Cubic Yard Calculator: How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need?
Type the length, width and depth of the space. This cubic yard calculator shows cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters as you type. It is already filled in with a 10 ft by 10 ft area, 3 inches deep.
By Troopus · Updated: October 28, 2026
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- 📐 ft, in, yd, m, cm
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Cubic yard calculator
Estimate for information only. Check your supplier's minimum order and how they measure a yard before you buy.
How do you calculate cubic yards?
To calculate cubic yards, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. A bed that is 10 ft by 10 ft and 3 inches (0.25 ft) deep holds 25 cubic feet, which is 0.93 cubic yards. The calculator converts every unit for you.
A cubic yard is a cube that measures 3 feet on each side, so it holds 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 cubic feet. That is why every cubic yard formula ends with a division by 27.
- Convert all three measurements to feet. Inches divide by 12 (3 in = 0.25 ft). Yards multiply by 3. Meters multiply by 3.281.
- Multiply: 10 x 10 x 0.25 = 25 cubic feet.
- Divide by 27: 25 / 27 = 0.926, or about 0.93 cubic yards.
Each of the three fields has its own unit menu, so you can type a length in feet and a depth in inches without converting anything. One cubic yard equals 0.7646 cubic meters, and one cubic meter equals about 1.308 cubic yards.
| Unit | In one cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Cubic feet | 27 |
| Cubic inches | 46,656 |
| Cubic meters | 0.7646 |
How many cubic yards of mulch do I need?
For mulch, multiply the bed area in square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324. A 12 ft by 10 ft bed at 3 inches deep needs 120 x 3 / 324 = 1.11 cubic yards. Round up to the next quarter or half yard when you order.
The number 324 comes from the cubic yard itself: 27 cubic feet times 12 inches is 324 square feet at 1 inch deep. Use the shortcut for a quick check, or let the calculator do it with the Mulch bed chip.
| Depth | Square feet covered |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 324 |
| 2 inches | 162 |
| 3 inches | 108 |
| 4 inches | 81 |
| 6 inches | 54 |
How many cubic yards of gravel or soil do I need?
Soil and gravel use the same volume formula: length x width x depth in feet, divided by 27. A path 20 ft long, 3 ft wide and 4 inches deep needs 20 cubic feet, or 0.74 cubic yards. Only the depth changes by project, so measure it first.
The same formula gives cubic yards of soil for a raised bed or lawn top-dressing.
Depth is the number people get wrong most often. Check what your project needs from the product label or your supplier, since a thin top-dressing and a raised bed are very different jobs. The Gravel path chip shows a 20 ft by 3 ft path at 4 inches.
Soil and gravel are sold by volume, but they are heavy. This tool gives volume only, because the weight of a cubic yard depends on moisture and the exact material. Ask your supplier for the weight per yard if you need to know whether your truck or trailer can carry it. Tiling instead of landscaping? Try the grout calculator.
How many cubic yards of concrete do I need?
Concrete is ordered by the cubic yard, and the math is the same: length x width x thickness in feet, divided by 27. A 10 ft by 10 ft slab that is 4 inches thick needs 33.3 cubic feet, or 1.23 cubic yards. Add 10 percent for uneven ground and spillage.
Click the Concrete slab chip to see that example. Turn on the 10 percent box and the answer becomes 1.36 cubic yards, which most people would round to 1.5. Slabs often end up a little thicker than planned where the ground dips, so a small cushion is cheaper than a second delivery.
Ready-mix suppliers have their own minimums and rules for short loads, and structural work needs a professional plan. Treat this as a planning number and confirm the order with your supplier.
Should I add extra when using a cubic yard calculator?
Yes, adding about 10 percent is a common cushion for settling, uneven ground and spillage. Tick the checkbox to apply it. The result also shows your volume rounded up to the nearest quarter yard, which is easier to compare with what suppliers sell.
The 10 percent figure is a rule of thumb, not a standard. Loose materials such as mulch and soil settle after they are spread, and sloped or rough ground takes more than a flat measurement suggests. If you would rather be exact, leave the box off and add your own margin. Need a percentage of another number? The percentage calculator helps.
For triangular beds or a sloped site, the right triangle calculator can find a missing side before you work out the area.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because a cubic yard is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. Multiply cubic yards by 27 to get cubic feet, or divide cubic feet by 27.
How do I convert inches to cubic yards?
Divide each inch measurement by 12 to get feet, multiply the three numbers, then divide by 27. Or enter inches directly: pick "in" in the unit menu next to the field and the calculator converts it for you.
How much does one cubic yard cover?
It covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, and 81 square feet at 4 inches deep. In general, 324 divided by the depth in inches gives the square feet covered.
How many cubic yards is 10 x 10 x 3 inches?
A 10 ft by 10 ft area that is 3 inches deep is 25 cubic feet, which is 0.93 cubic yards. With 10 percent extra it is 1.02 cubic yards, so most people would order 1 to 1.25 yards.
How many cubic meters is a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters. In the other direction, one cubic meter is about 1.308 cubic yards. The calculator shows cubic meters under the main result, so you do not need to convert.
How many cubic yards of gravel do I need for a driveway?
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. A driveway 50 ft long, 12 ft wide and 4 inches (0.33 ft) deep is about 200 cubic feet, or 7.4 cubic yards. Add roughly 10 percent for compaction and spillage.
Can I mix units, such as feet and inches?
Yes. Each of length, width and depth has its own unit menu with feet, inches, yards, meters and centimeters. Typical use is feet for length and width and inches for depth, which is the default here.