How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, which holds 27 cubic feet. To find cubic yards:
- Measure length, width and depth.
- Convert all three to feet. Divide inches by 12.
- Multiply them together to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27.
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27
Example: a 10 × 10 ft area, 4 inches deep: 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.3 cubic feet. 33.3 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Circles and triangles
- Circle: area = 3.1416 × (diameter ÷ 2)². Multiply by depth and divide by 27.
- Triangle: area = base × height ÷ 2. Multiply by depth and divide by 27.
For an L-shaped or irregular area, split it into rectangles and triangles, calculate each one, then add them up.
Cubic yard conversions
| 1 cubic yard equals | Value |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 |
| Cubic meters | 0.765 |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 |
| Liters | 764.6 |
| 2 ft³ bags | 13.5 |
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
| Material | Approx. weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.4 tons (2,800 lb) |
| Sand | 1.35 tons (2,700 lb) |
| Topsoil | 1.1 tons (2,200 lb) |
| Concrete | 2 tons (4,000 lb) |
| Mulch | 0.4 tons (800 lb) |
Weights vary with moisture and grade. A standard pickup truck bed holds about 2 cubic yards of mulch but often only about 1 cubic yard of gravel or soil because of the weight.
Other calculators
Photos: ManelTor, dankeck, Burnt Pineapple Productions, Simulina, hyunjjac32 and ArchesNPS on Flickr (public domain / CC0).
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because a cubic yard measures 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For depth in inches, multiply square feet by inches and divide by 324.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.7 cubic yards, since a cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.4 tons.
Last updated: November 8, 2026