Everything you need to know about cubic yards and why they matter for construction and landscaping.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume measurement equal to a cube that is 1 yard (3 feet) on each side. That equals:
27
Cubic Feet
3 × 3 × 3 ft
46,656
Cubic Inches
36 × 36 × 36 in
0.765
Cubic Metres
SI equivalent
In the United States, the cubic yard is the standard unit for ordering bulk materials like concrete, topsoil, gravel, mulch, and sand. When you call a ready-mix plant or landscape supplier, quantities are quoted per cubic yard.
What Is a Cubic Yard Calculator?
A cubic yard calculator is a tool that computes the volume of a space in cubic yards given its dimensions (length, width, depth). Rather than doing the maths by hand — converting inches to feet, multiplying L × W × D, then dividing by 27 — the calculator does everything instantly.
Our free tool supports both rectangular/square areas and cylindrical/round areas, and accepts measurements in feet, inches, or centimetres.
Why Cubic Yards?
Most construction and landscaping materials are sold and delivered by the cubic yard because:
It's a practical size — 1 cubic yard of concrete fills a typical 10×10 ft slab to a 3.24-inch depth.
Industry standard — ready-mix trucks, bulk material suppliers, and project estimating all use the cubic yard.
Cost basis — pricing is quoted per cubic yard, so you need accurate yardage to get accurate quotes.
When Do You Need a Cubic Yard Calculator?
Pouring a concrete slab (driveway, patio, basement floor)
Ordering topsoil or fill dirt for grading a yard
Estimating gravel for a driveway or drainage project
Buying mulch for planting beds
Calculating sand for a sandbox or leveling project
How the Calculation Works
Rectangular Areas
Cubic Yards = (L ft × W ft × D ft) ÷ 27
Cylindrical Areas
Cubic Yards = (π × r² ft × D ft) ÷ 27
Where r is the radius (diameter ÷ 2) and all measurements are in feet.
Quick Reference Card
Conversion
Value
1 cubic yard
= 27 cubic feet
1 cubic yard
= 46,656 cubic inches
1 cubic yard
≈ 0.7646 cubic metres
1 cubic foot
= 1,728 cubic inches
1 foot
= 12 inches = 30.48 cm
⚡
Ready to Calculate?
Use our free calculator to get instant results for your project.
No. A yard is a linear measurement of length (3 feet). A cubic yard is a volume measurement — it's a cube where each edge is 1 yard (3 feet) long, giving a total volume of 27 cubic feet.
How do I measure depth accurately?
For consistent depth projecs (like concrete slabs), measure at multiple points and use the average. For irregular terrain, measure at the deepest and shallowest points and average them.
Are cubic yards used outside the US?
Primarily in the USA, Canada, and UK for some applications. Most other countries use cubic metres (m³). 1 cubic yard ≈ 0.7646 m³.
How much does 1 cubic yard of material weigh?
It varies by material: Concrete ≈ 4,050 lbs, Topsoil ≈ 2,600 lbs, Gravel ≈ 3,000 lbs, Mulch ≈ 800 lbs. Keep weight in mind when hiring delivery trucks.