A cubic yard is a box 3 ft on each side: 27 cubic feet. Most bulk landscaping and concrete is priced by the yard, so this is the number your supplier will ask for.
Cubic yard calculator
For anything sold by the yard: concrete, topsoil, gravel, mulch, fill dirt.
Enter your numbers to see the result.
The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) x width (ft) x depth (ft) / 27.
Depth is usually measured in inches, so divide it by 12 first. A bed 12 x 10 ft filled 6 in deep is 12 x 10 x 0.5 = 60 cu ft, or 2.22 cubic yards.
Handy numbers
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
These come straight from 27 cubic feet x 12 inches = 324, divided by the depth in inches.
Yards to tons
Stone, sand and soil are often sold by the ton. The weight of a yard changes with the material and how wet it is, so ask your supplier for their tons-per-yard figure and use the gravel calculator, which converts for you.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
- A cubic yard is 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft.
How do I measure an odd-shaped area?
Split it into rectangles and triangles, work out each one, and add them up. The square footage calculator does this for up to four shapes.
How much does a cubic yard cover?
324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in and 108 sq ft at 3 in.