Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate volume in cubic yards, cubic feet, and gallons for any material. Rectangle, cylinder, and irregular shapes supported with material weight estimates.
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Cubic Yards
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Cubic Feet —
Gallons —
Extended More scenarios, charts & detailed breakdown ▾
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Cubic Yards
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Cubic Feet —
Gallons —
Professional Full parameters & maximum detail ▾
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Volume
Cubic Yards —
Cubic Feet —
Weight & Delivery
Total Weight —
Total Weight (tons) —
Truck Loads (10 yd) —
Cost
Material Cost —
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter length and width in feet.
- Enter depth in inches.
- Results show cubic feet, cubic yards, and gallons instantly.
Formula
Cubic feet = Length × Width × (Depth in ÷ 12)
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
Gallons = Cubic feet × 7.4805
Example
Example: 10 ft × 10 ft × 3 in deep → 25 cubic feet → 0.93 cubic yards → 187 gallons.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Multiply length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) and divide by 27. There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, since 1 yard = 3 feet, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. If your depth is in inches, divide by 12 first to get feet. For example, a 10 × 10 ft area at 4 inches deep: 10 × 10 × (4÷12) = 33.33 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards. This calculator accepts depth in inches and performs the conversion automatically. For irregular areas, calculate each rectangular section separately and add the results.
- There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. Conversely, divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. This conversion is fundamental for ordering construction materials: concrete, gravel, mulch, soil, and sand are all sold by the cubic yard in the US. A helpful visual: a standard cubic yard of material fills a box about the size of a washing machine.
- Weight varies significantly by material type and moisture content. Fill dirt (dry): approximately 2,000–2,200 lbs per cubic yard. Topsoil (dry): 1,700–1,900 lbs per cubic yard. Wet clay: 2,500–3,000 lbs per cubic yard. Gravel (crushed stone): 2,500–2,800 lbs per cubic yard. Sand (dry): 2,400–2,700 lbs per cubic yard. Mulch (shredded wood): 400–700 lbs per cubic yard (much lighter). Knowing weight is important for determining how much a truck can safely carry and for calculating structural loads on floors or foundations.
- A standard short-bed full-size pickup (like a Ford F-150 or Chevy Silverado) safely carries about 1–1.5 cubic yards of heavy material like gravel or wet soil. For lighter material like dry mulch, a short-bed pickup can hold 1.5–2 cubic yards by volume. A long-bed full-size pickup can hold about 2 cubic yards of gravel. Overloading a pickup beyond its rated payload damages the suspension and is unsafe. A standard 10-yard dump truck carries 10 cubic yards, and a tandem-axle dump truck can haul 14–16 cubic yards.
- Divide the depth in inches by 12 to get feet. For example: 3 inches = 3÷12 = 0.25 ft. 4 inches = 0.333 ft. 6 inches = 0.5 ft. 12 inches = 1 ft. This conversion is essential for volume calculations because length and width are usually measured in feet, so depth must also be in feet for the multiplication to work correctly. This calculator accepts depth in inches and performs the ÷12 conversion internally. Common project depths: concrete slabs 4 in (0.333 ft), gravel driveways 4 in (0.333 ft), mulch beds 3 in (0.25 ft), sand base 1 in (0.083 ft).