Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, and material quantities for construction, landscaping, excavation, and home improvement projects.
Example Projects
Volume Estimates
View Calculation Breakdown
Detailed Measurements Live
| Cubic Yards | 0.00 yd³ |
| Cubic Feet | 0.00 ft³ |
| Cubic Meters | 0.00 m³ |
| Total Material Weight | 0.00 tons (0 lbs) |
| Small Truckloads (~7.5 yd³) | 0.00 loads |
| Standard Truckloads (~12 yd³) | 0.00 loads |
| Large Commercial Loads (~16 yd³) | 0.00 loads |
How this was calculated:
Fill in the dimensions above to output step-by-step formula logs...
Everything behind the Cubic Yard Calculator
Formulas, reference charts, and detailed answers — expand any section you need.
Material Density Reference Chart
Average weights of common bulk materials per cubic yard:
| Material | Average Weight Per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|
| Concrete | 4,050 lbs |
| Gravel | 2,700 lbs |
| Sand | 2,700 lbs |
| Topsoil | 2,000 lbs |
| Mulch | 800 lbs |
| Fill Dirt | 2,200 lbs |
How to Use the Cubic Yard Calculator
Using the Cubic Yard Calculator is simple. Enter your project dimensions, select the project shape, choose a material type if applicable, and click Calculate.
The calculator instantly determines:
- Cubic Yards
- Cubic Feet
- Cubic Meters
- Estimated Tons
- Truckloads
- Material Cost
This information helps contractors and homeowners purchase the correct amount of material while avoiding unnecessary waste.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume commonly used in construction and landscaping in the United States. One cubic yard is equal to the volume of a space that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep.
One cubic yard equals:
- 27 cubic feet
- 0.7646 cubic meters
Many bulk materials are sold by the cubic yard, including:
- Concrete
- Gravel
- Sand
- Mulch
- Topsoil
- Fill Dirt
Understanding cubic yards is essential when ordering materials for construction projects.
Cubic Yard Formula Explained
Volume is calculated using:
Volume = Length × Width × Depth
The resulting volume is then converted into cubic yards. For rectangular projects:
- Volume in Cubic Feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
- Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27
This calculation forms the foundation of nearly every material estimation project.
How Many Cubic Feet Are in a Cubic Yard?
One cubic yard contains exactly 27 cubic feet.
Here is a quick conversion reference:
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
- 5 cubic yards = 135 cubic feet
- 10 cubic yards = 270 cubic feet
This conversion is one of the most searched construction questions online.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Concrete
Concrete is typically ordered and delivered by the cubic yard. Standard cement mixers usually hold between 8 and 10 cubic yards of wet mix. This calculator helps estimate slabs, foundations, driveways, patios, and footings to ensure you order the correct bulk concrete volume.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Gravel
Gravel suppliers commonly sell material by the cubic yard or by weight. Using this calculator helps you estimate walkway paths, gravel driveways, drainage trenches, and decorative landscaping rock projects easily.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Topsoil
Topsoil is commonly sold by the cubic yard. Gardening beds, new lawns, raised planter beds, and landscape leveling projects require precise soil estimates to determine how many yards to order.
Cubic Yard Calculator for Mulch
Mulch projects often require cubic yard calculations to buy bulk mulch. Entering dimensions for flower beds, tree rings, and playground safety wood chips returns yards needed instantly.
Common Cubic Yard Examples
- Patio: 15 ft × 15 ft × 4 inches = 2.78 cubic yards
- Gravel Driveway: 40 ft × 12 ft × 4 inches = 5.93 cubic yards
- Raised Garden Bed: 8 ft × 4 ft × 12 inches = 1.19 cubic yards
- Landscaping Bed: 20 ft × 5 ft × 6 inches = 1.85 cubic yards
Truckload Capacity Guide
Typical capacities for bulk dump trucks:
- Small Dump Truck: 5–10 cubic yards capacity
- Standard Dump Truck: 10–16 cubic yards capacity
- Large Commercial Truck: 16–20 cubic yards capacity
Cubic Yard Cost Estimator
Material prices depend heavily on geographic area and transport delivery costs. Buying bulk materials by the cubic yard is always cheaper than bagged products for larger construction or excavation projects. Entering the rate in our cost estimator provides accurate budget results.