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Cubic Yard Calculator

Bulk landscaping materials — topsoil, mulch, gravel, sand — are sold by the cubic yard. Measure each area in feet, set the depth in inches, and this calculator converts it to cubic yards (plus cubic feet and cubic meters) for your order.

Areas to cover (measure in feet; add one entry per section)
Depth

Enter at least one area and a depth to see the volume in cubic yards.

How this is calculated

Formula v1.0 · uses exact unit definitions only — this page contains no measured material data

  1. Each shape's area is computed and summed:rectangle = length × width, circle = π × (diameter ÷ 2)²,triangle = base × height ÷ 2.
  2. Volume = total area × depth, with feet and inches converted consistently: at depth d inches,cubic yards = square feet × d ÷ 324 (because a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet and a foot is 12 inches: 27 × 12 = 324).
  3. Unit conversions use the exact legal definitions — 1 yard = 0.9144 m and 1 foot = 0.3048 m exactly, per theNIST Guide to the SI (SP 811), Appendix B: Conversion Factors (accessed2026-07-31).

One cubic yard equals

cubic feet27 cu ft (exact: 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft)
cubic meters0.7646 m³
liters764.6 L

One cubic yard covers

At this depthIt covers
1 in324 sq ft
2 in162 sq ft
3 in108 sq ft
4 in81 sq ft
6 in54 sq ft
12 in27 sq ft

What a cubic yard is, practically

A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on a side — 27 cubic feet. It is the standard order unit for bulk landscaping and construction materials in the US: suppliers quote topsoil, mulch, compost, gravel, and sand per cubic yard, and dump trucks and skid loaders are rated in yards. When a supplier asks “how many yards?”, this is the number they mean.

Measuring irregular areas

Real yards are not rectangles. Split the space into simple shapes, measure each in feet, and add them as separate entries above — the totals are additive. For an L-shaped bed, use two rectangles; for a rounded island bed, a circle is usually close enough for a bulk order. Measure depth in inches at the depth you actually intend to fill, and remember the result is a geometric volume: how much settled or compacted material to order on top of that depends on the material, which is what the material-specific calculators on this site handle with cited factors.

Frequently asked questions

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27. A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on each side, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
How many square feet does one cubic yard cover?
It depends on the depth: 324 sq ft at 1″, 162 sq ft at 2″, 108 sq ft at 3″, 81 sq ft at 4″, 54 sq ft at 6″, 27 sq ft at 12″. Divide 324 by the depth in inches for any other depth.
How many bags equal one cubic yard?
Pure arithmetic: a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, so 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags or 9 three-cubic-foot bags. Since you cannot buy half a bag, that means 14 or 9 bags. Check the bag size printed on the product — it varies by material and brand.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
That depends entirely on the material — a cubic yard of dry mulch and a cubic yard of wet gravel differ by well over a factor of two. There is no honest single number, which is why each material calculator on this site carries its own cited density range instead.

Quantities on this page are planning estimates, not engineering advice or a purchase guarantee — product sizes vary by producer, so confirm coverage with your supplier before ordering.