Cubic yards calculator
Cubic yards calculator for concrete, mulch, gravel, and soil.
Enter length, width, and depth to get cubic feet and cubic yards, plus a quarter-yard order amount — then jump to the material calculator for bags, tons, or cost.
10 x 10 @ 4 in
1.23 yd³
33.3 ft³
Key fact
27 ft³ = 1 yd³
divide cubic feet by 27
Then
Estimate material
bags, tons, or cost
Next step
Turn cubic yards into bags, tons, or cost
Cubic yards is the starting point. Each material adds its own bag size, density, waste, and delivery — pick the calculator for what you are buying.
Conversions shown
Cubic feet, cubic yards, and order amount
Cubic feet
33.3 ft³
length x width x depth (in feet)
Cubic yards
1.23 yd³
cubic feet divided by 27
Order amount
1.25 yd³
rounded up to the quarter yard
Cubic yards to tons by material
| Material | Tons per yd³ | 5 yd³ weighs |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel / crushed stone | 1.4 | 7 tons |
| Sand | 1.3 | 6.5 tons |
| Topsoil | 1.1 | 5.5 tons |
| Paver base | 1.21 | 6.1 tons |
| River rock | 1.5 | 7.5 tons |
| Hot-mix asphalt | 1.96 | 9.8 tons |
Typical loose bulk densities, the same figures used by the gravel, sand, topsoil, paver base, river rock, and asphalt calculators. Wet or compacted material weighs more.
Depth is where mistakes happen
The most common cubic-yard error is leaving depth in inches. A 4-inch slab is 0.33 ft deep, not 4 ft. Enter inches in the inch mode and the calculator converts before multiplying.
Sources
- The Home Depot cubic yard guide — length x width x depth divided by 27 formula
- NIST unit conversions — exact volume unit relationships (ft³, yd³)
Sources checked
Checked against
Bag yields checked against Quikrete and Sakrete product specs; price ranges against published concrete cost guides.
How we check our numbersLast updated: October 4, 2026
FAQ
Cubic yards calculator questions
Answers for calculating cubic yards, converting cubic feet to cubic yards, quarter-yard ordering, and cubic yards to tons.
How do you calculate cubic yards? + -
Multiply length by width by depth with every measurement in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. This calculator does both steps and rounds up to the quarter yard for ordering.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard? + -
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because a cubic yard is 3 ft by 3 ft by 3 ft (3 x 3 x 3 = 27). To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply by 27.
How many cubic yards do I need for a slab or bed? + -
Enter the length and width in feet and the depth in inches. For example, a 10 by 10 ft area at 4 inches deep is about 1.23 cubic yards. Add a waste allowance on the material-specific calculator, since concrete, mulch, and gravel each round differently.
Why round cubic yards up to a quarter? + -
Bulk suppliers usually sell material by the cubic yard in quarter-yard increments, and running short mid-project is worse than a small surplus. The calculator shows the exact cubic yards and a quarter-yard order amount.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons? + -
Multiply cubic yards by the material's bulk density in tons per cubic yard. Typical figures are about 1.4 for gravel, 1.3 for sand, and 1.1 for topsoil, so 5 cubic yards of gravel is roughly 7.0 tons. Pick a material in the calculator to see tons; real weight shifts with moisture and gradation, so confirm with your supplier.