Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert any rectangle, circle or triangle with a depth into cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters.
How it's calculated
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. The calculator multiplies area by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divides by 27.
Worked example
A 20 × 10 ft area, 6" deep: 200 × 0.5 = 100 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.70 yd³.
Field notes
- Always convert inches to feet before multiplying: 4" is 0.333 ft, 6" is 0.5 ft.
- Bulk suppliers usually sell in half or whole yards. Round up.
- Weight matters for hauling: a yard of mulch is a few hundred pounds, a yard of gravel is over a ton.
Common questions
- How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
- 27.
- How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
- Multiply square feet by depth in feet, then divide by 27. For 100 sq ft at 3" deep: 100 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
- How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
- A full-size bed holds about 2 yd³ heaped for light material like mulch. For gravel or soil, weight limits you to about ½–1 yard.