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Calculator Answers

Cubic Yard Calculator

Blake Boege
Written by Blake Boege · Founder, Calculator Answers

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equivalent to a cube with sides of one yard (three feet) in length. A cubic yard calculator determines the volume of material required for construction, landscaping, or earthmoving projects based on three-dimensional measurements. By entering the length, width, and depth in standard units, the calculator converts the dimensions and outputs the total volume in cubic yards. Builders, landscapers, and suppliers use this tool to estimate quantities of concrete, soil, mulch, and gravel.

Enter the area's length and width in feet and the depth in inches or feet, then pick a material. We compute the cubic yardage, cubic footage, and an honest weight estimate so you know exactly how much to order.

See also: Topsoil Calculator, Mulch Calculator, and Gravel Calculator.

Quick Answer

Estimate the cubic yards of material needed for your project. Enter the length, width, and depth to calculate volume and weight.

ft
ft

Inches is typical for slabs, gravel, and landscape applications.

Material

Volume & weight

Gravel · 2,700 lb/yd³

4.44 yd³

120 ft³ at 4 in deep

Cubic yards4.44
Cubic feet120
Tons6
Pounds12,000

Add 5–10% to your order to cover settling, compaction, and edge spillage.

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Examples

Driveway 30 × 12 ft × 4 in gravel

≈ 4.44 yd³ · 6.0 tons

Patio slab 20 × 12 ft × 5 in concrete

≈ 3.70 yd³ · 7.5 tons

Garden bed 25 × 8 ft × 3 in mulch

≈ 1.85 yd³ · 0.7 tons

Lawn topdress 40 × 25 ft × 1 in soil

≈ 3.09 yd³ · 3.4 tons

How it works

Cubic yards comes from length × width × depth in feet, divided by 27. Weight is the cubic-yard count times the material's density per cubic yard.

Volume · L × W × D ÷ 27 = yd³

Densities (lb/yd³): concrete ≈ 4,050 · gravel ≈ 2,700 · soil ≈ 2,200 · mulch ≈ 800

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Topsoil CalculatorCalculate topsoil cubic yards, bags, and cost for lawn topdressing, garden beds, raised beds, or custom depth jobs. Compares bag delivery against bulk yardage so you can pick the cheaper option.Mulch CalculatorEstimate cubic yards and the number of 2 cu ft and 3 cu ft bags of mulch needed to cover an area.Gravel CalculatorEstimate cubic yards and tons of gravel needed to cover an area at any depth.Sand CalculatorCalculate sand volume in cubic feet and cubic yards, weight in tons, bag count, and estimated cost. Uses sand density presets (dry, wet, masonry) so the tonnage and bag count reflect the material.

Frequently asked questions

Multiply length × width × depth (in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide that depth by 12 first to convert it to feet.

It depends on the material. Approximate weights per cubic yard: concrete ≈ 4,050 lb (2 tons), gravel ≈ 2,700 lb (1.35 tons), topsoil ≈ 2,200 lb (1.1 tons), mulch ≈ 800 lb (0.4 tons). The calculator multiplies by the right density when you pick a material.

Add 5–10% to cover settling, compaction, spillage, and over-pour at edges. For very small jobs, round up further to whole bags or to whatever the supplier delivers in.

Suppliers sell both ways. Truck deliveries are usually quoted in tons; bagged or scooped quantities in cubic yards. Use whichever the supplier asks for — the calculator gives you both.