Cubic Yard Calculator
Enter the length, width and depth of the area to get the cubic yards you need for soil, mulch, gravel, sand or concrete.
How the cubic yard calculator works
Soil, mulch, gravel, sand and ready-mix concrete are usually sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard is a cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high, which is 27 cubic feet.
Measure the length and width in feet and the depth in inches. The calculator multiplies the three to get cubic feet, divides by 27 and adds an allowance for waste, spillage and uneven ground. If you have several identical areas, enter the number of areas. For irregular shapes, split the area into rectangles, calculate each one and add the results.
The formulas
Example: A 10 ft by 10 ft area that is 4 inches deep holds 33.33 cubic feet, which is 1.23 cubic yards. Adding 5% for waste gives 1.30 cubic yards to order. In cubic meters the exact volume is about 0.94.
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Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft = 27 cubic feet.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length by width by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first.
How much extra should I order?
A small allowance such as 5 to 10% covers waste and uneven ground. Your supplier can advise on the right amount for your material.
Can I use this for concrete?
Yes, the volume maths is the same. Ask your concrete supplier about minimum order sizes and how much to order for your slab.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
It depends on the material. For gravel use our gravel calculator, which converts cubic yards to tons using a density you can change.
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