Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert length, width, and depth measurements to cubic yards instantly. Works for any material including mulch, gravel, concrete, topsoil, sand, and more. Enter your dimensions and choose your depth unit.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to a cube that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. It contains 27 cubic feet and is the standard measurement used by suppliers for bulk materials like mulch, gravel, sand, topsoil, and concrete.
Cubic Yard Formula
To calculate cubic yards from dimensions in feet:
- Measure length, width, and depth (convert all measurements to feet first).
- Multiply: Length (ft) x Width (ft) x Depth (ft) = Cubic Feet.
- Divide by 27: Cubic Feet / 27 = Cubic Yards.
If your depth is in inches, divide by 12 first to convert to feet. If in yards, multiply by 3 to convert to feet.
Cubic Yards Conversion Table
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
- 1 cubic yard = 46,656 cubic inches
- 1 cubic yard = 201.97 US gallons
- 1 cubic yard = 764.55 liters
- 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 cubic meters
Common Material Weights per Cubic Yard
- Mulch: 400-800 lbs (~0.5 tons) per cubic yard
- Topsoil: 2,000-2,400 lbs (~1.1 tons) per cubic yard
- Gravel: 2,500-3,000 lbs (~1.4 tons) per cubic yard
- Sand: 2,600-2,900 lbs (~1.35 tons) per cubic yard
- Concrete: 3,900-4,100 lbs (~2.0 tons) per cubic yard
- Crushed stone: 2,500-2,800 lbs (~1.35 tons) per cubic yard
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. A cubic yard is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep (3 x 3 x 3 = 27 cubic feet).
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
A cubic yard equals approximately 9 to 14 wheelbarrow loads depending on wheelbarrow size. A standard 3 cubic foot wheelbarrow holds about 9 loads per cubic yard. A larger 2 cubic foot wheelbarrow takes about 14 trips.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
The weight of a cubic yard depends on the material. Mulch weighs 400-800 lbs, topsoil weighs about 2,200 lbs, gravel weighs about 2,800 lbs, sand weighs about 2,700 lbs, and concrete weighs about 4,050 lbs per cubic yard.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. For example, 54 cubic feet / 27 = 2 cubic yards. To convert back, multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet.
How many bags of mulch equal a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cubic foot mulch, or 9 bags of 3 cubic foot mulch. Buying in bulk (by the cubic yard) is usually more economical for areas larger than about 200 square feet.