Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert length, width and depth into cubic yards and cubic feet for concrete, gravel, soil or mulch, and estimate the weight in tons for common materials.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Cubic yards
- 1.85 cu yd
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
- Cubic feet
- 50 cu ft
- Length x Width x 6 in depth
- Area covered
- 100 sq ft
- At 6 in deep
Cubic Yard formula
Cubic feet = Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (in) / 12
Cubic yards = Cubic feet / 27
Tons = Cubic yards x density (concrete 2.0, gravel 1.4, sand 1.3, topsoil 1.1, mulch 0.4)Worked example
A 30 x 12 ft driveway to be covered with 4 in of gravel: 30 x 12 x (4 / 12) = 120 cubic feet. 120 / 27 = 4.44 cubic yards. At 1.4 tons per yard that is about 6.2 tons of gravel.
Two raised beds each 8 x 4 ft filled 12 in deep: 8 x 4 x 1 x 2 = 64 cubic feet, or 2.37 cubic yards of soil. At 1.1 tons per yard, about 2.6 tons.
Quick reference
| Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 8.3 | 0.31 |
| 2 in | 16.7 | 0.62 |
| 3 in | 25.0 | 0.93 |
| 4 in | 33.3 | 1.23 |
| 6 in | 50.0 | 1.85 |
| 12 in | 100.0 | 3.70 |
How to calculate cubic yards
Measure length and width in feet and depth in inches. Multiply length by width for the area, multiply by depth divided by 12 for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 10 by 10 foot area 6 inches deep is 100 x 0.5 = 50 cubic feet, or 1.85 cubic yards.
The most common mistake is forgetting to convert inches to feet: four inches is 0.333 ft, not 4. For a bed that widens or a driveway that flares at the street, measure the width every 5 ft and average the readings, or split it into rectangles and triangles.
Ordering bulk material
Bulk suppliers sell by the cubic yard and quote stone and sand by the ton; gravel runs about 1.4 tons per yard, sand 1.3, topsoil 1.1 and dry mulch 0.4. Those are loose, as delivered. Bank soil swells 20 to 30 percent when dug, so 10 yards of excavation is 12 to 13 truck yards; gravel compacts 15 to 25 percent placed, so 4 in of loose crusher run ends up about 3-1/4 in.
Yards at a landscape supply are loader buckets: most sell in half-yard steps, so 1.85 yards is a 2 yard order. A single-axle dump brings 5 to 7 yards of soil or 10 to 12 tons of stone, plus a delivery fee, typically $75 to $150. The overage depends on the material: 15 to 25 percent for anything you will compact, 15 to 20 percent for topsoil that settles, and quarter-yard batching plus a short-load fee for concrete.
Mistakes that cost money
- Landscape yards load by the bucket and sell in half-yard steps: 1.85 yards is a 2 yard order; a level bucket runs 10 percent short.
- Bank versus loose: dug soil swells 20 to 30 percent, so 10 bank yards of excavation is 12 to 13 yards on the truck.
- Gravel compacts 15 to 25 percent and screened topsoil settles 15 to 20 percent after watering; order loose yards for the finished depth plus that.
- Dumpsters are rated by weight: a 10 yard box includes 1 to 2 tons, and dirt or concrete hits that in 1 to 2 yards.
- Ready-mix batches in 1/4 yard steps with a short-load fee under 4 to 6 yards; 1.85 yards of concrete is 2 yards plus the fee.
- Two yards of wet mulch weighs about 2,000 lb and overloads a half-ton pickup; bagged, a yard is 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft.
Key facts
- One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, a cube 3 ft on each side, or 0.765 cubic meters.
- One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in.
- A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 4,000 lb, gravel 2,800 lb, sand 2,600 lb, topsoil 2,200 lb and mulch about 800 lb.
- A full-size pickup can carry about one cubic yard of mulch but only about half a yard of gravel or wet soil.
- A 10 cubic yard dumpster holds roughly the debris from a 250 sq ft deck or a small kitchen remodel.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is 3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft.
How much extra should I order when buying by the yard?
It depends on the material, not a flat 10 percent. Gravel and crusher run compact 15 to 25 percent, so order 4 in loose to end up with about 3-1/4 in. Screened topsoil settles 15 to 20 percent after the first rain, and mulch about 10 percent. Concrete is batched in 1/4 yard steps, so 1.85 yards is a 2 yard order.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
Concrete about 4,000 lb, gravel about 2,800 lb, sand about 2,600 lb, topsoil about 2,200 lb and mulch 600 to 1,000 lb depending on moisture.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
A full-size pickup bed holds about 2 to 2.5 cubic yards by volume, but the payload limit means about 1 yard of mulch or half a yard of gravel or soil.
Sources and references
- NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement (NIST)
- DGLVR Materials Calculator (tonnage per cubic yard of aggregate and fill) (Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies)
- CIP 36: Structural Lightweight Concrete (unit weight of normal-weight concrete) (NRMCA)
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Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.