About this calculator
Bulk materials — concrete, topsoil, fill dirt, mulch, compost and gravel — are sold by the cubic yard, a cube 3 ft on each side (27 cubic feet). This calculator converts the length, width and depth of any rectangular space into cubic yards, whatever units you measure in.
For material-specific answers, such as bags of concrete or tons of gravel, see the related calculators below.
How to use it
- Enter the length and width of the area.
- Enter the depth (or height) — depths are usually easiest in inches.
- If you have several identical areas, such as matching garden beds, enter the number of areas.
- Optionally enter the price per cubic yard to estimate cost.
The formula
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Cubic meters = cubic yards × 0.7646
Depth measured in inches must be divided by 12 to convert to feet first: 10 × 10 ft at 6 in deep is 10 × 10 × 0.5 = 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards. The calculator does these conversions automatically.
Worked example
These are the calculator’s starting values and the results they produce:
| Length | 10 ft |
|---|---|
| Width | 10 ft |
| Depth or height | 6 in |
| Number of identical areas | 1 |
| Price per cubic yard (optional) | $0.00 |
Tips before you buy
- Round up when ordering: suppliers usually sell in half- or whole-yard increments.
- Loose materials settle or compact — add 10–15% for fill, topsoil and gravel bases.
- For circular areas, multiply the radius squared by 3.14 to get the area, then multiply by depth.
- A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — about 5 heaped loads in a 6 cu ft wheelbarrow, or 9 easier 3 cu ft loads.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 12 × 12 ft area 4 in (0.333 ft) deep is 48 cubic feet, or 1.78 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
It depends on depth: 324 sq ft at 1 in, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in.