How to convert to cubic yards
Bulk landscape and building materials are sold by the cubic yard. To find out how many you need, measure the space you're filling, convert every measurement to feet, multiply them together, and divide by 27.
Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 12
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Example: a 10 × 10 ft raised bed filled 6 inches deep is 10 × 10 × 6 ÷ 12 = 50 cubic feet. Divided by 27, that's 1.85 cubic yards.
Cubic yard conversions
| 1 cubic yard equals | |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 |
| Cubic meters | 0.765 |
| Liters | 765 |
| US gallons | 202 |
| 2 cu ft bags | 13.5 |
Area covered by one cubic yard
| Depth | Area covered |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
Material-specific calculators
Volume is the same for any material, but weight and packaging differ. For a full materials list, use the calculator for your material:
- Concrete: cubic yards plus bag counts
- Gravel: cubic yards plus tons
- Mulch: bags vs bulk
- Asphalt: tons for driveways
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet. Then divide by 27, because a cubic yard is 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
A cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches and 81 square feet at 4 inches.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, roughly the size of a washing machine. A standard pickup truck bed holds about 1.5 to 2 cubic yards of light material like mulch, but far less of heavy material like gravel because of weight limits.
Is a yard the same as a cubic yard?
When landscape and building suppliers talk about "a yard" of soil, mulch, gravel or concrete, they mean a cubic yard. A linear yard (3 feet long) is a different measurement.