Cubic Yard Calculator - Volume and Material Cost Estimator

Calculate cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters for your landscaping or construction project. Get accurate volume measurements and cost estimates for various shapes and materials.

Optional Cost Calculation
per cubic

Understanding Cubic Yards

What is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume measurement equal to 27 cubic feet. Learn more about the historical development of the yard measurement and its standardization.

Quick Guide

Calculate cubic yards volume for landscape material, mulch, fill, gravel, cement or containers. Enter dimensions in US units (inches or feet) or metric units (centimeters or meters) to calculate the cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters. Also calculate the cost of materials when you enter the price per cubic foot, price per cubic yard or price per cubic meter.

Enter measurements in US units or metric units. Calculate volume from your measurements in inches (in), feet (ft), yards (yd), centimeters (cm), or meters (m). You can also enter decimal values. For example, if you have one measurement that is 7'3" you can enter that as 7.25 feet (3"/12" = 0.25 ft). If you have a measurement of 245 cm you can also enter that as 2.45 m.

If you have an area in square feet you can still calculate cubic yards. In the calculator, select Rectangle. Enter your square feet in the Length field, and enter "1" in the Width field. Enter how deep you want the fill in the Depth field. Click "Calculate" and your answer will be shown in cubic yards.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards using feet and inches

Step 1: Measure

  • Measure your area in feet
  • Determine the depth of your material (e.g., mulch) that you will put on this area, generally using depth in inches
  • Convert all of your measurements to feet:
    • If you measured in feet only, skip to "Calculate"
    • If you measured in feet & inches, divide inches by 12 and add that to your feet measure to get total feet
    • If you measured in inches only, divide inches by 12 and that is your measurement in feet

Step 2: Calculate Cubic Yards

  • Calculate your area
  • Calculate your volume: Multiply area times the depth to get volume in cubic feet
  • Calculate your cubic yards: Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards

Where ft² = square foot, ft³ = cubic foot, yd³ = cubic yard

Common Uses

Landscaping

  • Garden bed soil and mulch
  • Gravel for pathways
  • Sand for leveling
  • Decorative stone

Construction

  • Concrete foundations
  • Fill dirt for grading
  • Base materials
  • Retaining wall aggregate

Unit Conversions

Understanding volume conversions is crucial for accurate measurements. Visit our comprehensive conversion guide for detailed conversion factors.

Important Notes

  • Order slightly more material than calculated to account for compaction and waste
  • Different materials may have varying densities and compaction rates
  • Consider delivery access and equipment limitations
  • Verify measurements and units before ordering materials
  • Consult local suppliers for specific material recommendations