Cubic Yard Calculator

How cubic yards are calculated

Every measurement is first converted to feet, then the volume math is the same one used for mulch, gravel, and soil:

Cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft)
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 (a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft)
Cubic meters = cubic feet × 0.0283168

Unit conversions used: 1 inch = 1/12 ft, 1 yard = 3 ft, 1 meter = 3.28084 ft, 1 centimeter = 0.0328084 ft. Allowing a different unit per dimension is the whole point of this version — real projects measure the pad in feet and the depth in inches, and converting the depth wrong (6 inches is 0.5 ft, not 0.6) is the single most common ordering mistake.

Ordering bulk material: suppliers sell by the cubic yard and loads settle and compact, so for fill, soil, mulch, or stone, round the result up and add roughly 10% if the ground is uneven or the depth is approximate. One cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, or 54 sq ft at 6 inches. Weight is a separate question — a cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 1.3–1.5 tons, dry topsoil closer to 1.1 tons — so check your truck or trailer's payload before ordering by volume alone.