How to use this cubic yard calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area.
- Enter the depth of material you want to spread.
- Round up when ordering: suppliers usually sell in half or quarter yards.
Example
To cover a 20 × 12 ft area with 3 inches of material you need 2.22 cu yd, which is 60 cu ft or 1.7 m³. Most landscape suppliers sell in half-yard steps, so you would order the next half yard up.
What to know before you buy
How much is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side: 27 cubic feet, or about 0.76 cubic meters. It is the standard unit for bulk soil, mulch, gravel, sand and ready-mix concrete in the US. A standard wheelbarrow holds about 6 cubic feet, so one cubic yard is roughly 4–5 wheelbarrow loads.
Weight matters for delivery
The same cubic yard can weigh very different amounts: mulch about 400–800 lb, topsoil around 2,000 lb and gravel about 2,800 lb. Check the payload of your truck or trailer before hauling it yourself; a typical half-ton pickup should carry no more than about one cubic yard of gravel.
Cubic yards needed for 100 sq ft at different depths
| Depth over 10 × 10 ft | Volume | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 cu yd | 8.3 cu ft |
| 2 in | 0.62 cu yd | 16.7 cu ft |
| 3 in | 0.93 cu yd | 25 cu ft |
| 4 in | 1.23 cu yd | 33.3 cu ft |
| 6 in | 1.85 cu yd | 50 cu ft |
| 12 in | 3.7 cu yd | 100 cu ft |
Formula
Cubic yards = (length × width × depth in feet) ÷ 27.
Tips from the pros
- Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards; multiply cubic yards by 0.765 to get cubic meters.
- Loose materials settle: order 5–10% extra for soil, mulch and gravel.
- Ask your supplier for the minimum delivery quantity; small orders often cost the same as a full yard.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering depth in feet when you meant inches (3 ft instead of 3 in is 12 times more material).
- Forgetting that a pickup truck bed holds only about 1–2 cubic yards of mulch, and less of heavy gravel or soil.
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet; at 2 inches, about 162 square feet.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For 3 inches deep, multiply sq ft by 0.25 and divide by 27.
How many cubic yards fit in a pickup truck?
A full-size pickup with an 8 ft bed holds about 2 cubic yards of light material like mulch, but only about 1 yard of heavy gravel or soil due to weight limits.