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Cubic Yard Calculator

A cubic yard calculator converts your length, width and depth into cubic yards — the unit bulk materials like concrete, soil, gravel and mulch are sold and delivered in. It also shows cubic feet and cubic metres, and a 10% waste figure, so you can order with confidence.

Your measurements

Result

It's the workhorse converter behind most material estimates: measure the space, set the depth, and read the yards. No more dividing by 27 in your head or guessing how a depth in inches turns into yards.

How it is calculated

Volume = length × width × depth (all in feet), then ÷ 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Depth entered in inches is divided by 12 first. One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet or about 0.765 cubic metres. Order bulk material to the calculated volume plus a waste allowance.

Steps

Enter length and width, plus the depth (in inches or cm).
Or switch to 'cubic feet already' if you know the volume.
Read the cubic yards — how bulk material is ordered.
Add the 10% waste figure for most jobs.
For concrete, note the bag count for small pours.

Worked example

A 10 × 10 ft area at 4 in deep is about 33.3 cubic feet — roughly 1.23 cubic yards (1.36 with 10% waste).

Common questions

How do I calculate cubic yards?

Multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. The calculator converts a depth in inches automatically.

How many cubic feet in a cubic yard?

27 cubic feet make one cubic yard. A cubic yard is also about 0.765 cubic metres.

How many bags of concrete in a cubic yard?

About 60 bags of 60 lb mix (or 45 of 80 lb) — which is why anything past a fraction of a yard is cheaper as ready-mix.

Should I add waste?

Yes, usually about 10% for spillage, over-excavation and uneven ground. The calculator shows the figure with waste added.