Cubic Yards Calculator
Convert between cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic meters, and more — or calculate volume from dimensions.
Quick Answer
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 46,656 cubic inches = 202 US gallons. To calculate cubic yards from dimensions: Length (ft) × Width (ft) × Depth (in) ÷ 324.
Unit Converter
1 Cubic Yards equals
Cubic Feet
27
Cubic Meters
0.7646
Cubic Inches
46,656
Liters
764.555
Gallons (US)
201.974
Volume from Dimensions
How Cubic Yard Conversions Work
Key Equivalents
- 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
- 1 cubic yard = 46,656 cubic inches
- 1 cubic yard = 0.7646 cubic meters
- 1 cubic yard = 764.6 liters
- 1 cubic yard = 202.0 US gallons
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to a cube that measures 3 feet on each side (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet). It's the standard unit used for buying bulk materials like gravel, mulch, topsoil, sand, and concrete.
From Dimensions to Cubic Yards
Measure length and width in feet, depth in inches. Multiply all three, then divide by 324. The number 324 comes from 27 cubic feet per yard × 12 inches per foot.
Common Cubic Yard Projects
Material Calculators
Know your cubic yards? Use one of our material calculators to get tons, bags, and cost estimates.
How to Convert Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards
Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cu ft).
This is the most common conversion for landscaping and construction projects. Here's a quick reference:
| Cubic Feet | Cubic Yards | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 13.5 cu ft | 0.5 yd³ | Half a yard |
| 27 cu ft | 1.0 yd³ | Standard delivery minimum |
| 54 cu ft | 2.0 yd³ | ~1 pickup truck load |
| 135 cu ft | 5.0 yd³ | Half a dump truck |
| 270 cu ft | 10.0 yd³ | ~1 dump truck load |
Cubic Yards to Tons Conversion
To convert cubic yards to tons, multiply by the material's density. One cubic yard of gravel weighs about 1.35 tons. One cubic yard of topsoil weighs about 1.08 tons.
Cubic yards measure volume; tons measure weight. The conversion factor depends on which material you're ordering:
| Material | Tons per Cubic Yard | Lbs per Cubic Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel | 1.35 tons | ~2,700 lbs |
| Sand | 1.35 tons | ~2,700 lbs |
| Topsoil | 1.08 tons | ~2,160 lbs |
| Concrete | 2.0 tons | ~4,000 lbs |
| Mulch | 0.4 tons | ~800 lbs |
| Asphalt | 2.025 tons | ~4,050 lbs |
How to Calculate Cubic Yards from Dimensions
Multiply length × width × depth (all in feet), then divide by 27. For example, 10 ft × 10 ft × 0.5 ft = 50 cu ft ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards.
If your depth is in inches, convert to feet first by dividing by 12. Or use the shortcut: length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 = cubic yards.
Formulas
L (ft) × W (ft) × D (ft) ÷ 27 = Cubic Yards
L (ft) × W (ft) × D (in) ÷ 324 = Cubic Yards
Need a material-specific calculation?