Example 01
Mulch for a 20 × 10 ft garden bed, 3 in deep
A rectangular flower bed. Standard mulch depth is 2 to 3 inches.
Walk-through
20 × 10 × (3 ÷ 12) = 50 cu ft
50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cu yd
Result 1.85 cu yd (1.41 m³)
Calculators · 02 of 05
Cubic Yards Calculator.
Figure out how much mulch, gravel, topsoil, or concrete you need. Enter length, width, and depth for each area. The calculator totals the volume and converts it to bags if you know the bag size.
- Imperial & metric
- Multi-area totals
- Bag count
- Price estimate
The formula
How cubic yards are calculated
Multiply length by width by depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
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Measure
Measure the length and width of the area in feet (or meters). Measure the depth in inches (or centimeters).
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Convert depth
Divide inches by 12 to get depth in feet. The calculator handles this automatically when you enter depth in inches.
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Multiply
length × width × depth (in feet) = cubic feet.
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Divide
Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.
Worked examples
Three jobs, start to finish
Same formula, different depths. That is usually the only thing that changes between materials.
Example 02
Gravel base for a 12 × 12 ft patio, 4 in deep
A square patio footprint needing compacted gravel before pavers go down.
Walk-through
12 × 12 × (4 ÷ 12) = 48 cu ft
48 ÷ 27 = 1.78 cu yd
Result 1.78 cu yd (1.36 m³)
Example 03
Topsoil for two raised beds
Two 8 × 4 ft beds, each 10 inches deep.
Walk-through
Bed 1: 8 × 4 × (10 ÷ 12) = 26.67 cu ft
Bed 2: same = 26.67 cu ft
Total: 53.33 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.98 cu yd
Result 1.98 cu yd (1.51 m³)
When you'd use this
Five reasons to calculate cubic yards
Volume math comes up any time you are filling, covering, or pouring.
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Mulch delivery
Order the right number of cubic yards from the landscape supplier. Under-ordering means a second delivery fee. Over-ordering means a pile you did not plan for.
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Gravel and stone base
Calculate the fill under a patio, walkway, or driveway before the pavers go down.
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Concrete pours
Estimate yardage for a slab, footing, or post hole. Ready-mix trucks price by the cubic yard.
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Raised bed fill
Topsoil and compost for garden beds add up fast. Two 4 × 8 ft beds at 10 inches deep is nearly 2 cubic yards.
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Bag-count planning
If you are buying bagged material instead of bulk, enter the bag volume and get a bag count so you know how many trips to the store.
Conversion reference
| Cubic yards (yd³) | Cubic feet (ft³) | Cubic meters (m³) |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 13.50 | 0.38 |
| 1 | 27.00 | 0.76 |
| 2 | 54.00 | 1.53 |
| 5 | 135.00 | 3.82 |
| 10 | 270.00 | 7.65 |
| 20 | 540.00 | 15.29 |
Frequently asked
Cubic yards questions
The questions that come up most when ordering bulk material.
How many bags of mulch are in a cubic yard?
It depends on the bag size. A standard 2 cu ft bag means 13.5 bags per cubic yard (27 ÷ 2). A 3 cu ft bag means 9 bags. Enter your bag size in the calculator's bag-count field to get the exact number.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
Roughly 2,800 lbs (1.4 tons), though it varies by stone type and moisture. Pea gravel is lighter; crushed limestone is heavier. Check with your supplier for the specific product weight.
How do I measure depth in inches instead of feet?
Enter the depth in inches in the calculator's depth field. The calculator converts inches to feet automatically before running the formula. You can also divide inches by 12 yourself: 3 inches = 0.25 feet.
What is the difference between cubic yards and cubic meters?
One cubic yard = 0.7646 cubic meters. The calculator shows both units on every result line. Metric users can toggle to metric mode, which accepts meters and centimeters as inputs.