Landscape & Construction Calculator

Cubic Yard Calculator

Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters for mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, or concrete — then estimate material weight and total cost in one step.

Quick answer: Cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth ft) ÷ 27. Enter your dimensions below in feet, inches, meters, or centimeters — you can mix units across fields, and the calculator converts everything automatically.

Formulas cross-checked against NRMCA•American Concrete Institute•and university extension material-density data · Reviewed for accuracy

Shape

Length

Width

Depth

Waste & compaction allowance 10%

Industry practice: 5–10% for flat, well-measured areas; 10–20% for irregular beds, slopes, or loose aggregate that settles.

Material Price

Select a material above for a typical price range, or enter your supplier’s quote directly.

Volume Needed

0.00yd³

Enter your measurements to see results

●Awaiting measurements

Cubic Feet

0.00

Cubic Meters

0.00

Est. Weight

–

2 ft³ Bags

Estimated Material Cost

$0.00

Add a price to calculate cost

Delivery load visualFills as your volume approaches a standard 10 cubic yard dump truck delivery — a quick gut-check for how to haul or order your material.

How Your Volume Compares to Common Loads

Use this chart to decide whether bagged material, a trailer trip, or a scheduled delivery makes the most sense for your project.

What Is a Cubic Yard, and Why Does It Matter?

A cubic yard is a block of space measuring 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall — 27 cubic feet in total. It’s the standard unit that landscaping suppliers, mulch yards, and concrete plants use to price and deliver bulk material in the United States, which is why nearly every material calculator, delivery quote, and supplier minimum is expressed in “yards” rather than square footage.

The tricky part isn’t the math itself; it’s that most people measure their project in feet and inches for length and width, but think about depth in inches, and then get a quote priced per cubic yard. This calculator handles all three unit types at once, so you can enter a 20-foot length, a 3-inch depth, and still get an accurate cubic yard figure without doing any conversion by hand.

Cubic Yard Formulas

Rectangular Area

Cubic Feet = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft)
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27

Circular Area

Cubic Feet = π × (Diameter (ft) ÷ 2)² × Depth (ft)
Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27

For depth, always convert inches to feet first by dividing by 12 (so 3 inches becomes 0.25 ft). For metric measurements, this calculator converts meters and centimeters internally, then applies a final conversion factor of 1 cubic foot = 0.0283168 cubic meters, and 1 cubic yard ≈ 0.7646 cubic meters.

Worked example: A garden bed measuring 20 ft × 10 ft at 3 inches deep: 20 × 10 × 0.25 = 50 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. Add a 10% waste allowance and you’d order roughly 2.04 cubic yards to avoid running short mid-project.

Material Weight & Coverage Comparison

Density varies significantly by material and moisture content, which changes how much a cubic yard weighs and how many bags you’d need to match it. These figures reflect commonly published ranges from landscape suppliers and industry associations; always confirm exact weights with your supplier for heavy hauling or structural planning.

Material	Typical Weight per Yard	Coverage per Yard @ 2″	Typical Price / Yard
Mulch (bark/wood)	400–800 lbs	162 sq ft	$30–$55
Topsoil	2,000–2,800 lbs	162 sq ft	$25–$45
Compost	1,000–1,600 lbs	162 sq ft	$30–$50
Sand	2,600–2,900 lbs	162 sq ft	$30–$50
Gravel / Crushed Stone	2,400–2,800 lbs	162 sq ft	$40–$65
River Rock / Decorative Stone	2,600–3,000 lbs	162 sq ft	$55–$90
Concrete / Cement Mix	~4,050 lbs	162 sq ft	$125–$180

Methodology: How This Calculator Works

This tool converts every input into feet using standard unit conversions (1 ft = 12 in, 1 m = 3.2808 ft, 1 cm = 0.0328 ft), calculates volume in cubic feet using the rectangular or circular formula above, then divides by 27 to produce cubic yards and multiplies by 0.0283168 to produce cubic meters. Weight estimates multiply your adjusted cubic yardage by the midpoint density for the selected material, drawn from published ranges used by landscape suppliers, ready-mix producers, and cooperative extension services. Cost estimates apply your entered price directly to the unit you select (per cubic foot, yard, or meter), calculated against the waste-adjusted volume so your budget matches what you’ll actually order.

The waste and compaction allowance defaults to 10%, a figure commonly recommended for standard rectangular pours and beds. Irregular shapes, sloped ground, or loose aggregate that settles after delivery typically warrant 15–20%; clean, flat, well-formed pours can often use 5%. Because real-world results depend on supplier-specific density, moisture content, and site conditions, treat every figure here as a planning estimate rather than an engineering-grade calculation, and confirm final order quantities with your material supplier before a large or structural pour.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Plugging “3” straight into a feet-based formula instead of 0.25 ft produces a volume 12 times too large.
Ordering with zero waste allowance. Subgrade isn’t perfectly level, forms bow slightly, and material sticks to tools and containers — a 5–10% cushion prevents a frustrating second delivery.
Mixing up cubic feet and cubic yards on a supplier quote. A price of “$45 per yard” is very different from “$45 per cubic foot” — always confirm the unit before ordering.
Ignoring moisture when estimating weight. Wet mulch or soil can weigh 30–50% more than the same material dry, which matters for truck payload limits.
Using the same depth for every material. Mulch typically goes down 2–3 inches, gravel bases 4–6 inches, and structural concrete slabs 4 inches minimum — check your project’s specific requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is a volume measurement equal to 27 cubic feet — the space inside a cube measuring 3 feet on every side. It’s the standard bulk-material unit used by landscaping suppliers, mulch yards, and ready-mix concrete producers across the U.S.

How do I calculate cubic yards for a rectangular area?

Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. For example, a 12 ft × 8 ft area at 4 inches (0.33 ft) deep equals 12 × 8 × 0.33 = 31.7 cubic feet, or about 1.17 cubic yards.

How do I calculate cubic yards for a circular area?

Use the circle-volume formula: π × (diameter ÷ 2)² × depth, all in feet, then divide by 27. A 10-foot-diameter circular bed at 3 inches deep works out to roughly 2.18 cubic yards.

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 ft³).

How many cubic yards equal a cubic meter?

One cubic meter equals approximately 1.308 cubic yards, and one cubic yard equals approximately 0.7646 cubic meters.

How much does a cubic yard of mulch weigh?

Dry wood mulch typically weighs 400–800 lbs per cubic yard, depending on the type and how finely it’s shredded. After rain, that same yard can weigh well over 1,000 lbs because mulch absorbs and holds moisture.

How much does a cubic yard of concrete weigh?

Standard ready-mix concrete weighs approximately 150 lbs per cubic foot, or about 4,050 lbs per cubic yard. Lightweight mixes can run closer to 2,500–3,100 lbs per yard, while high-density mixes can exceed 5,000 lbs per yard.

How many bags of mulch or soil equal one cubic yard?

Since a standard bag holds 2 cubic feet and a cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet, it takes about 13 to 14 standard 2 cubic foot bags to equal one cubic yard.

How much extra material should I order for waste?

A 5–10% allowance covers most flat, well-measured rectangular projects. Irregular beds, sloped ground, hand-dug footings, or loose aggregate that settles after delivery typically call for 10–20% extra to avoid a costly second order.

How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?

A standard half-ton pickup bed without sideboards holds roughly 2 cubic yards of lightweight material like mulch, but considerably less of heavy material like gravel or wet topsoil due to payload limits. Always check your vehicle’s rated payload capacity before hauling, since weight — not just volume — determines a safe load.

What depth should I use for mulch, gravel, or topsoil?

Mulch is typically applied 2–3 inches deep around established plants. Gravel used as a base layer often runs 4–6 inches deep, while decorative gravel toppings are closer to 2 inches. Topsoil for new lawns or garden beds is commonly spread 4–6 inches deep, tilled into the existing soil.

Do I need to account for compaction?

Yes, for loose materials like gravel, sand, and soil. These settle after delivery and after the first rain or foot traffic, so many contractors add an extra 10–15% on top of the calculated volume to keep coverage at the intended depth over time.

Related Calculators

This cubic yard calculator pairs well with our other planning tools on DexoCalc’s full calculator library, including the tools below.

References

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) — industry guidance on ordering ready-mix concrete and standard unit weights. nrmca.org
American Concrete Institute (ACI) — mix design, density, and volume calculation standards for concrete. concrete.org
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) — aggregate density and material handling references. nssga.org
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — soil bulk density and topsoil planning data. nrcs.usda.gov
University Cooperative Extension Services — mulch depth recommendations and landscape material guidance. extension.psu.edu

This calculator provides planning estimates only. Actual material weight, coverage, and pricing vary by supplier, moisture content, and regional market conditions. For structural pours, large deliveries, or load-bearing applications, confirm final quantities and specifications with a licensed contractor or your material supplier, and review current guidance at concrete.org or nrmca.org.