Cubic yard calculator
How many cubic yards for any area and depth, with tons and cost if you know the weight and price.
Your material adds up to
1.23 cubic yards
- Cubic feet
- 33.3 cu ft
- Cubic meters
- 0.94 m³
- Weight
- tons
- Estimated cost
For 100 sq ft, including the extra you set.
How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Find the volume in cubic feet, then divide by 27.
- Area = length × width (or 3.1416 × radius² for a circle), in square feet
- Cubic feet = area × depth in feet (inches ÷ 12), plus your extra percentage
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Tons = cubic yards × the material's tons per cubic yard
Worked example
A 10 ft × 10 ft area, 4 inches deep: 100 sq ft × 4 ÷ 12 = 33.33 cu ft. 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Convert cubic feet to cubic yards
Already know the volume? Convert between cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic inches and cubic meters.
Cubic yard conversions and coverage
| Volume | Cubic feet | Cubic inches | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cubic yard | 27 | 46,656 | 0.764555 |
| 1 cubic foot | 1 | 1,728 | 0.028317 |
How much area one cubic yard covers
Useful for spreading soil, mulch, gravel or compost. Coverage doesn't depend on the material, only the depth.
| Depth | Square feet per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 |
| 2 in | 162 |
| 3 in | 108 |
| 4 in | 81 |
| 6 in | 54 |
| 12 in | 27 |
Cubic yard questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A yard is 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Spread out, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For example, 500 square feet at 3 inches deep is 500 × 3 ÷ 12 ÷ 27 = 4.63 cubic yards. Choose "Square feet" above to do this directly.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material's weight in tons per cubic yard. Weights vary a lot: typical gravel is 1.35 to 1.50 tons per cubic yard, and wet soil or sand is heavier than dry. Ask your supplier for their figure and enter it as the weight above, or use the gravel calculator for gravel.
How much does a cubic yard cost?
It depends entirely on the material and where you live, so get a price per yard from your supplier and enter it above. Delivery is often charged separately, and many suppliers have a minimum order.
Should I order extra?
Usually. Adding 5 to 10% covers uneven ground and spillage. Loose material like soil or mulch settles, and gravel base compacts, so ask your supplier how much to add for your job.