Cubic Yard Calculator
Enter your area's length and width and how deep you're filling it — the result updates instantly in cubic yards.
To find cubic yards, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27, because one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first to convert it to feet. Add 5–10% for waste when ordering.
How to Use This Calculator
Measure the length and width of the area in feet and enter them in the first two fields. Then enter how deep you want to fill the space and choose whether that depth is in inches or feet — most landscaping and concrete depths are given in inches, so inches is the default.
The result appears instantly in cubic yards, which is how bulk materials like concrete, gravel, topsoil and mulch are sold and delivered. The optional waste margin adds a percentage on top so you don't come up short after compaction, spillage or uneven ground.
How the Calculation Works
Volume is simply length times width times depth, which gives an answer in cubic feet. A cubic yard is a cube three feet on each side, so it contains 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Dividing your cubic-feet figure by 27 converts it to cubic yards.
The only step people miss is the depth unit. Four inches is not four feet — it is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet. The calculator handles that conversion for you when you choose 'inches'.
cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth ft) ÷ 27
Worked Example
Say you are pouring a slab 12 feet long, 10 feet wide and 4 inches deep. First convert the depth: 4 inches ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet. Then the volume is 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and you get 1.48 cubic yards.
Concrete is ordered in whole or quarter yards and you always want a little extra, so adding a 10% waste margin brings it to 1.63 cubic yards — you would order 1.75 yards.
What the Result Means
The number is the volume of material you need to fill the space you measured. For ready-mix concrete, suppliers deliver by the cubic yard and short loads cost a premium, so rounding up is cheaper than a second delivery.
For gravel, topsoil or mulch, cubic yards convert to weight differently for each material — roughly 1.4 tons per yard for gravel, 1.1 for topsoil and much less for mulch — so ask your supplier for their density if you are buying by weight.
Assumptions and Limitations
- Assumes a rectangular area of uniform depth — for irregular shapes, split the area into rectangles and add the results
- The 27 divisor is exact; results are rounded to two decimal places for display
- Waste margin is a buffer, not a guarantee — very uneven ground may need more
- Weight conversions depend on the specific material and its moisture content
Who Uses a Cubic Yard Calculator
Contractors, landscapers, and DIY homeowners reach for this before ordering concrete, gravel, topsoil, or mulch by the truckload. Use it whenever a supplier quotes material by the cubic yard and you know the length, width, and depth of the space to fill — a patio slab, a driveway base, a garden bed, or a backfill trench. Getting the yardage right the first time avoids a costly short-load return trip or paying for material you never use.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27. A cubic yard is a cube measuring three feet on every side, and 3 × 3 × 3 equals 27 cubic feet. That is why you divide a cubic-feet volume by 27 to get cubic yards.
How do I convert inches of depth to feet?
Divide the inches by 12. So 4 inches is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet, and 6 inches is 0.5 feet. The calculator does this automatically when you select 'inches' as the depth unit.
How much extra material should I order?
Most contractors add 5–10% for waste from spillage, compaction and uneven ground. For concrete, ordering a little over is far cheaper than paying for a second short-load delivery.
How many cubic yards does a bag of concrete make?
An 80-pound bag of premixed concrete yields about 0.022 cubic yards, so roughly 45 bags make one cubic yard. For anything over about half a yard, ready-mix delivery is usually cheaper and easier.
What is the difference between a yard and a cubic yard?
A yard is a length — three feet. A cubic yard is a volume — a cube one yard on each side, equal to 27 cubic feet. Bulk materials are sold by the cubic yard, not the yard.
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