Calculator 02 / 08
Cubic yard calculator
Turn measurements into cubic yards for any bulk material — gravel, soil, mulch or sand. Volume only: no density, no guesswork about weight.
- Outputs
- ft³ · yd³ · m³
- Material basis
- Volume only — no density
- Method
- Formulas & sources
What a cubic yard is
A yard is 3 feet, so a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. The most common mistake is dividing cubic feet by 3 (linear yards) or by 9 (square yards). Volume in cubic feet must be divided by 27.
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| cubic feet | cubic yards | ÷ 27 (× 0.037037) |
| cubic yards | cubic feet | × 27 |
| cubic yards | cubic metres | × 0.764555 |
| cubic metres | cubic yards | × 1.307951 |
| cubic feet | cubic metres | × 0.0283168 |
| square feet × inches | cubic yards | ÷ 324 (12 × 27) |
Worked example
A bed 12 ft × 10 ft, filled 4 in deep: 120 ft² × (4 ÷ 12) ft = 40 ft³. 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³, or 1.13 m³.
Shortcut for square feet and inches: ft² × inches ÷ 324. Here 120 × 4 ÷ 324 = 1.48 yd³.
Volume first, weight second
This page is deliberately material-agnostic: a cubic yard of mulch and a cubic yard of gravel are the same volume but very different weights. When you know the material, carry the same measurements into a material calculator — the buttons under the result do that — and the weight and bag count are added.
Reading the result
Each line of the order sheet answers a different question. Read them in order: geometry first, then your allowances, then the quantity you can actually buy.
- Area
- Sum of every shape you entered.
- Depth
- Shown in inches and centimetres so you can check the unit.
- Volume
- ft³, then ÷ 27 for yd³, and m³. Exact — no waste, rounding or density.
What this calculator assumes
- Dimensions are the plan area that will actually be covered.
- Depth is an average across the area.
- Areas are flat; slopes aren't adjusted for.
- No density, waste, compaction or rounding is applied — the result is pure volume.
It can't see your site or your supplier's stone. What the calculators cannot know · Full methodology
Common mistakes with this calculator
Dividing cubic feet by 3 or 9
What goes wrong: 54 ft³ is 2 yd³ (÷ 27), not 6 (÷ 9) or 18 (÷ 3). Yards, square yards and cubic yards are different units.
How to avoid it: Volume in ft³ always divides by 27. The order sheet shows ft³ and yd³ side by side.
Confusing area with volume
What goes wrong: 200 ft² is a surface. Without a depth there is no quantity to order.
How to avoid it: Always pair an area with a depth. Use the cubic yard calculator if you only need volume.
Depth entered in the wrong unit
What goes wrong: Typing 3 for a 3-inch layer while the depth unit is set to feet multiplies the volume by 12: a 10 × 10 ft area becomes 11.11 yd³ instead of 0.93 yd³.
How to avoid it: Check the unit beside the depth field. The calculators warn when a depth is over 24 in.
Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
You need a depth. Multiply square feet by depth in inches and divide by 324. For example, 200 ft² at 3 in deep is 200 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cube 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, about 0.765 cubic metres. Spread 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers 108 square feet.
How do I calculate cubic yards for a circle?
Area of a circle is π × (diameter ÷ 2)². Multiply by depth in feet and divide by 27. Choose ‘Circle’ in the calculator and enter the diameter.