Cubic Yard Calculator

The Cubic Yard Calculator turns your project dimensions into the exact number of cubic yards to order — for concrete, gravel, mulch, topsoil, sand and more. Enter the length, width and depth in whatever units you have (feet, inches, yards or metric), pick a shape and material, and the tool returns cubic yards to order, the estimated weight in tons, how many dump-truck loads and retail bags that equals, a waste-factor buffer, an optional cost, and an animated 3D volume diagram.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards

A cubic yard is a volume — a cube 3 feet on each side. Because material is priced and delivered by the cubic yard, the goal is to turn your length, width and depth into that unit. It takes three short steps:

The key number to remember is 27: there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 × 3 × 3). The most common mistake is forgetting to convert depth from inches to feet — a 4-inch slab is only 0.333 ft deep, not 4.

Worked Example

Say you are pouring a rectangular concrete patio that is 12 ft long, 10 ft wide and 4 inches thick:

• Depth in feet: 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
• Volume: 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 ft³
• Cubic yards: 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³
• With a 5% waste factor: 1.48 × 1.05 ≈ 1.56 yd³ to order
• Weight (concrete ≈ 2.03 tons/yd³): ≈ 3.2 tons

Cubic Yard Depth Chart (per 100 sq ft)

A quick reference for how many cubic yards cover 100 square feet at common depths:

How Much Does a Cubic Yard Weigh?

Weight matters for delivery limits and whether your vehicle can haul it. These are typical delivered densities — actual weight rises with moisture and compaction:

Why Add a Waste Factor?

Ordering the exact calculated amount almost always leaves you short. Sub-grade is never perfectly level, some material spills or compacts, and edges over-excavate. A 5–10% waste factor is standard: 5% for precise concrete forms, 10% for bulk landscaping materials over rough ground. Running out mid-pour and reordering a small "short load" usually costs far more per yard than the buffer.

How to Use This Calculator

1. Choose your area shape: Rectangle/slab, circle/round, or triangle, then pick the unit for your measurements.
2. Enter dimensions and depth: Length and width (or diameter, or base and height), plus the depth or thickness — commonly entered in inches.
3. Pick a material and waste factor: This sets the density used for weight and a sensible over-order buffer. You can override the waste factor.
4. Click Calculate: See cubic yards to order, weight in tons, dump-truck loads, bag equivalents, an optional cost, and a full step-by-step breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you calculate cubic yards?

Multiply length by width to get the area, multiply by the depth to get the volume in cubic feet, then divide by 27 because there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. For example, a 10 ft by 10 ft slab that is 4 inches deep is 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.3 cubic feet, which divided by 27 is about 1.23 cubic yards.

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on every side, and 3 × 3 × 3 equals 27.

How do I convert inches of depth to cubic yards?

Convert the depth to feet by dividing inches by 12, then multiply by the area in square feet and divide by 27. For instance, 4 inches is 4 divided by 12 = 0.333 feet.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?

It depends on the material. A cubic yard of concrete weighs about 2 tons (4,050 lb), gravel about 1.4 tons, sand about 1.35 tons, topsoil about 1.1 tons, and mulch about 0.4 tons. Weight varies with moisture and compaction.

Why should I add a waste factor?

A waste factor of 5 to 10 percent covers spillage, uneven sub-grade, over-excavation and compaction so you do not run short mid-project. Running out and reordering usually costs more than a small buffer.

How many cubic yards fit in a dump truck?

A standard tandem dump truck typically carries 10 to 14 cubic yards. A pickup truck holds far less, roughly 2 to 3 cubic yards for a full-size bed. This calculator estimates loads based on a 10 cubic yard truck.

Additional Resources

• Cubic Yard - Wikipedia
• Volume - Wikipedia