What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is the volume of a cube that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. That equals 27 cubic feet, about 0.76 cubic meters, or about 202 US gallons. Landscaping and construction suppliers in the United States sell bulk soil, gravel, sand, mulch and concrete by the cubic yard, so it is the number you need when you place an order.
How to calculate cubic yards
- Measure the length, width and depth of the space.
- Convert everything to feet. Divide inches by 12.
- Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
Cubic yards to tons
Suppliers often deliver by weight, so it helps to know how a cubic yard converts to tons. The numbers below are approximate averages in US short tons (2,000 lb). They change with moisture and with the exact product.
| Material | Approx. tons per cubic yard | Approx. pounds per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 2,200 |
| Soil / fill dirt | 1.2 | 2,400 |
| Sand | 1.35 | 2,700 |
| Gravel | 1.4 | 2,800 |
| Mulch | 0.25 | 500 |
| Concrete | 2.0 | 4,000 |
Wet material weighs more than dry. If your supplier gives you a density figure, use that instead.
How much should you order?
- Add 5 to 10 percent. Ground is rarely perfectly level, and loose material settles after it is spread or watered.
- Round up to the next quarter yard if the supplier allows partial yards. Many have a minimum delivery, often 1 to 3 cubic yards.
- For concrete, add a bit more for uneven subgrade and spillage, and confirm the mix with the supplier.
Loads and delivery
A standard dump truck often carries around 10 cubic yards of material, depending on the truck and the material. A typical full-size pickup carries roughly one cubic yard of loose material, and less if the material is heavy. A cubic yard of gravel can weigh about 1.4 tons, which is more than many half-ton pickups are rated to carry. Always check your vehicle's payload rating, or pay for delivery. The load counts in this calculator are only rough guides.
Cubic yard quick reference
These figures show how far one cubic yard goes at different depths. They are pure geometry, so they work for any loose material.
| Depth | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 sq ft |
| 2 inches | 162 sq ft |
| 3 inches | 108 sq ft |
| 4 inches | 81 sq ft |
| 6 inches | 54 sq ft |
| 12 inches | 27 sq ft |
Use it for a quick check of the calculator's answer: divide 324 by the depth in inches.
When to use this calculator
This calculator suits any project where you fill a flat, box-shaped space: a new lawn that needs topsoil, a gravel driveway or path, a sand base under pavers, a mulch bed, a concrete slab or footing, or a raised garden bed. For round areas, find the area first (pi × radius squared) and enter it as a length and width that multiply to that area, or use the cylinder option in the cubic feet calculator. For several separate areas that share the same size and depth, use the quantity box.
Remember that this gives the finished volume. Compacted materials such as gravel and road base can need 10 to 20 percent more loose material than the finished volume, so ask your supplier how much to order.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to convert inches to feet. A depth of 4 inches is 0.33 feet, not 4.
- Mixing yards and cubic yards. Linear yards measure length. Cubic yards measure volume.
- Using the wrong depth. Subtract any material that is already in place.
- Ordering exactly the number. Always allow some extra for waste.
Concrete, gravel and soil: what to know
Concrete is poured once, so measure carefully and have your supplier check the number. Most ready-mix companies sell by the cubic yard and charge extra for short loads under a minimum, often 3 to 4 yards. Gravel and sand are sold by the yard or the ton. Topsoil quality varies a lot, so ask whether the price is for screened soil. For any of these, measure the depth in several spots, use the average, and keep the quote in cubic yards when comparing suppliers.