Cubic Yard Calculator
Work out exactly how much mulch, gravel, concrete, topsoil or sand your project needs — in cubic yards, tons, bags and cost.
Free to use • No sign-up • Yards, tons, bags & cost
Buying mulch, topsoil, gravel or concrete? The number that matters first is always the same: how many cubic yards you need. This free cubic yard calculator turns your length, width and depth straight into cubic yards — and then, in one step, into the tons for your truck, the number of bags for a small weekend job, and the total cost to budget.
It is built for real projects, not theory: garden mulch at 3 inches, a gravel driveway at 4 inches, a 4-inch concrete slab, a small topsoil top-up. Read the results as exact amounts and a suggested order with 10% added for spillage and compaction, so you order once and order right.
Use this if you already know the square footage — for example from a listing, a plan, or a measuring app.
Most mulch and topsoil beds need 2–3 inches; gravel driveways 4–6 inches.
The material sets the weight and bag estimate — densities are typical averages.
Most rocks and soils fall between 2,200 and 3,000 lb per cubic yard.
Add your supplier’s price to see the estimated total cost.
Order tip: add 5–10% extra for waste, spillage and compaction — material settles once it is spread and rained on. The suggested order amount above already includes a 10% allowance, rounded up to the nearest half yard.
How to use it: choose the material first — the weight and the number of bags depend on it — then add the measurements in feet, inches, yards or metres (there is also a circle mode for round beds and a plain area × depth mode if you already know the square footage). You will also see a suggested order and the total cost once you enter a price per yard.
On this page: How much is a cubic yard? · How to calculate cubic yards · Coverage chart · Material weights & prices · Cubic yards to tons · Bags per cubic yard · Conversions · Worked examples · FAQs
How Much Is a Cubic Yard?
What is a cubic yard? It is a volume measurement: a cube 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. Multiply it out and one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (46,656 cubic inches). It is the standard unit US landscape suppliers, quarries and ready-mix companies sell bulk material by — when a supplier asks “how many yards do you need?”, this is the number they mean.
So how big is a cubic yard in real life? Picture a washing machine — that is roughly one cubic yard. In a pickup it fills most of a standard truck bed (more on that in the FAQs below).
One point that confuses many first-time buyers: a cubic yard measures volume, not weight. A yard of fluffy mulch weighs only about 600 lb, while a yard of concrete weighs over 4,000 lb. Same space, very different load — which is why weight matters before you load a truck or trailer.
- 1 cubic yard = 3ft × 3ft × 3ft cube = 27 cubic feet.
- Bulk material in US sold by cubic yard.
- A cubic yard is volume, not weight — mulch ≈600 lb, concrete ≈4,050 lb.
How to Calculate Cubic Yards
The formula every supplier uses is simple:
Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27
Measure length and width in feet, and the depth in feet too (convert inches by dividing by 12 — 3 inches is 0.25 ft). Multiply the three numbers for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For a circle, replace length × width with π × radius².
Step by step
- Measure the area. Length and width in feet; for a round bed, measure the diameter and halve it for the radius.
- Decide the depth. Mulch and topsoil: 2–3 inches. Gravel driveways: 4–6 inches. Concrete slabs: typically 4 inches.
- Convert depth to feet. Divide inches by 12 (3 in = 0.25 ft, 4 in = 0.33 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft).
- Multiply and divide. Length × width × depth gives cubic feet; divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Add a waste allowance. Order 5–10% extra for spillage, uneven ground and compaction.
Quick example: a bed 12 ft × 4 ft, mulched 3 inches deep: 12 × 4 × 0.25 = 12 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 0.44 cubic yards — order half a yard, or about 6 bags of 2 cu ft.
You never have to do this by hand, though — the cubic yard calculator at the top of this page does the same math, including circles and pre-measured areas, and converts the result into tons, bags and dollars.
- Formula: length × width × depth (in feet), then divide by 27.
- Convert depth from inches to feet first — 3 inches = 0.25 ft.
- Always add 5–10% for waste and compaction before ordering.
Cubic Yard Coverage Chart
The fastest way to estimate material for a flat area is the coverage rule: one cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. The exact figure is 108 sq ft, and the math works at any depth — halve the depth and you double the coverage:
| 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 |
To convert square feet to cubic yards with this chart, divide your area by the coverage for your chosen depth: a 500 sq ft bed at 3 inches needs 500 ÷ 108 ≈ 4.6 cubic yards. Or skip the arithmetic and enter the area directly in the cubic yard calculator’s “Area × Depth” mode.
- 1 cubic yard ≈ 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep (exactly 108 sq ft).
- Deeper covers less area — 6 inches deep covers just 54 sq ft.
- Area ÷ chart coverage = cubic yards needed.
Material Weight & Price per Cubic Yard
Weight decides whether your truck or trailer can safely carry the load, and it is how some materials — gravel, stone, asphalt — are actually priced. Densities vary with moisture and mix, so treat these as solid planning averages — the same values this cubic yard calculator uses:
| Material | Weight per cubic yard | In tons | Typical bulk price per cubic yard* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch | ~600 lb | ~0.30 tons | $30–$60 |
| Compost | ~1,000 lb | ~0.50 tons | $30–$60 |
| Topsoil | ~2,200 lb | ~1.10 tons | $20–$50 |
| Soil | ~2,200 lb | ~1.10 tons | $20–$45 |
| Dirt (fill) | ~2,300 lb | ~1.15 tons | $10–$25 |
| Sand | ~2,700 lb | ~1.35 tons | $25–$50 |
| Crushed stone | ~2,700 lb | ~1.35 tons | $30–$65 |
| Gravel | ~2,800 lb | ~1.40 tons | $30–$60 |
| Asphalt | ~3,900 lb | ~1.95 tons | sold by the ton, ~$80–$120/ton |
| Concrete (ready-mix) | ~4,050 lb | ~2.03 tons | $125–$160 |
*Typical US bulk prices before delivery, checked November 2026. Local prices vary — confirm with your supplier. A delivery fee ($50–$150 is common) often beats several overloaded pickup trips.
Two practical notes: wet material is heavier — rain-soaked topsoil or mulch can weigh 15–25% more than the table value. And “just one more scoop” is a bad idea in a half-ton pickup: one yard of gravel already exceeds most payload ratings.
- A cubic yard weighs from ~600 lb (mulch) to ~4,050 lb (concrete).
- Gravel ≈ 1.4 tons per cubic yard; topsoil ≈ 1.1 tons.
- Prices are planning ranges — local supply and delivery fees change them.
Cubic Yards to Tons Converter
Converting cubic yards to tons is just the weight table in motion: tons = cubic yards × tons per yard for your material:
| Cubic yards | Gravel (tons) | Topsoil (tons) | Sand (tons) | Mulch (tons) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.35 | 0.3 |
| 2 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 |
| 3 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 4.05 | 0.9 |
| 5 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 6.75 | 1.5 |
| 10 | 14.0 | 11.0 | 13.5 | 3.0 |
Working backwards — a true tons to cubic yard calculator move — divide the tons by the material’s tons-per-yard figure: five tons of gravel ÷ 1.4 = about 3.6 cubic yards. You need this reverse conversion when a quarry quotes per ton but your project plan is in yards: 1 ton of gravel equals roughly 0.71 cubic yards, and 1 ton of rock about 0.74 cubic yards. The cubic yard calculator at the top of this page shows both yards and tons for every measurement, so you can order in whichever unit your supplier uses.
- Tons = cubic yards × the material’s tons-per-yard value.
- Reverse: cubic yards = tons ÷ tons-per-yard (5 tons of gravel ≈ 3.6 yd³).
- No single yards-to-tons number exists — it always depends on the material.
How Many Bags in a Cubic Yard?
Bagged material costs more per yard than bulk, but for small jobs — under half a yard or so — bags are cleaner, easier to carry, and need no delivery slot. The catch: “a bag” is not a standard size, so the count depends on the bag:
| Material | Standard bag size | Bags per cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| Mulch | 2 cu ft | 14 bags (13.5 exactly) |
| Topsoil | 1.5 cu ft | 18 bags |
| Soil / compost | 1.5 cu ft | 18 bags |
| Dirt | 1.5 cu ft | 18 bags |
| Gravel | 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) | 54 bags |
| Sand | 0.5 cu ft (50 lb) | 54 bags |
| Concrete mix | 60 lb (yields ~0.45 cu ft) | 60 bags |
So: how many bags of mulch in a cubic yard? Fourteen of the common 2 cu ft bags. How many bags of concrete in a cubic yard? Sixty of the 60 lb bags. Bags of dirt follow the topsoil math — 18 bags at 1.5 cu ft each. The cubic yard calculator shows the count for your exact measurements and states the bag size used; if your store’s bags differ, divide your cubic feet by the bag’s cu ft instead.
- Mulch: 14 bags (2 cu ft) per yard. Topsoil and dirt: 18 bags (1.5 cu ft).
- Gravel and sand: 54 bags (0.5 cu ft). Concrete: 60 bags (60 lb mix).
- Bags make sense under ~½ yard; bulk wins above that.
Cubic Feet, Cubic Yards and Square Feet Conversions
Most confusion in yard math comes from mixing three different units. Here is each conversion, with the formulas this cubic yard calculator uses.
Cubic feet to cubic yards
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. To convert cubic feet to yard measure, divide by 27: 54 cu ft = 2 yd³, 100 cu ft ≈ 3.7 yd³, 135 cu ft = 5 yd³. Going the other way, multiply by 27. And if you are working out how many cubic feet in a cubic yard for a real project, depth is the part people forget: a 10 × 10 ft area is 100 square feet, and only becomes cubic once multiplied by the depth.
Square feet to cubic yards
Square feet measure area, cubic yards measure volume, so a depth is always required: cubic yards = (square feet × depth in feet) ÷ 27. Example: 200 sq ft at 4 inches (0.33 ft) → 200 × 0.33 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.47 cubic yards. The “Area × Depth” mode of the cubic yard calculator does exactly this — square footage in, depth in, done.
- Cubic feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards; cubic yards × 27 = cubic feet.
- Square feet need a depth before they can become cubic yards.
- Formula: (sq ft × depth in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards.
Material Calculators
Need a calculator set up for one material? Each of these free calculators uses the same cubic yards calculator engine with the material already selected, plus the formula, bag counts and weight for that material:
- Dirt Calculator — fill dirt for grading, leveling and garden beds.
- Concrete Calculator — slabs, pads and footings, with 60 lb and 80 lb bag counts.
- Gravel Calculator — driveways and paths, in yards and tons.
- Sand Calculator — paver bases, sandboxes and masonry work.
- Mulch Calculator — beds and borders, in yards and 2 cu ft bags.
- Stone Calculator — crushed stone and decorative rock, in yards and tons.
- Topsoil Calculator — lawns, raised beds and garden soil.
These cubic yards calculators share one results format — cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, bags and estimated cost — so you can compare materials side by side.
Worked Examples
Three everyday jobs, worked end to end — check any of them in the cubic yard calculator above.
Example 1 — Concrete slab for a shed (10 ft × 12 ft × 4 in)
10 × 12 × 0.33 = 40 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards of concrete, weighing about 6,000 lb (3 tons). Add 10% for waste and uneven subgrade: order 1.75 yards from the ready-mix truck, or about 89 of the 60 lb bags for a DIY pour. At $140 per yard, the concrete itself runs roughly $245.
Example 2 — Mulch for garden beds (300 sq ft at 3 in)
300 × 0.25 = 75 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 2.78 cubic yards of mulch, weighing only about 1,670 lb — light, but bulky. Order 3 yards bulk, or about 38 bags of 2 cu ft. Three inches suppresses weeds without suffocating roots.
Example 3 — Gravel driveway top-up (40 ft × 12 ft × 4 in)
Asking “how many yards of gravel do I need?” for a standard two-car driveway: 40 × 12 × 0.33 = 160 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 5.93 cubic yards, weighing about 16,600 lb — roughly 8.3 tons. Order 6.5 yards (about 9 tons) to be safe. At that weight, this is a delivery job, not a pickup-truck job.
- A 10 × 12 ft slab at 4 inches needs about 1.5 yd³ of concrete.
- 300 sq ft of beds at 3 inches needs about 2.8 yd³ of mulch.
- A 40 × 12 ft driveway at 4 inches needs about 6 yd³ (8+ tons) of gravel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard — a cube measuring 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. Divide any cubic-feet figure by 27 to get cubic yards.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
Fourteen bags of the standard 2 cu ft size (13.5 exactly, so you buy 14). With 3 cu ft bags, you need 9 per cubic yard.
How many cubic yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.71 cubic yards. A cubic yard of gravel weighs roughly 2,800 lb (1.4 tons), so one ton (2,000 lb) is a little under three-quarters of a yard. Crushed rock works out to about 0.74 yd³ per ton.
How much does a cubic yard cover?
It depends on depth: about 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches (the handy rule of thumb says “about 100 sq ft”), 81 sq ft at 4 inches, 54 sq ft at 6 inches, and 27 sq ft at 12 inches.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
About 9 loads in a standard 3 cu ft contractor wheelbarrow, or roughly 14 in a smaller 2 cu ft garden cart. Heap the loads and you can shave it to around 8 — either way, a few yards is a real workout.
How much does a cubic yard of topsoil weigh?
About 2,200 lb — roughly 1.1 tons — when reasonably dry. Wet topsoil can weigh 2,600 lb or more per yard, so after heavy rain, load your truck or trailer more conservatively.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck bed?
A full-size pickup bed holds about 2–3 cubic yards filled level (short bed closer to 2, long bed closer to 3). But the real limit is weight, not space: most half-ton pickups carry only about 1,500 lb of payload — roughly half a yard of gravel, or a yard and a half of mulch. For heavy material, get it delivered.
Should I round up when ordering material?
Yes — always. Suppliers sell in full or half yards, ground is never perfectly level, and material compacts after spreading and rain. Ordering 5–10% extra (the cubic yard calculator’s suggested amount includes 10%) is far cheaper than a second delivery fee for a small top-up load.
Prices and weights on this page are typical US averages for planning, checked November 2026 — confirm exact figures with your local supplier before ordering. This cubic yard calculator was last updated in November 2026.