Cubic yard calculator
Form 84 · Materials estimateFigures checked 2026-09-04
US customary
Measurements
What you need
Quantity · Amount- 01Area100 sq ft
- 02Volume10 × 10 ft × 6 in50 cu ft
- 03Cubic yards27 cu ft per cu yd1.85 cu yd
- 04Weight1.4 tons per cu yd2.59 tons
- 05Cost$40 per cu yd1.85 cu yd$74
Total$74
- Fits in one level full-size pickup load (about 2 cu yd) — check your truck's payload for heavy material.
The material
Prices — put in what you were quoted
Where these figures come from
- 27 cubic feet per cubic yard by definition.
- Density defaults are the usual planning figures for each material; see the material calculators for their sources.
The trade unit for soil, gravel, mulch and concrete is the cubic yard: 27 cubic feet, a cube three feet on a side. Type your dimensions in feet and inches and the sheet converts them, adds an optional density for the weight and a price for the cost.
Worked examples
- 10 × 10 ft at 6 in
- 1.85 cu yd — cubic yards, about $74 .
- A 4 × 8 ft raised bed 1 ft deep
- 1.19 cu yd — cubic yards, about $47 .
How it is worked out
Cubic feet = length × width × depth (all in feet) × number of areas. Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. Tons = cubic yards × density. Cost = cubic yards × price.
The figures behind it
- 27 cubic feet per cubic yard by definition.
- Density defaults are the usual planning figures for each material; see the material calculators for their sources.
Every figure here is an estimate. Materials vary with moisture, compaction and product; order a little extra and confirm quantities with your supplier.
Questions people ask
- How many cubic feet in a cubic yard?
- 27. A yard is 3 ft, so a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 ft.
- 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, 54 at 6 inches.
- How much does a cubic yard weigh?
- It depends on the material: mulch about 800 lb, topsoil 2,200, sand 2,700, gravel 2,800, concrete 4,000. Type the density to get tons.
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