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What is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume commonly used in the United States for measuring landscaping materials like mulch, gravel, topsoil, sand, and concrete. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet) or approximately 764.55 liters.

When ordering landscaping materials, suppliers typically sell by the cubic yard. Understanding how to calculate cubic yards helps you order the right amount—avoiding costly overages or frustrating shortages in the middle of your project.

Our cubic yard calculatormakes it easy to determine exactly how much material you need for any project, whether you're spreading mulch in garden beds, pouring a concrete slab, or covering a driveway with gravel.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards

Rectangle / Square Areas
Cubic Yards = (L × W × D) ÷ 27

Where L = Length (ft), W = Width (ft), D = Depth (ft)

Example: A 10ft × 12ft garden bed with 3 inches of mulch:

(10 × 12 × 0.25) ÷ 27 = 1.11 cubic yards

Circular Areas
Cubic Yards = (π × r² × D) ÷ 27

Where r = Radius (ft), D = Depth (ft), π ≈ 3.14159

Example: A 10ft diameter circle with 4 inches of gravel:

(3.14 × 5² × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 0.97 cubic yards

Recommended Material Depths

MaterialRecommended DepthCommon Uses
🪵 Mulch2-4 inchesGarden beds, tree rings, pathways
🪨 Gravel2-4 inchesDriveways, walkways, drainage
🌱 Topsoil4-6 inchesNew lawns, raised beds, gardens
🧱 Concrete4-6 inchesPatios, sidewalks, slabs
🏖️ Sand1-2 inchesPaver base, sandboxes, leveling
🪨 Crushed Stone2-4 inchesBase material, French drains

Cubic Yard Conversions

27

Cubic Feet per Cubic Yard

201.97

Gallons per Cubic Yard

764.55

Liters per Cubic Yard

0.765

Cubic Meters per Cubic Yard

Tips for Ordering Landscaping Materials

  • Order 10-15% extra to account for settling, spreading, and waste.
  • Measure in feet, then convert depth from inches to feet (divide by 12).
  • Round up to the nearest half or whole cubic yard when ordering.
  • For irregular shapes, break them into rectangles and circles, calculate each separately.
  • Consider delivery fees—sometimes ordering a full truckload is more cost-effective.

Material Weight Considerations

A cubic yard of material can weigh anywhere from 800 lbs (mulch) to 3,000+ lbs (concrete/gravel). Most pickup trucks can only safely carry about ½ cubic yard of heavy materials. For larger quantities, consider delivery or use a trailer rated for the weight.

~800 lbs

Mulch

~1,400 lbs

Topsoil

~2,700 lbs

Gravel

~3,600 lbs

Concrete

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Cubic Yards

Everything you need to know about calculating cubic yards for your landscaping and construction projects

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 27 cubic feet. Imagine a cube that is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet tall - that's one cubic yard. It's the standard measurement used for bulk landscaping materials like mulch, gravel, soil, and concrete in the United States.
To calculate cubic yards for a rectangular area: 1) Measure the length and width in feet, 2) Measure the depth in inches and divide by 12 to convert to feet, 3) Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, 4) Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards. Formula: (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards
One cubic yard of mulch covers approximately 162 square feet at 2 inches deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, or 81 square feet at 4 inches deep. For most landscaping beds, a 2-3 inch layer is recommended for weed suppression and moisture retention.
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. If you're using 2 cubic foot bags, you'll need about 13-14 bags to equal one cubic yard. For 3 cubic foot bags, you'll need 9 bags. Buying in bulk cubic yards is usually more economical for large projects.
A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs between 2,400 to 2,900 pounds (1.2 to 1.45 tons), depending on the type and moisture content. Pea gravel weighs about 2,600 lbs/cubic yard, crushed stone about 2,700 lbs, and river rock about 2,400 lbs per cubic yard.
To calculate concrete needed: multiply length × width × depth (all in feet), then divide by 27. For a 10×10 foot patio that's 4 inches (0.33 feet) deep: (10 × 10 × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 1.22 cubic yards. Always order 10% extra to account for waste and uneven surfaces.
One cubic yard equals approximately 0.7646 cubic meters. Conversely, one cubic meter equals about 1.308 cubic yards. Cubic yards are primarily used in the United States, while cubic meters are the standard in most other countries using the metric system.
For effective weed control, apply mulch 2-4 inches deep. A 2-3 inch layer is ideal for most garden beds as it suppresses weeds while allowing water and air to reach plant roots. Avoid piling mulch deeper than 4 inches as this can suffocate roots and cause moisture problems.
For circular areas: 1) Measure the diameter and divide by 2 to get the radius, 2) Calculate the area using π × radius², 3) Multiply by depth (in feet), 4) Divide by 27. Formula: (3.14159 × radius² × depth) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards. Our calculator handles this automatically.
For a new lawn, you typically need 4-6 inches of topsoil. One cubic yard of topsoil covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. For a 1,000 square foot lawn at 4 inches deep, you'll need approximately 12.3 cubic yards of topsoil.
Topsoil typically costs $15-50 per cubic yard for basic screened topsoil, or $30-100+ for premium blended garden soil. Delivery fees usually range from $50-150 depending on distance and quantity. Buying in larger quantities often reduces the per-yard cost.
For driveways, plan for 4-6 inches of gravel depth. Measure the length and width of your driveway in feet, convert depth to feet (divide inches by 12), then multiply all three and divide by 27. For a 50×12 foot driveway at 4 inches deep: (50 × 12 × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 7.3 cubic yards.

Material Coverage Guide

Standard coverage depths for common landscaping materials

  • Mulch: 2-4 inches for beds
  • Gravel: 2-3 inches for pathways
  • Concrete: 4-6 inches for slabs
  • Topsoil: 4-6 inches for lawns
  • Sand: 2 inches for paver base

Quick Conversions

Common cubic yard conversions

  • 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
  • 1 cubic yard = 201.97 gallons
  • 1 cubic yard = 764.55 liters
  • 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 cubic meters

Pro Tips for Ordering Materials

  • 1.Always order 10-15% extra to account for settling and spillage
  • 2.Measure twice, calculate once - errors can be costly
  • 3.Consider delivery fees when comparing bulk vs. bagged materials
  • 4.Check local regulations for large material deliveries