Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert length, width and depth into cubic yards of material and cost.
Use this calculator to find how many cubic yards of soil, mulch, gravel or concrete you need. Bulk materials are sold by the cubic yard, so converting your area and depth into yards prevents over- or under-ordering.
The math behind it
First find the volume in cubic feet: length × width × depth (all in feet).
Then convert: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27.
Because depth is usually given in inches, the calculator divides it by 12 to convert to feet first.
Worked example
A 10 ft × 10 ft area filled 4 in deep: volume = 10 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 33.33 ft³ cubic yards = 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.23 yd³.
FAQ
How many cubic feet in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
Why order by the cubic yard?
Soil, gravel, sand and concrete are delivered loose in bulk, and a cubic yard is the standard truck/order unit.