Quick answer
To find cubic yards, multiply the length, width and depth in feet, then divide by 27, since a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. A 10 ft by 10 ft area at 4 in deep is 10 x 10 x 4 / 12 = 33.33 cubic feet, which is 33.33 / 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
How to use the cubic yard calculator
- Enter the length and width of the area, and the depth.
- Pick a material if you want the weight, such as concrete, gravel, soil or mulch.
- Add a waste allowance for uneven ground, and a price per cubic yard for the cost.
- Read the cubic yards, cubic metres, weight and cost.
- Depth can be in inches or centimetres, and the result shows yards and metres together.
Worked example
A patio base is 10 ft long, 10 ft wide and 4 in deep.
- 1.Depth in feet: 4 / 12 = 0.333 ft
- 2.Cubic feet: 10 x 10 x 4 / 12 = 33.33
- 3.Cubic yards: 33.33 / 27 = 1.23
- 4.With 10% for uneven ground: 1.235 x 1.10 = 1.36 cubic yards
When to use this
The formula
Cubic yards come from one division:
cubic yards = length (ft) x width (ft) x depth (ft) / 27.
A cubic yard is a block three feet on each side, which is 27 cubic feet. Depth in inches is divided by 12 to get feet first. The result is also shown in cubic metres, where one cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic metres.
Cubic yards per 100 square feet by depth
Multiply by your area in hundreds of square feet to get the cubic yards.
| Depth | Cubic yards per 100 sq ft |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 |
| 2 in | 0.62 |
| 3 in | 0.93 |
| 4 in | 1.23 |
| 6 in | 1.85 |
| 12 in | 3.70 |
Swipe sideways to see all columns
Ordering by volume or by weight
Suppliers sell bulk material in two ways: by volume, in cubic yards or cubic metres, and by weight, in tons or tonnes. The calculator gives both, so you can compare quotes on the same footing. Loose material delivered by the truck is usually priced by volume or weight and is cheaper per unit, which suits large jobs like a driveway or a slab. For a small job, bulk bags, often around three quarters of a cubic yard, or small bagged quantities are easier to handle even though they cost more per unit. Order a little over the figure, since material settles and the ground is rarely perfectly level, and round up to the supplier's nearest step, which is often a quarter of a yard.
Common mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Multiply length, width and depth in feet and divide by 27. For a 10 ft by 10 ft area at 4 in deep, that is 10 x 10 x 0.333 / 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, because a cubic yard is three feet wide, three feet long and three feet high, and 3 x 3 x 3 is 27. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27.
It depends on the material. As a rough guide per cubic yard: gravel about 1.4 tons, sand about 1.35 tons, topsoil about 1.1 tons, mulch about 0.5 tons, and concrete about 2 tons. Moisture changes the weight, so treat these as estimates.
Work out the area to cover and the depth, then read the cubic yards. For a garden bed, 3 to 4 in of topsoil is common, and the calculator shows the yards and the weight so you can order by either.
Multiply the slab length, width and thickness in feet and divide by 27. A 10 ft by 10 ft slab at 4 in is 1.23 cubic yards, or 1.36 with 10% extra, and most suppliers sell in quarter-yard steps, so you would order 1.5 yards.
References. The formulas and figures here follow standard construction references. See our Methodology for how we check them. Volume and area maths use standard geometry (a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet).
Related calculators
Estimates only. Check supplier specs and local codes before you order or build.