How to use the cubic yard calculator
- Pick a shape. A box covers beds, slabs, trenches and pits. A cylinder covers round holes, tubes and columns. Several parts adds up as many boxes as you like.
- Enter each measurement in the unit you measured in. Each box has its own unit menu, so you can enter length in feet and depth in inches without converting anything.
- Read the answer in cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic metres and litres. Then carry it to the gravel or concrete calculator to turn it into tons or bags.
The cubic yard formula
Box: cubic feet = length × width × height (all in feet)
Cylinder: cubic feet = π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × height
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
The only trick is getting every measurement into feet first: divide inches by 12, multiply yards by 3, and divide metres by 0.3048. The calculator does this for you.
Worked example
A bed 12 ft × 8 ft, filled 4 inches deep
- 4 inches = 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft.
- 12 × 8 × 0.333 = 32 cu ft.
- 32 ÷ 27 = 1.185 cubic yards.
A round hole 12 in across and 4 in deep
Radius 0.5 ft. π × 0.5² × 0.333 = 0.262 cu ft, or 0.0097 cubic yards. Small round holes add up slowly, which is why post holes are usually counted in bags, not yards.
Quick conversion table
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 cu yd | 0.46 cu yd | 0.62 cu yd | 0.93 cu yd |
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 cu yd | 0.93 cu yd | 1.23 cu yd | 1.85 cu yd |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 cu yd | 1.85 cu yd | 2.47 cu yd | 3.70 cu yd |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 cu yd | 4.63 cu yd | 6.17 cu yd | 9.26 cu yd |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 cu yd | 9.26 cu yd | 12.35 cu yd | 18.52 cu yd |
Unit conversions
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.765 cubic metres = 765 litres = about 202 US gallons
- 1 cubic metre = 35.31 cubic feet = 1.308 cubic yards
- 1 cubic foot = 1,728 cubic inches = 28.3 litres = 7.48 US gallons
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing units in one multiplication. 12 ft × 8 ft × 4 in is not 384 of anything useful. Convert the 4 inches to feet first.
- Dividing by 9 instead of 27. 9 converts square feet to square yards. Volume needs 27.
- Using the diameter as the radius. The cylinder formula needs half the diameter.
- Forgetting extra. This tool gives exact volume. Add 5 to 10% when ordering material.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Convert every measurement to feet, multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A space 12 ft long, 8 ft wide and 4 inches (0.333 ft) deep is 32 cubic feet, which is 1.185 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27. A yard is 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep: 100 × 0.25 = 25 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards. A quick rule: at 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft.
How many cubic metres are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic metres, and one cubic metre is about 1.31 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends entirely on the material: roughly 0.3 tons for mulch, 1.1 for topsoil, 1.4 for gravel and about 2 for concrete. Use the gravel or concrete calculator to convert to weight.