Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate the volume of materials in cubic yards for landscaping, concrete, gravel, topsoil, sand, and mulch. Supports rectangular and cylindrical volumes with mixed units.
Dimensions
Material details & Waste
(Optional)Estimated Volume
To fill your area, you will need a volume of 1.02 cubic yards.
Why calculate cubic yards?
Whether you are laying a concrete patio, spreading mulch in garden beds, grading a driveway with gravel, or importing topsoil for a new lawn, materials are almost always sold and delivered in cubic yards (often referred to as simply “yards” by suppliers).
Ordering bulk materials by the yard is significantly cheaper than buying individual bags at a home center. However, ordering the wrong amount can be costly: order too little, and you pay extra delivery fees for a second trip; order too much, and you are left with a massive pile of material to dispose of. Our calculator helps you find the exact volume you need, handles mixed units, and lets you add a waste safety margin.
How to calculate cubic yards by hand
If you want to perform the volume calculations manually, you can use the formulas below. The easiest method is to convert all measurements to feet before multiplying.
1. Rectangular volumes (slabs, driveways, garden beds)
First, measure the length and width of the area, as well as the depth (or thickness) of the material.
- Convert all dimensions to feet (divide inches by 12, multiply yards by 3).
- Multiply Length by Width by Depth to find the volume in cubic feet.
- Divide the cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Example: Suppose you need to fill a garden bed that is 18 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 inches deep with mulch:
- Length = 18 ft
- Width = 6 ft
- Depth = 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- Volume (cu. ft.) = 18 × 6 × 0.333 = 36 cu. ft.
- Volume (cu. yd.) = 36 ÷ 27 = 1.33 cubic yards
2. Cylindrical volumes (round patios, columns, cylinders)
For circular projects, you will need the diameter (the distance across the center of the circle) and the depth.
- Convert all dimensions to feet.
- Find the radius (Diameter ÷ 2).
- Calculate the surface area in square feet:
Area = π × radius²(where π ≈ 3.14159). - Multiply the area by the depth to find the volume in cubic feet.
- Divide the cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Example: Suppose you are filling a circular fire pit area that has a diameter of 12 feet, to a depth of 3 inches with decorative pebbles:
- Diameter = 12 ft (radius = 6 ft)
- Depth = 3 inches ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft
- Area = 3.14159 × 6² = 113.1 sq. ft.
- Volume (cu. ft.) = 113.1 × 0.25 = 28.27 cu. ft.
- Volume (cu. yd.) = 28.27 ÷ 27 = 1.05 cubic yards
Common volume conversions
When working on construction or landscaping projects, you may need to convert between different units of volume. Here is a handy reference table:
| From | To | Conversion Factor / Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cubic Yard | Cubic Feet | 27 cu. ft. |
| 1 Cubic Yard | Cubic Inches | 46,656 cu. in. |
| 1 Cubic Yard | Cubic Meters | 0.7646 m³ |
| 1 Cubic Yard | Liters | 764.55 L |
| 1 Cubic Yard | US Gallons | 201.97 gal |
| 1 Cubic Yard | 2-cubic-foot Bags | 13.5 bags |
| 1 Cubic Yard | 3-cubic-foot Bags | 9 bags |
Practical material weight estimates
Different materials have different densities, meaning a cubic yard of one material weighs significantly more than another. Here are the typical weights you can expect:
- Concrete: ~4,050 lbs (2.0 tons) per cubic yard. Concrete is extremely heavy; standard trailers or pickup trucks can usually only carry a fraction of a yard.
- Gravel / Crushed Stone: ~2,800 lbs (1.4 tons) per cubic yard.
- Sand: ~2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) per cubic yard.
- Topsoil / Dirt: ~2,200 lbs (1.1 tons) per cubic yard when dry. Wet dirt weighs much more.
- Mulch / Wood Chips: ~600 to 800 lbs (0.3 to 0.4 tons) per cubic yard.
- Decorative Stone / Pebbles: ~2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) per cubic yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this calculator.
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume in the imperial system, representing the volume of a cube with side dimensions of exactly 1 yard (3 feet, or 36 inches). One cubic yard is equivalent to 27 cubic feet, 46,656 cubic inches, or approximately 0.7646 cubic meters. It is the standard unit of measurement in North America for ordering bulk materials like concrete, gravel, topsoil, sand, and mulch.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
To calculate cubic yards, first measure the length, width, and depth of your space. Convert all dimensions to feet, multiply them together to find the cubic feet, and then divide by 27. The formula is: Cubic Yards = (Length in feet × Width in feet × Depth in feet) ÷ 27. For cylindrical volumes, calculate the circle's square footage first: π × (Diameter ÷ 2)², then multiply by the depth in feet and divide by 27.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. This is because a cubic yard is 3 feet long by 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep (3 × 3 × 3 = 27).
How many bags of mulch or topsoil make a cubic yard?
Since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, the number of bags depends on the volume per bag. For standard 2.0 cubic foot bags of mulch or soil, you will need 13.5 (round up to 14) bags. For 3.0 cubic foot bags, you need exactly 9 bags. For smaller 1.5 cubic foot bags, you need 18 bags to make a full cubic yard.
How do I calculate cubic yards of concrete?
To find concrete requirements, calculate the cubic yards of the slab, footings, or columns. For a standard rectangular slab, multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Thickness (ft) and divide by 27. For example, a 10 ft × 10 ft patio slab that is 4 inches (0.33 feet) thick requires 33.3 cubic feet of concrete, which is 33.3 ÷ 27 ≈ 1.23 cubic yards. It is highly recommended to add a 10% waste margin (ordering 1.4 cubic yards total) to account for spillage, ground unevenness, or form deflection.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of dry gravel weighs approximately 2,800 pounds (1.4 tons). The exact weight depends on the stone type, dampness, and gradation size. Standard crushed stone ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard. Knowing this weight is crucial for determining if your truck or trailer can safely carry a bulk load.
How do I calculate cubic yards for a cylindrical volume?
To calculate the cubic yards of a cylinder (such as a round pool pad, fire pit area, or round garden bed), first calculate the area of the circle in square feet using the formula: Area = π × (Diameter ÷ 2)². Then, multiply this area by the depth in feet to get the volume in cubic feet. Finally, divide the total cubic feet by 27 to get the volume in cubic yards.