Area 1
Advanced options
Sets the weight and truck load figures.
Bulk materials settle and spill. 10% is typical.
Enter your local supplier rate.
This cubic yards calculator converts any area and depth into cubic yards, then tells you what that volume weighs and how many truck loads it takes. It handles rectangles, circles, triangles and straight unit conversions, for concrete, gravel, topsoil, mulch and ten other materials.
The short answer
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, so it holds 27 cubic feet. To find cubic yards: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27.
Depth is usually given in inches, so divide it by 12 first. A 20 × 12 ft area at 3 inches deep is 20 × 12 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards.
On this page
How to use this cubic yards calculator
Choose your shape, enter the dimensions and depth, and the cubic yards calculator returns the volume along with weight, truck loads and cost. Four modes cover the ways people actually need this:
- Rectangle — driveways, garden beds, patios, slabs, any square-ish area
- Circle — round beds, tree rings, fire pit bases, tank pads
- Triangle — corner beds and wedge-shaped sections
- Convert — you already have cubic feet, cubic metres, litres or gallons and just want yards
Irregular area? Break it into rectangles and triangles, add each one with Add another area, and the calculator totals them. That’s more accurate than forcing an odd shape into a single rectangle, which is how people end up ordering 20% too much.
Under Advanced options, pick your material and the calculator adds tonnage and truck loads. This matters more than it sounds — aggregate suppliers usually sell by the ton while soil and mulch yards sell by the cubic yard, so you often need to quote both.
The cubic yards formula
Everything comes back to 27. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, which is 27 cubic feet. Work out your volume in cubic feet, divide by 27, done.
Cubic yards = Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
Depth in feet = inches ÷ 12
1 in = 0.0833 ft · 2 in = 0.1667 ft · 3 in = 0.25 ft · 4 in = 0.3333 ft · 6 in = 0.5 ft
Worked example — 20 × 12 ft bed at 3 inches of mulch
Most bulk suppliers sell in half or quarter yard increments, so round up to whichever they use.
Circles, triangles and odd shapes
Only the area calculation changes. Depth and the divide-by-27 step stay the same.
Cubic yards = π × (Diameter ÷ 2)² × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
12 ft circle at 3 in deep
= 3.1416 × 6² × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 1.05 yd³
Cubic yards = ½ × Base × Height × Depth (ft) ÷ 27
20 ft base × 12 ft height at 3 in deep
= 0.5 × 20 × 12 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 1.11 yd³
For anything genuinely irregular — a curving bed, an L-shaped drive, a yard with a pond in the middle — split it into rectangles and triangles, calculate each, and add. Subtract any holes. This is where the multi-area feature earns its keep.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
This is the fastest sanity check on any cubic yards calculator result. One cubic yard spread 1 inch deep covers 324 square feet, and coverage halves as you double the depth.
| Depth | Coverage per yd³ | yd³ per 100 ft² | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 ft² | 0.31 | Top dressing a lawn |
| 2 inches | 162 ft² | 0.62 | Decorative stone, thin mulch |
| 3 inches | 108 ft² | 0.93 | Standard mulch layer |
| 4 inches | 81 ft² | 1.24 | Concrete slab, gravel base |
| 6 inches | 54 ft² | 1.85 | Driveway base, deep beds |
| 12 inches | 27 ft² | 3.70 | Raised beds, trench backfill |
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
Entirely depends on the material — the range across common landscape and construction materials is eight to one. These are mid-range figures with the realistic spread shown, because moisture content and compaction move them significantly.
| Material | Typical lb/yd³ | Range | Tons/yd³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bark mulch (dry) | 500 | 400–800 | 0.25 |
| Wood chips | 675 | 500–900 | 0.34 |
| Compost | 1,100 | 800–1,400 | 0.55 |
| Topsoil | 2,200 | 2,000–2,700 | 1.10 |
| Fill dirt | 2,400 | 2,000–2,700 | 1.20 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 2,600–3,000 | 1.35 |
| Gravel (loose) | 2,700 | 2,500–2,900 | 1.35 |
| Crushed stone | 2,800 | 2,700–3,400 | 1.40 |
| Pea gravel | 2,900 | 2,800–3,200 | 1.45 |
| River rock | 3,000 | 2,800–3,500 | 1.50 |
| Road base (compacted) | 3,100 | 2,900–3,300 | 1.55 |
| Asphalt (hot mix) | 3,900 | 3,800–4,100 | 1.95 |
| Concrete (wet) | 4,050 | 4,000–4,100 | 2.03 |
Wet topsoil can weigh 30–50% more than dry. Saturated sand runs 20–30% heavier. Fresh or rain-soaked mulch can be two to three times its dry weight — from around 500 lb per yard to over 1,500. If material is delivered wet, the cubic yards don’t change but the tonnage does, which matters for both truck limits and any material sold by weight.
Converting cubic yards to tons
Bulk suppliers split on this. Aggregates — gravel, crushed stone, sand, road base — are usually sold by the ton because they’re weighed on a certified scale. Soils, mulch and compost are usually sold by the cubic yard because weighing wet organics penalises the buyer.
Tons = Cubic yards × (lb per yd³ ÷ 2,000)
5 yd³ of crushed stone at 2,800 lb/yd³
= 5 × 1.40 = 7 tons
There is no single conversion factor between yards and tons — anyone who gives you one without asking what the material is has skipped a step. A cubic yard of mulch is a quarter ton; a cubic yard of concrete is two tons. That’s the same volume and an eightfold difference in weight.
How many truck loads is it?
Two limits apply and the smaller one wins: how much fits, and how much the vehicle can legally carry. For dense materials, weight runs out long before space does.
| Vehicle | Volume capacity | Typical payload | Gravel it can carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-ton pickup, 8 ft bed | ~2.5 yd³ level | ~1,000–1,500 lb | ~0.5 yd³ |
| Three-quarter ton pickup | ~2.5 yd³ level | ~2,000–3,000 lb | ~1 yd³ |
| Single-axle dump truck | ~5–8 yd³ | ~7–10 tons | ~5 yd³ |
| Tandem-axle dump truck | ~10–14 yd³ | ~13–15 tons | ~10 yd³ |
A half-ton pickup’s bed will physically hold about 2.5 cubic yards, but its payload rating is around 1,250 lb. That’s roughly 2.5 yards of mulch — or half a yard of gravel. Filling the bed with aggregate puts you at four times the rated load, which is unsafe and will wreck suspension and brakes. The calculator flags this whenever weight is the binding limit.
What depth should you use?
| Application | Depth | yd³ per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| Mulch, established beds | 2–3 in | 0.62–0.93 |
| Mulch, new beds or weed suppression | 3–4 in | 0.93–1.24 |
| Topsoil, lawn top dressing | 0.5–1 in | 0.15–0.31 |
| Topsoil, new lawn | 4–6 in | 1.24–1.85 |
| Decorative gravel or stone | 2–3 in | 0.62–0.93 |
| Gravel driveway, top layer | 3–4 in | 0.93–1.24 |
| Gravel driveway, full build | 8–12 in | 2.47–3.70 |
| Paver base | 4–6 in | 1.24–1.85 |
| Concrete slab | 4 in | 1.24 |
One caution on mulch: deeper is not better. Beyond about 4 inches, mulch starts holding water against stems and restricting oxygen to roots. Piling it against trunks — the “mulch volcano” — kills trees slowly. Order for 3 inches and spread it evenly rather than ordering extra.
Cubic yard conversions
| 1 cubic yard equals | Value |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 |
| Cubic metres | 0.764555 |
| Litres | 764.555 |
| US gallons | 201.974 |
| Bushels (US dry) | 21.7 |
Going the other way: 1 cubic metre is 1.30795 cubic yards, and 1 cubic foot is 0.037037 cubic yards. The Convert mode in the calculator handles all of these, including litres and gallons for tanks and water features.
Cubic yard calculation mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. Using 3 instead of 0.25 for depth gives an answer twelve times too large — the single most common error.
- Dividing by 9 instead of 27. A square yard is 9 square feet; a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Different units.
- Assuming one yards-to-tons factor. It varies eightfold between mulch and concrete.
- Filling a pickup by volume. Payload, not bed size, is the limit for anything denser than mulch.
- Skipping settling allowance. Bulk materials compact after spreading; 10% is standard.
- Forcing an irregular area into one rectangle. Split it into pieces and add them.
- Ignoring moisture. Wet material is the same volume but far more weight, which matters for hauling and for anything sold by the ton.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on each side, so 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. This is the number you divide by to convert cubic feet into cubic yards.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length by width by depth, all in feet, then divide by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. A 20 × 12 ft area at 3 inches deep is 20 × 12 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards.
How much area does a cubic yard cover?
324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 162 ft² at 2 inches, 108 ft² at 3 inches, 81 ft² at 4 inches and 54 ft² at 6 inches. Coverage is simply 324 divided by the depth in inches.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends entirely on the material. Bark mulch is about 500 lb, topsoil around 2,200 lb, gravel roughly 2,700 lb and wet concrete 4,050 lb. Moisture changes these significantly — wet topsoil can weigh 30–50% more than dry.
How many tons is a cubic yard?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the material. Mulch is about 0.25 tons per cubic yard, topsoil 1.1, gravel 1.35, crushed stone 1.4 and concrete 2.03. Divide the material’s pounds per cubic yard by 2,000 to get tons.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
An 8 ft bed holds roughly 2.5 cubic yards level, but payload is usually the real limit. A half-ton pickup rated for about 1,250 lb can carry roughly 2.5 yards of mulch but only half a yard of gravel. Always check the payload rating on your door jamb sticker.
How many cubic yards is a dump truck?
A single-axle dump truck carries roughly 5–8 cubic yards and a tandem-axle 10–14, though weight limits often cap the actual load below the box capacity. For dense aggregates a tandem typically hauls about 10 yards, not its full volume.
How many cubic yards of mulch do I need?
At the standard 3 inch depth, one cubic yard covers 108 square feet. Divide your bed area by 108 to get the yardage. A 500 ft² bed needs about 4.6 cubic yards. Avoid going deeper than 4 inches — excess mulch holds moisture against stems and restricts oxygen to roots.
What is the difference between a square yard and a cubic yard?
A square yard measures area and equals 9 square feet. A cubic yard measures volume and equals 27 cubic feet. Bulk materials like soil, gravel and concrete are sold by the cubic yard; carpet and fabric are sold by the square yard.
How many cubic yards in a cubic metre?
One cubic metre is 1.30795 cubic yards. Going the other way, one cubic yard is 0.764555 cubic metres. The Convert mode in the calculator handles this along with cubic feet, cubic inches, litres and US gallons.
Should I order extra material?
Yes — 10% is a sensible allowance for bulk materials. Loose material settles once spread and compacted, ground is never perfectly level, and there is always some spillage in handling. Running short means a second delivery fee that costs far more than the extra material.
Can I calculate an irregular area?
Yes. Break the shape into rectangles, circles and triangles, add each one as a separate area in the calculator, and it totals them. That is considerably more accurate than approximating an odd shape as a single rectangle, which typically over-orders by 15–25%.
Sources and method
- NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Special Publication 811 — unit definitions and conversion factors
- Material weights compiled from multiple aggregate and landscape supply references; figures reported as mid-range with the observed spread shown
- Vehicle payload figures from manufacturer published ratings for common half-ton and three-quarter-ton pickups
- Dump truck capacities reflect typical single-axle and tandem-axle configurations; local weight limits vary
Related calculators
Gravel CalculatorTons and yards by stone type
Mulch CalculatorYards and bags by bed area
Topsoil CalculatorDepth and volume for lawns and beds
Square Footage CalculatorWork out your area first
Concrete Slab CalculatorCubic yards with rebar quantities
How this cubic yards calculator works out its numbers
Volume uses standard geometric formulas with all inputs normalised to feet before multiplication, then divided by 27. Unit conversions use exact NIST factors: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 46,656 cubic inches = 0.764555 cubic metres = 764.555 litres = 201.974 US gallons.
Material weights are mid-range values drawn from multiple supplier references, with the observed spread published in the weight table above so you can see the uncertainty rather than trusting a single number. Moisture content, compaction and source quarry all move these figures materially, so weigh-ticket tonnage from your supplier will differ from any calculator estimate. Truck load figures apply both a volume limit and a payload limit and report whichever is reached first.
Cost uses the price per cubic yard you enter, so it reflects your local supplier rather than a national average.