Project Volume Calculator
Enter measurements to get an instant estimate. No sign-up needed.
Geometric volume plus any chosen allowance
Illustrative bulk gravel density; aggregate gradation, moisture and compaction affect actual weights. Allowances and costs are estimates; verify supplier units and field conditions.
How to Use the Cubic Yard Calculator
Measure the length and width of the area in feet, then enter the desired depth in inches. Select a material if you also want an illustrative weight estimate, and enter a supplier price to estimate the material cost. For circular areas, choose the circle option and enter the diameter. The calculator returns cubic yards and cubic feet instantly.
The result describes geometric volume. It does not automatically account for uneven ground, project-specific waste, soil settling or aggregate compaction. If you choose an extra allowance, it is shown separately from the underlying volume. Use supplier specifications when your project depends on a precise delivery quantity.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards
Cubic yards measure three-dimensional volume. To calculate the cubic yardage of a rectangular space, multiply length, width and depth to find the volume, then convert it into cubic yards. The divisor depends on whether your depth is measured in feet or inches.
Why divide by 27 or 324?
A yard is exactly three feet, so a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. If depth is in inches, another factor of 12 is needed: 27 × 12 = 324. This formula also works with square-foot area instead of separate length and width measurements.
For a more detailed breakdown of rectangular, circular and irregular areas, read our step-by-step cubic yard calculation guide.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard (yd³) is a unit of volume equal to a cube measuring three feet long, three feet wide and three feet tall. It represents an amount of space rather than a weight or a flat area. Construction and landscaping suppliers commonly quote bulk products such as concrete, gravel, sand, topsoil and mulch in cubic yards.
Square feet measure surface area, not volume. A garden bed that covers 100 square feet needs a depth measurement to determine how many cubic yards of soil or mulch will fill it. Likewise, a cubic yard does not have a fixed weight: two materials occupying the same volume may have very different weights because their densities differ.
Learn more in What Is a Cubic Yard?.
Cubic Yard Conversion Chart
Use these reference values to translate volumes between common US and metric units. These are exact definitions or rounded displays of fixed relationships, and they do not depend on which material fills the space.
| Unit | Equivalent to 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 ft³ |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 in³ |
| Cubic meters | 0.764554857984 m³ |
| Liters | 764.554857984 L |
Cubic Yard Coverage Quick Reference
Coverage below assumes a uniform layer, with no extra allowance for waste, compaction or settling.
| Depth | Coverage per 1 yd³ | Coverage per 2 yd³ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft | 648 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft | 324 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft | 216 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft | 162 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft | 108 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft | 54 sq ft |
Cubic Yard Calculations by Material
The same volume formula applies to many bulk materials, but what you do with the result varies. Concrete is commonly ordered by cubic yard, while gravel may be quoted by ton. Mulch is often sold in bags or by bulk volume. Soil and fill dirt can change volume after placement or compaction. Choose a dedicated calculator for more context.
Concrete
Estimate how much concrete a uniform rectangular slab, patio or pad will require from its length, width and thickness. The calculator reports geometric concrete volume in cubic yards before any job-specific ordering allowance.
Open calculator ↗Gravel
Estimate the cubic yards of gravel or crushed stone required for a driveway, pathway or base layer. Enter dimensions and finished depth, then use an appropriate bulk density if a supplier quotes by the ton.
Open calculator ↗Mulch
Estimate the amount of mulch needed to cover garden beds, landscaped borders and planting areas at a chosen depth. Measure each section and use the volume result to compare bagged and bulk mulch.
Open calculator ↗Topsoil
Calculate the volume of topsoil needed for a garden, lawn dressing or landscape project. Enter the measured footprint and planned soil thickness to estimate cubic yardage.
Open calculator ↗Fill Dirt
Estimate how many cubic yards of fill dirt are required to raise a level area or backfill a measured space. The calculator provides geometric volume; actual delivery quantities depend on material state and site specifications.
Open calculator ↗Calculating Cubic Yards for Different Shapes
Rectangular areas and square slabs
For a rectangular garden bed, patio or gravel pad, multiply length by width to determine square-foot area. Multiply by planned depth in inches and divide by 324. This is the most common landscaping and slab calculation.
Circular areas
Find the area of the circle using π × radius², then multiply by depth. Radius is half the diameter; using diameter in place of radius will overstate volume significantly. Our calculator supports circular footprints.
Irregular areas and varying depth
Break irregular footprints into simpler shapes and sum their volumes. For sloped or uneven surfaces, measure more than one section and avoid treating a single depth as exact throughout. Major grading and excavation projects may need professional earthwork calculations.
How Much Material Should You Order?
Start with measured geometric volume, then account for actual job conditions. Extra material may be needed because of uneven excavation, installation waste, settlement or differences between loose and compacted material. These factors are not interchangeable: a simple 10% allowance is not a proven compaction factor.
If your supplier quotes by weight, use our cubic yards to tons calculator with the supplier's density. If purchasing bagged materials, compare the cubic-foot volume printed on the bag with the total cubic feet needed. For price comparisons, multiply the planned order quantity by the quoted unit price and add delivery charges when applicable.
Ask the supplier whether quantities refer to loose cubic yards, compacted cubic yards, US short tons, or packaged bag yields. That one clarification can prevent an expensive ordering error.
Cubic Yard Calculation Examples
Mulch: 12 × 10 ft × 3 in
1.11 yd³12 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324. Equivalent to 30 cubic feet, or 15 bags of 2 cubic feet each before extra allowance.
Gravel: 40 × 10 ft × 4 in
4.94 yd³40 × 10 × 4 ÷ 324. Finished geometric volume; loose delivery quantities may differ.
Concrete: 15 × 12 ft × 4 in
2.22 yd³15 × 12 × 4 ÷ 324. Excludes thickened edges, uneven subgrade and ordering allowances.
Common Cubic Yard Calculation Mistakes
- Confusing square feet and cubic yards. Area alone cannot determine volume without depth.
- Mixing feet and inches. Use ÷ 324 when depth is in inches and length and width are in feet.
- Treating volume as weight. A cubic yard of mulch does not weigh the same as one of gravel.
- Ignoring the material's state. Loose soil, bank soil and compacted fill can have different volumes.
- Rounding too early. Keep precision during calculation and round for display or supplier order increments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate cubic yards from feet?
Multiply length, width and depth in feet to find cubic feet, then divide by 27. If depth is measured in inches, multiply length and width in feet by depth in inches and divide by 324.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27 cubic feet. A cubic yard is a cube that measures three feet on each side.
How many square feet does one cubic yard cover?
It depends on depth: one cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch, 162 at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches and 81 at 4 inches.
How many cubic yards do I need for a 10 × 10 area?
You need to specify depth. At 3 inches deep, a 10 × 10 foot area requires approximately 0.93 cubic yards before any additional allowance.
Can I convert square feet directly into cubic yards?
No. Square feet measure area and cubic yards measure volume. You must know the depth or thickness to convert area into volume.
How many 2-cubic-foot bags equal one cubic yard?
By volume, 13.5 two-cubic-foot bags make one cubic yard. You would need 14 whole bags to meet or exceed a cubic yard.
How many tons are in one cubic yard?
There is no universal answer. Tons measure weight and cubic yards measure volume; the conversion depends on bulk density and material condition.
Should I add extra material when ordering?
Allowances depend on the material and site. Construction waste, uneven ground, compaction and settling can change the needed order. Confirm specific quantities with your supplier.
How We Calculate and Verify Results
Our volume formulas use the defined relationship of 27 cubic feet per cubic yard. Metric conversions use the exact international yard definition. Weight presets are illustrative and editable because bulk material density varies. Results are rounded only for readability. See our calculation methodology and sources for details. Confirm final quantities with your supplier or project professional.
Related Calculators and Guides
Continue with a material-specific estimate, convert units, or review the calculation behind your result.