Cubic Yard Calculator
Multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27: a 12 × 10 ft area 6 in deep is 60 cu ft, or 2.22 cubic yards.
Volume
How many cubic feet in a yard?
A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. Picture a box 3 ft long, 3 ft wide and 3 ft tall: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. That is why every yard-based estimate ends with ÷ 27.
cubic feet = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27 cubic meters = cubic yards × 0.7646
Bagged products are sold in cubic feet, so the same 27 tells you how many bags make a yard. An 80 lb bag of QUIKRETE Concrete Mix yields 0.60 cu ft, so 27 ÷ 0.6 = 45 bags per cubic yard.
How far does a cubic yard go?
| Depth | Sq ft covered by 1 cu yd |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 |
| 2 in | 162 |
| 3 in | 108 |
| 4 in | 81 |
| 6 in | 54 |
| 8 in | 40.5 |
| 12 in | 27 |
Mixed units
The most common mistake is multiplying feet by inches. Convert everything to feet first (inches ÷ 12, yards × 3, meters × 3.281), or use the unit menus above. For irregular areas, find the square footage first with the square footage calculator and multiply by the depth in feet.
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 cubic feet.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 12 × 10 ft area 6 inches (0.5 ft) deep is 60 cu ft, or 2.22 cubic yards.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
It depends on depth: 27 cubic feet ÷ depth in feet. At 3 inches (0.25 ft) a cubic yard covers 108 sq ft; at 2 inches, 162 sq ft; at 4 inches, 81 sq ft; at 6 inches, 54 sq ft.
How do I convert inches of depth to feet?
Divide by 12. 3 in = 0.25 ft, 4 in = 0.333 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft. Or pick inches in the depth unit menu and the calculator converts for you.
How many cubic meters is a cubic yard?
0.7646 cubic meters. One cubic meter is 1.308 cubic yards.
Sources
- QUIKRETE Concrete Mix Data Sheet (Product No. 1101), QUIKRETE. Used for: example bag yield (80 lb = 0.60 cu ft) in the conversion section.
Estimates only. Check local codes and your product's label. Found a number that does not match its source? Send a correction.