Cubic Yardage Calculator
Convert any volume measurement to cubic yards for ordering concrete, gravel, soil, and more.
Reviewed by the ToolNestr Editorial Team — July 2026
How the cubic yardage calculator works
The cubic yardage calculator converts any rectangular volume from length, width, and depth into cubic yards. It first calculates the volume in cubic feet, then divides by 27 to get cubic yards. You can also enter a material density to estimate the weight in tons.
Cubic yards are the standard unit for ordering bulk construction materials. Whether you are ordering concrete for a foundation, gravel for a driveway, topsoil for a garden, or mulch for flower beds, suppliers quote by the cubic yard. This calculator works for any material and any project size.
Volume-to-weight conversions for aggregate and bulk materials follow ACI 211.1 (Standard Practice for Selecting Proportions for Normal, Heavyweight, and Mass Concrete) and typical bulk density tables published by state DOT material specifications.
Measure the area
Measure length and width in feet, depth in inches. Use consistent units for accuracy.
Add density (optional)
Enter the material density to estimate weight. Leave at 100 for a generic volume-only calculation.
Get your order size
Read cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, and estimated tons for your supplier.
The formula explained
Cubic feet
CF = L × W × (D/12). For a 10′ × 10′ area at 12 inches deep: 10 × 10 × (12/12) = 100 cu ft.
Cubic yards
CY = CF / 27. 100 / 27 = 3.70 cu yd.
Weight
Tons = (CF × density) / 2000. At 100 lbs/cu ft: (100 × 100) / 2000 = 5 tons.
Worked example
A 20′ × 15′ garden area needs 6 inches of topsoil. Topsoil density is about 90 lbs/cu ft.
Use cases for the cubic yardage calculator
Concrete ordering
Ready-mix concrete is ordered by the cubic yard. Calculate your slab, footing, or wall volume and call the supplier with the exact yardage. Add 10% for waste and spillage.
Soil and compost
Raised garden beds, landscaping, and yard leveling all need bulk soil measured in cubic yards. Calculate the bed volume or fill area and order from a local landscape supply company.
Gravel and aggregate
Driveways, paths, and base layers use gravel sold by the cubic yard. The calculator handles any depth — from a 2-inch path to a 12-inch base course for heavy traffic areas.
Dumpster sizing
Construction dumpsters are measured in cubic yards. Estimate the volume of debris from a renovation project to select the right dumpster size and avoid overage fees.
Tips for cubic yard measurements
Always convert depth to feet first
The most common mistake is entering depth in inches without converting. Since cubic yards use feet, divide the inch depth by 12 before multiplying. This calculator does the conversion automatically, but it helps to understand the relationship.
Compactible materials need extra
Soil, gravel, and sand compact by 10-20% when tamped or rolled. If you need 5 cubic yards of compacted fill, order 5.5-6 cubic yards of loose material. The compaction factor varies by material — contact your supplier for their specific recommendation.
Check supplier minimums and delivery fees
Most bulk material suppliers have a minimum delivery of 2-5 cubic yards. Small orders under the minimum incur a short-load fee. Compare the cost per cubic yard plus delivery against bagged material from home centers for small projects.
Real-world context
Gravel driveways are one of the most frequent uses of this calculator. A 60 ft long, 12 ft wide driveway base at 4 inches deep needs 60 × 12 × (4/12) = 240 cu ft, or about 8.89 cu yd. At a typical crushed gravel density of 105 lbs per cubic foot, that load weighs (240 × 105) / 2000 = 12.6 tons — enough that most suppliers would deliver it in a single dump truck load rather than splitting it across trips.
Small landscaping projects sit at the opposite end of the scale. A 25 ft by 8 ft mulch bed covered 3 inches deep needs 25 × 8 × (3/12) = 50 cu ft, or about 1.85 cu yd. Using a mulch density of roughly 40 lbs per cubic foot, that comes to (50 × 40) / 2000 = 1 ton — light enough that a pickup truck bed can usually handle it in one trip, and many suppliers sell mulch by the bag for orders this small.
Dumpster sizing for renovation debris uses the same math in reverse. A demolition pile covering 15 ft by 10 ft at 2 ft deep totals 15 × 10 × 2 = 300 cu ft, or about 11.11 cu yd. Mixed construction and demolition debris runs heavier than soil or gravel — at roughly 300 lbs per cubic foot for dense material like broken concrete, that pile weighs (300 × 300) / 2000 = 45 tons, which is why demolition contractors often price debris removal by weight rather than volume alone.
Common misconceptions
"A cubic yard is the same amount regardless of material." Volume yes, weight no. A cubic yard is always 27 cubic feet no matter what fills it, but the weight varies enormously — a cubic yard of mulch weighs around 1,000 lbs while a cubic yard of gravel weighs closer to 2,800 lbs. Always check material density before estimating delivery trucks or trailer capacity.
"Loose material and compacted material need the same order quantity." They don't. Soil, gravel, and sand settle and compact by roughly 10-20% once tamped or driven over. If a project calls for 5 cubic yards of compacted base, you typically need to order 5.5 to 6 cubic yards of loose material to end up with the right finished volume.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a volume measurement equal to 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet. It is the standard unit for ordering bulk materials like concrete, gravel, topsoil, and mulch.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 x 3 x 3). To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply by 27.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
A cubic yard of dry topsoil weighs approximately 2,000-2,200 lbs (1-1.1 tons). Wet topsoil can weigh up to 3,000 lbs per cubic yard.
What size is a cubic yard visually?
A cubic yard is roughly the size of a washing machine or a small pickup truck bed. A standard wheelbarrow holds about 3-6 cubic feet, so one cubic yard fills 5-9 wheelbarrow loads.
Sources & references
This tool uses standard formulas and reference values from:
- • American Concrete Institute — ACI 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. concrete.org
- • ICC — International Residential Code (IRC), span, footing and framing tables. codes.iccsafe.org
- • APA – The Engineered Wood Association, allowable span and load guidance.
Estimates for planning only. Span, load and code values vary by jurisdiction — verify against your local adopted code and a licensed engineer before building.