Cubic Yard Calculator

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to a cube measuring 3 feet on each side (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft). It contains 27 cubic feet or approximately 0.765 cubic meters. Cubic yards are commonly used in construction and landscaping to measure materials like concrete, gravel, mulch, and topsoil.

Multiply the length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. For example, a 12 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep = 12 × 10 × 0.25 = 30 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.11 cubic yards.

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. This is because a yard is 3 feet, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, simply divide your cubic foot value by 27.

Yes — it's generally recommended to add 10–15% extra to your calculated volume. Loose materials like mulch and topsoil can compress or settle after installation, and having a small surplus avoids a second trip or delivery.

Square yards measure flat area (length × width) with no depth component, while cubic yards measure three-dimensional volume (length × width × depth). You need cubic yards when ordering bulk materials so the depth of coverage is accounted for.

Absolutely. Enter the length, width, and depth (thickness) of your slab or footing, and the calculator will output the cubic yards of concrete needed. Most ready-mix concrete is ordered and priced by the cubic yard.

Weight varies by material: mulch weighs roughly 400–800 lbs per cubic yard, topsoil about 1,400–2,000 lbs, sand or gravel around 2,500–3,000 lbs, and concrete approximately 4,000 lbs. This calculator provides an estimated weight based on your selected material type.

For irregular shapes, break the area into multiple rectangles, calculate each separately, and add the results together. For circular areas, use the formula π × radius² for the area and then multiply by depth. You can run this calculator multiple times and add the results.