Cubic Yards Calculator — Length × Width × Depth
Calculate cubic yards from length, width, and depth measurements. This generic volume calculator works for any material — concrete, gravel, mulch, soil, sand, or anything else. Enter your dimensions to get instant results.
Cubic Yards Calculator
Understanding Cubic Yards & Cubic Meters
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 0.765 m³ = 46,656 cubic inches
- 1 cubic meter = 35.31 cubic feet = 1.308 cubic yards = 1,000 liters
- Visual: a cube 3 ft (0.91 m) per side — about the size of a washing machine
- Capacity: approximately 202 US gallons / 764.6 liters
Volume Unit Conversions
| From | To Cubic Yards | To Cubic Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet | ÷ 27 | × 0.0283 |
| Cubic inches | ÷ 46,656 | × 0.0000164 |
| Cubic meters | × 1.308 | — |
| Cubic yards | — | × 0.7646 |
| Gallons (US) | ÷ 201.974 | × 0.003785 |
| Liters | ÷ 764.555 | ÷ 1,000 |
Weight by Material
| Material | Weight per Cu Yd | Weight per m³ |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | 4,050 lbs (2.0 tons) | 2,400 kg (2.4 tonnes) |
| Gravel | 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) | 1,600 kg (1.6 tonnes) |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons) | 1,600 kg (1.6 tonnes) |
| Topsoil | 2,000 lbs (1.0 ton) | 1,185 kg (1.19 tonnes) |
| Mulch | 400–800 lbs | 240–475 kg |
| Asphalt | 3,915 lbs (1.96 tons) | 2,320 kg (2.32 tonnes) |
How to Calculate Cubic Yards
- Measure length and width in feet (or meters).
- Measure depth in inches (or cm). Convert to feet by dividing by 12 (or to meters by dividing by 100).
- Multiply: Length × Width × Depth = cubic feet (or m³).
- Divide by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
Imperial formula: Cubic yards = (L × W × D/12) ÷ 27
Imperial example: 12 ft × 10 ft × 6 inches deep: 12 × 10 × (6/12) = 60 cu ft ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards.
Metric formula: Cubic meters = L (m) × W (m) × D (cm) ÷ 100
Metric example: 3.6 m × 3.0 m × 15 cm deep: 3.6 × 3.0 × (15 ÷ 100) = 1.62 m³ (2.12 cubic yards).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
L (ft) × W (ft) × D (ft) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. If your depth is in inches, divide by 12 first. Example: 12 × 10 × 0.5 ft (6″) = 60 cu ft ÷ 27 = 2.22 cubic yards (1.70 m³).
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Exactly 27 cubic feet. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cu ft. This is a defined relationship, not an approximation.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material density in tons/cu yd. Common values: gravel = 1.35 tons/cu yd, concrete = 2.0 tons/cu yd, topsoil = 1.0 ton/cu yd, mulch = 0.2–0.4 tons/cu yd.
What does a cubic yard look like?
A 3 × 3 × 3 foot cube — roughly the size of a kitchen stove or washing machine. It holds about 202 US gallons. One cubic yard of mulch covers approximately 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep.
Material-Specific Calculators
Know your material? Use one of these calculators for weight and cost estimates:
- Concrete Calculator — cubic yards, bags, and cost
- Gravel Calculator — tons and cost for gravel and crushed stone
- Mulch Calculator — cubic yards and bags for mulch
- Sand Calculator — tons and bags for sand
- Soil & Topsoil Calculator — cubic yards and bags for soil
- Asphalt Calculator — tonnage and cost for asphalt
- Pool Volume Calculator — gallons or liters for swimming pools
- 3D Volume Calculator — volume of cylinders, spheres, and other 3D shapes
- All Construction Calculators
This calculator computes pure volume only. For weight and cost estimates, use the material-specific calculators linked above. Weight values in the table are dry averages.
