Cubic Yard Calculator

Turn any length, width and depth into cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters, plus an approximate weight if you need it.

Volume 2.22 cubic yards 60 cu ft, or 1.70 m³, for 120 sq ft.

Same volume in

Cubic feet: 60 cu ft
Cubic meters: 1.70 m³

Weight

Approximate weight: – tons
Approximate weight: – lb

Area

Area: 120 sq ft

How do I calculate cubic yards?

Multiply length × width × depth, all in feet, to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 (a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cu ft). Convert inches to feet first by dividing by 12. A 12 × 10 ft area 6 inches deep is 60 cu ft, which is 2.22 cubic yards.

Worked example: 12 × 10 ft, 6 inches deep

Same units: 6 in ÷ 12 = 0.5 ft.
Cubic feet: 12 × 10 × 0.5 = 60 cu ft.
Cubic yards: 60 ÷ 27 = 2.22 cu yd.
Cubic meters: 60 × 0.0283 = 1.70 m³.

Cubic yard conversions

Unit	Equals
1 cubic yard	27 cubic feet
1 cubic yard	0.765 cubic meters
1 cubic yard	46,656 cubic inches
1 cubic meter	1.308 cubic yards
1 cubic foot	0.037 cubic yards
1 cubic yard at 1 in deep	covers 324 sq ft

Cubic yards to tons

Cubic yards measure space; tons measure weight. To convert, you need the material's weight per cubic yard, which changes with the material and how wet it is. Choose a material in the calculator to see an approximate weight:

Dry gravel: about 1.42 tons per cubic yard
Dry sand: about 1.31 tons; wet sand: about 1.61 tons
Topsoil (loam): about 1.08 tons

For an exact order, ask your supplier for their figure and choose "My supplier's figure". Specific calculators for gravel, topsoil and concrete also handle bags and extra for settling.

Tips for measuring

Odd shapes: split them into rectangles, work out each area and add them, then use "I know the area".
Uneven depth: measure the depth in several places and use the average.
Mixed units are fine: each box has its own unit, so you can enter feet for length and inches for depth.

Frequently asked questions

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.

How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?

Multiply the square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For example, 300 sq ft at 4 inches deep: 300 × (4 ÷ 12) = 100 cu ft, ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards.

How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?

324 sq ft at 1 inch deep, 162 at 2 inches, 108 at 3 inches, 81 at 4 inches and 54 at 6 inches.

How do I convert cubic meters to cubic yards?

Multiply by 1.308. One cubic meter is about 1.31 cubic yards, and one cubic yard is about 0.765 cubic meters.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?

It depends on the material: roughly 2,160 lb for topsoil, 2,620 lb for dry sand and 2,835 lb for dry gravel. Wet material weighs more.

Guides

Related calculators

Gravel CalculatorTons, cubic yards and bags of gravel for a driveway, path or patio.Topsoil CalculatorCubic yards, tons and bags of topsoil for beds, lawns and grading.Concrete CalculatorCubic yards and 40, 60 or 80 lb bags for slabs, footings, posts and steps.Mulch CalculatorCubic yards or bags of mulch for any bed, at the depth you want.

Sources and method

Engineering ToolBox — densities of dirt, sand, gravel and other materials — gravel dry 105, loam 80, sand dry 97, sand wet 119 lb/ft³
NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C — units of measurement — cubic yard and cubic meter conversion factors

Last checked October 12, 2026. How we build and test every calculator: methodology.