Cubic Yard Calculator
Cubic yards for any landscaping or concrete job, from length, width and depth, plus the weight in tons and how many bags that is, for soil, gravel, mulch, sand, compost or concrete.
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. Or multiply all three dimensions in feet and divide by 27. A 10 × 10 ft area 4 in deep is 1.23 cubic yards. One cubic yard covers 324 sq ft at 1 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in and 81 sq ft at 4 in.
Cubic yards for common areas
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 10 × 20 ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.70 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 2.47 | 3.70 | 4.94 | 7.41 |
| 12 × 24 ft | 1.78 | 2.67 | 3.56 | 5.33 |
| 20 × 50 ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
What a cubic yard weighs
| Material | Tons per cu yd | Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| #3 stone (1–2 in) | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| #57 crushed stone (¾–1 in) | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Pea gravel (⅜ in) | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Crusher run / #411 (with fines) | 1.5 | 3,000 |
| River rock (1–3 in) | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Sand | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Topsoil (dry) | 1.1 | 2,200 |
| Fill dirt | 1.2 | 2,400 |
| Compost | 0.5 | 1,000 |
| Wood mulch | 0.3 | 600 |
| Concrete (wet) | 2 | 4,000 |
Weights are typical dry figures; wet soil, sand and mulch weigh more. A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet, or about 13 bags of 2 cu ft.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth, all in feet, and divide by 27. If depth is in inches, multiply length × width in feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324. 20 × 10 ft at 3 in: 20 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.85 cubic yards.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
324 sq ft at 1 in deep, 162 sq ft at 2 in, 108 sq ft at 3 in, 81 sq ft at 4 in and 54 sq ft at 6 in.
How many bags are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet make a yard: 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 18 bags of 1.5 cu ft or 54 bags of 0.5 cu ft.
How many tons is a cubic yard?
It depends on the material: about 1.4 tons for gravel, 1.1 tons for dry topsoil, 0.3 tons for wood mulch and 2 tons for wet concrete.
How much does a cubic yard of dirt weigh?
About 2,200 lb (1.1 tons) for dry topsoil, and up to around 3,000 lb when wet or full of clay.
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Volume: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.7646 m³. Material weights are typical supplier figures and vary with moisture and grade; ask your yard for theirs when ordering by the ton. Concrete is about 4,000 lb per cubic yard when fresh.