Quick answer: Multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 10 × 10 ft area filled 6 inches deep is 10 × 10 × 0.5 = 50 cu ft, or 1.85 cubic yards.
Why Divide by 27?
A cubic yard is a cube 3 ft long, 3 ft wide and 3 ft high: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Bulk materials such as topsoil, mulch, gravel and concrete are sold by the cubic yard in the US.
Step by Step
- Measure length and width in feet.
- Convert depth to feet: divide inches by 12 (3 in = 0.25 ft, 4 in = 0.333 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft).
- Multiply the three numbers to get cubic feet.
- Divide by 27 for cubic yards.
- Round up and add 5–10% extra.
Coverage per Cubic Yard
| Depth | 1 cubic yard covers |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 27 sq ft |
Skip the math: enter length, width and depth in any units and get cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters. Open the free Cubic Yard Calculator →
How Much Does a Cubic Yard Weigh?
| Material | Approximate weight per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Mulch | 400–800 lb |
| Topsoil | about 2,000 lb |
| Sand (dry) | about 2,700 lb |
| Gravel | about 2,800 lb |
| Concrete | about 4,000 lb |
A cubic yard of gravel or concrete is too heavy for most pickup trucks to carry safely in one load, so check payload limits or arrange delivery.
Material-Specific Calculators
- Mulch and topsoil calculator with bag counts.
- Gravel calculator with tons.
- Sand calculator with tons and bags.
- Concrete calculator for slabs and post holes.
Metric Conversion
1 cubic yard = 0.765 m³, and 1 m³ = 1.308 cubic yards. To work in metric, multiply length × width × depth in meters to get cubic meters directly.
Worked Examples
| Project | Dimensions | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|
| Garden bed, 3 in mulch | 20 × 4 ft | 0.74 |
| Raised bed, 12 in soil | 8 × 4 ft | 1.19 |
| Driveway gravel, 4 in | 50 × 10 ft | 6.17 |
| Patio slab, 4 in concrete | 12 × 12 ft | 1.78 |
Circular Areas
For round beds, tree rings and post holes, use 3.1416 × radius² × depth. A tree ring 8 ft across mulched 3 in deep: 3.1416 × 4² × 0.25 = 12.6 cu ft, or 0.47 cubic yards.
Bags vs Bulk
Bagged mulch and soil are usually sold in 2 or 3 cubic foot bags. One cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft or 9 bags of 3 cu ft. Bulk delivery is usually cheaper above about 2–3 cubic yards.
Ordering Tips
- Round up to the nearest half or whole yard; many suppliers have a minimum order.
- Add 10–15% for gravel and soil that compacts.
- Ask the supplier for their weight per yard if you need tons.
- Confirm the truck can reach the drop site without damaging lawns or driveways.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27.
How many square feet does a yard of mulch cover?
About 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep or 162 sq ft at 2 inches.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply by the material’s weight per yard. For gravel at about 1.4 tons per yard, 5 yards is about 7 tons.
How many cubic yards in a dump truck?
Small dump trucks carry about 5–8 cubic yards; larger tandem trucks 10–14 or more, depending on material weight.
How many bags of mulch are in a yard?
13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet or 9 bags of 3 cubic feet.
Related Guides
- How Many Bags of Concrete Do I Need? (10×10 Slab and More)
- How Many Concrete Blocks Do I Need for a Wall?
- What Size Wire Do I Need? Amps, Distance and Voltage Drop
Try the free Cubic Yard Calculator or browse all home improvement calculators.