A standard dump truck often carries about 10 to 16 cubic yards, but capacity depends on the truck and the weight of the material.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material weight per cubic yard, then divide by 2,000. Because density varies, supplier weight estimates are best.
Is a yard the same as a cubic yard?
No. A yard is a length measurement, while a cubic yard is a volume measurement. Bulk materials are usually sold by cubic yard.
