Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert project dimensions into cubic yards of material.
Project details
Enter your measurements below.
Turn area and depth into a bulk-order quantity
Bulk landscape and construction materials are often sold by the cubic yard even though projects are measured in feet and inches. This calculator bridges that gap. Start with the real length and width of the placement area, then use the installed depth you actually need. A shallow 3-inch layer is only one quarter of a foot deep, so depth conversion matters. The geometric result is the space the finished layer occupies. Loose delivery volume, compaction and supplier increments are separate decisions and should be added only when they apply to the material being ordered.
Mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, concrete and other bulk materials.
Convert inches to feet before multiplying area by depth.
Suppliers may sell in half-yard, quarter-yard or truck-load increments; round to the actual ordering unit last.
How to use the Cubic Yard Calculator
- Measure the area to be covered. Split curves or irregular beds into smaller shapes if one rectangle would include a lot of empty space.
- Choose the finished material depth and convert inches to feet when working in US customary units.
- Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Only after the geometric volume is known should you consider material-specific compaction, settlement, waste or supplier minimums.
Keep geometry and ordering allowance separate
The calculator first determines the physical volume of the layer. A gravel base may need a compaction allowance while decorative mulch may settle differently; those are product/project choices, not part of the universal cubic-yard formula.
From calculation to supplier order
Use the calculated yards as the starting quantity, then check the supplier's delivery increments and the material's behavior. Round once, at the end, rather than rounding every dimension.
Worked example: 3 inches of material over a rectangular bed
- Length
- 24 ft
- Width
- 10 ft
- Depth
- 3 in = 0.25 ft
- Volume
- 24 × 10 × 0.25 = 60 cu ft
Sixty cubic feet ÷ 27 = about 2.22 cubic yards. If a supplier sells only in half-yard increments, the purchase decision would be based on that policy and any material allowance, not by changing the geometry.
Practical planning tips
Measure depth after preparing the grade when possible; an assumed depth on an uneven base can be misleading.
For a project with two different depths, calculate each zone separately instead of averaging unless the average is measured and intentional.
Ask the supplier whether quoted 'yard' quantities are loose-delivery volume and whether they recommend an allowance for the selected material.
Keep a note of the raw geometric yards before rounding so you can compare different suppliers or material options consistently.
Common mistakes to avoid
Entering 3 inches as 3 feet, which makes the volume twelve times too large.
Dividing square footage by 27 without applying a depth first.
Automatically adding the same waste percentage to mulch, gravel and concrete even though their ordering behavior differs.
Rounding each small bed to a whole yard before adding them together, which can significantly overstate a multi-bed project.
Cubic Yard Calculator FAQs
Why do I divide cubic feet by 27?+
A cubic yard measures 3 feet on each side. Multiplying 3 × 3 × 3 gives 27 cubic feet.
How do I use a depth measured in inches?+
Divide inches by 12 to convert the depth to feet before multiplying it by length and width.
Should I always order more than the calculated cubic yards?+
Not automatically. Extra quantity depends on the material, compaction or settlement, site irregularity, delivery increments and how accurately the area was measured.
Can I add several garden beds together?+
Yes. Calculate each bed's cubic volume using its own area and depth, add the results, and round the combined order at the end.