Cubic Yard Calculator

Work out how many cubic yards of soil, mulch, gravel or fill you need. Measure the area, enter the depth in inches, and get the volume and cost instantly.

Area shape
You need
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Cubic feet–
Cubic meters–
Area covered–
Estimated cost–

What is a cubic yard?

A cubic yard is a block of material 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep, which is 27 cubic feet. Landscape suppliers, quarries and concrete companies in the US sell bulk soil, mulch, gravel, sand and concrete by the cubic yard, often just called "a yard".

How to calculate cubic yards

  1. Measure the length and width of the area in feet.
  2. Decide how deep the material should be, in inches.
  3. Convert the depth to feet by dividing by 12.
  4. Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet.
  5. Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
Cubic yards = (length ft × width ft × depth in ÷ 12) ÷ 27

Worked example

A garden bed is 10 feet by 12 feet and needs 3 inches of new soil on top. That is 10 × 12 × (3 ÷ 12) = 30 cubic feet, and 30 ÷ 27 = 1.11 cubic yards. Adding 5% extra, order about 1.17 yards, which most suppliers would round to 1.25 or 1.5 yards.

Coverage of one cubic yard

DepthArea covered
1 inch324 sq ft
2 inches162 sq ft
3 inches108 sq ft
4 inches81 sq ft
6 inches54 sq ft
12 inches27 sq ft

Tips before you order

  • For odd-shaped areas, split them into rectangles and circles, work out each one, and add them.
  • Loose soil and compost settle after watering, so add a little extra for raised beds.
  • Ask about the delivery minimum and fee. Sometimes a slightly larger order costs about the same delivered.
  • Need tons instead? Use the gravel calculator. Buying bags? Try the mulch calculator.

Last reviewed October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because a cubic yard is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep (3 × 3 × 3 = 27).

How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?

Divide the cubic feet by 27. For example, 54 cubic feet is 54 ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards.

How much area does one cubic yard cover?

It depends on depth. One cubic yard covers about 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 square feet at 2 inches, 108 square feet at 3 inches and 81 square feet at 4 inches.

Why do I enter depth in inches?

Beds, paths and slabs are usually measured in feet across but only a few inches deep. The calculator converts the depth to feet for you, so you can measure each dimension the way you normally would.

Should I order extra material?

Ordering about 5% to 10% more is common, since soil settles, ground is rarely perfectly level and it is cheaper than a second delivery. Many suppliers sell in half or whole yards, so round up.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?

It varies a lot by material and moisture. Mulch is light, while topsoil and gravel are much heavier, often well over a ton per cubic yard. Check the weight with your supplier, especially if you plan to haul it in a pickup truck.