How big is one cubic yard?
Imagine a three-dimensional box that is three feet long, three feet wide and three feet high. Its internal volume is one cubic yard. The unit refers to the space occupied, not the size of a material pile's footprint.
It is also equal to 46,656 cubic inches or approximately 0.7646 cubic meters.
What is measured in cubic yards?
Suppliers use cubic yards for bulk mulch, soil, gravel, sand and ready-mix concrete. Excavation and grading quantities are also often expressed in cubic yards, but bank, loose and compacted soil states must be distinguished.
Cubic yards versus square yards
Square yards measure area, while cubic yards measure volume. To determine how many cubic yards are required for an area, you must know the depth or thickness being filled.
How much coverage does a cubic yard provide?
One cubic yard covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, and 108 square feet at 3 inches. These are geometric values before material-specific adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one cubic yard 27 cubic feet?
Yes, exactly.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
It depends on the rated capacity of the specific wheelbarrow and whether it is safely filled; divide 27 cubic feet by its usable cubic-foot capacity.
Related Calculators and Guides
Continue with a material-specific estimate, convert units, or review the calculation behind your result.