YardVolume Calculator
Volume Calculator

Cubic Yard Calculator —
Instant Volume, Any Shape

No math, no guessing. Enter your dimensions and get exact cubic yards, cubic feet, and weight in tons instantly — for concrete, gravel, dirt, or any bulk material.

✅ Rectangle & Circle ✅ L-Shape & Triangle ✅ Weight Estimate ✅ Cost Estimate ✅ Metric & Imperial
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Rectangle — Length × Width

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Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

The cubic yard formula is: Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (ft) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards. If your depth is in inches, divide by 12 first to convert to feet. Example: a 10 × 10 ft area at 4 inches deep = 10 × 10 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards. For non-rectangular shapes like circles or triangles, calculate the area first, then multiply by depth and divide by 27. Our cubic yard calculator handles all shapes and unit conversions automatically.
For a concrete slab: multiply Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Thickness (ft), then divide by 27. A 20 × 20 ft patio at 4 inches (0.333 ft) thick = 20 × 20 × 0.333 ÷ 27 = 4.93 cubic yards. Always add 10% for waste, spillage, and over-pour, making your order 5.4 cubic yards — round up to 5.5. Most ready-mix concrete trucks require a minimum order of 1 cubic yard. For small jobs under 0.5 yards, use 80 lb bags of premixed concrete instead.
Shortcut formula: (Square Feet × Depth in inches) ÷ 324 = Cubic Yards. This saves you the step of converting inches to feet first. Example: 500 sq ft at 4 inches deep = (500 × 4) ÷ 324 = 6.17 cubic yards. Alternatively: (Square Feet × Depth in feet) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards. If you already know your square footage, use the Enter Area option in our cubic yard calculator and enter depth separately to get your cubic yards instantly.
Ready-mix concrete costs $120–$200 per cubic yard depending on your location, mix design, and delivery distance. Standard 4,000 PSI mix is typically $130–$160 per cubic yard. High-strength mixes cost more. Delivery fees add $50–$150 depending on distance. Short-load fees (orders under 5 cubic yards) can add $50–$100. In total, a 10 cubic yard pour might cost $1,500–$2,500 for the concrete alone, not including labor, forms, and finishing.
1 cubic yard equals exactly 27 cubic feet (because 1 yard = 3 feet, and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27). Cubic feet are used for smaller measurements and bags of material. Cubic yards are used by suppliers for bulk orders of concrete, gravel, soil, and mulch. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply by 27. Our calculator displays results in both units so you can order by cubic yards and verify bag quantities in cubic feet.
A standard full-size dump truck holds 10–14 cubic yards of material depending on the truck size and material weight. A smaller tandem axle truck holds 7–9 cubic yards. A pickup truck holds approximately 1–2 cubic yards depending on the bed size. A mini dump holds 3–5 cubic yards. Weight limits also apply — most dump trucks have a 14-ton payload limit. Dense materials like concrete and wet soil may fill the truck by weight before filling it by volume.
For a lawn top-dressing, apply 0.5–1 inch of topsoil = about 0.15–0.3 cubic yards per 100 sq ft. For a new lawn, apply 4–6 inches of topsoil. For raised garden beds, fill to 12–18 inches deep. Formula: (Area sq ft × Depth inches) ÷ 324 = cubic yards. Example: a 500 sq ft lawn at 2 inches deep = (500 × 2) ÷ 324 = 3.09 cubic yards. Select Topsoil in our cubic yard calculator for instant results including weight estimate.
One cubic yard of concrete requires approximately 45 bags of 80 lb premixed concrete, or 60 bags of 60 lb premixed concrete, or 90 bags of 40 lb premixed concrete. This calculation accounts for the yield loss when mixing. For large projects over 1 cubic yard, ready-mix delivery is significantly cheaper and less labor-intensive than mixing bags. For small projects under 0.5 cubic yards, bagged concrete is more practical and avoids minimum delivery fees.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards — Complete Formula Guide

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft). It is the standard unit used by concrete suppliers, gravel delivery companies, and landscaping material yards in the United States. Knowing how to calculate cubic yards correctly prevents costly over-orders and job site shortages.

The cubic yard formula is: Cubic Yards = (Length ft × Width ft × Depth ft) ÷ 27. If your depth measurement is in inches, convert it first by dividing by 12. For example, a 20 ft × 15 ft patio slab at 4 inches (0.33 ft) thick needs 20 × 15 × 0.33 ÷ 27 = 3.67 cubic yards of concrete. Always round up and add a 10% waste buffer when ordering.

Standard Thickness for Common Projects

Project Standard Thickness Material
Residential concrete driveway 4 inches Concrete
Commercial / heavy vehicle slab 6 inches Concrete
Sidewalk / footpath 3–4 inches Concrete
Concrete patio 3.5–4 inches Concrete
Driveway gravel base 4–6 inches Gravel / crushed stone
Raised garden bed fill 12–18 inches Topsoil
Backfill / foundation As needed Fill dirt
Mulch garden beds 2–3 inches Mulch

Square Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion

If you already know your square footage and just need to add depth, use this shortcut: Cubic Yards = (Square Feet × Depth in inches) ÷ 324. This is derived from the full formula and saves the step of converting inches to feet. Our calculator accepts area directly via the "Enter Area" shape option if you know your square footage.

Important Tips Before You Order

  • ▸Always add 10% for concrete — waste from forms, spillage, and slight over-pour is normal and expected.
  • ▸Minimum concrete order — ready-mix trucks typically have a 1 cubic yard minimum. For small jobs under 0.5 yd³, use bagged concrete mix instead.
  • ▸Measure twice — an error of just 2 inches in depth on a 500 sq ft area means 3+ extra cubic yards. Double-check all measurements before ordering.
  • ▸Weight matters for delivery — concrete weighs ~2 tons per cubic yard. Confirm your access road and truck weight limit before scheduling delivery.

Use our free cubic yard calculator above for concrete slabs, gravel driveways, topsoil fills, and any other volume calculation. Supports rectangles, circles, triangles, L-shapes, and custom areas — with instant weight and cost estimates.

For material-specific calculations, use our mulch calculator (includes settling factor and bag count) or our gravel calculator (includes compaction factor and weight in tons).

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Volume & Conversion Guides

How to Calculate Cubic YardsEssential

Complete formula guide with examples for concrete, gravel, soil, and mulch.

Square Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion

Instant conversion formula: multiply area by depth, divide by 27.

Gravel Driveway Calculator Guide

How many cubic yards and tons of gravel for any driveway size.

Mulch Cubic Yard Guide

How cubic yards of mulch translate to bags and coverage area.