Cubic Yard Calculator
Bulk materials — concrete, soil, gravel, mulch — are ordered by the cubic yard. Enter the area and how deep you're filling, and this gives the cubic yards (and cubic feet).
Cubic yards
1.48cu yd
- Cubic feet
- 40 cu ft
How it’s calculated
Cubic yards = length × width × depth ÷ 27, with depth converted to feet (inches ÷ 12). One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — a cube 3 feet on a side.
Worked example
A 10 ft × 12 ft area, 4 inches deep: 120 sq ft × (4 ÷ 12) = 40 cubic feet ÷ 27 ≈ 1.48 cubic yards.
FAQs
- How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
- Exactly 27 — a cubic yard is a 3 × 3 × 3-foot cube, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
- Why do suppliers sell by the cubic yard?
- It's the standard bulk unit for soil, gravel, and ready-mix concrete — delivery trucks and pricing are both set up around the cubic yard.
- Should I order a little extra?
- Usually yes — add about 5–10% for uneven ground, settling, and compaction, and round up to the nearest unit your supplier sells (often a whole or half yard).
Sources
- Cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 27; 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet (3 × 3 × 3 ft), exact.