Free Contractor Tool
Cubic Yard Calculator
Enter length, width, and depth to instantly get cubic yards and cubic feet for concrete, gravel, sand, or topsoil. Add multiple areas, convert to tons by material, and estimate total material cost.
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Calculate Cubic Yards & Cubic Feet
Enter length and width in feet and depth in inches or feet. Add as many areas as you need — the tool sums the total. Optionally pick a material for tonnage and a price for estimated cost. Results update instantly.
Area 1
This area: 1.23 yd³ • 33.33 ft³
Pick a material to estimate weight in tons. Densities are typical averages.
Enables an estimated total material cost.
Volume results
Cubic yards
1.23
Cubic feet
33.33
Estimated tons
Select a material
Total cost
Enter a price
Areas summed
1
Cubic yards + 10% waste
1.36
Cubic feet per yard
27
How to Calculate Cubic Yards
Multiply length × width × depth with every measurement in feet, then divide by 27. If your depth is in inches, divide the inches by 12 first to convert to feet.
The cubic yard formula
Cubic yards = (length in feet × width in feet × depth in feet) ÷ 27. The divide-by-27 step is the key: a cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on every side, so it holds 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
Because most slabs, driveways, and fill projects are measured in inches of depth, convert depth to feet first by dividing inches by 12. For example, a 4-inch pour is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 feet deep. This calculator’s depth toggle does that conversion for you.
Cubic yards vs cubic feet
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Suppliers sell concrete, gravel, sand, and topsoil by the cubic yard, but you often measure a project in feet — so both units matter on the same job.
To go from cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply by 27. To convert volume to weight, multiply cubic yards by the material density: about 2.03 tons/yd³ for concrete, 1.4 for gravel, 1.35 for sand, and 1.1 for topsoil. Add 5–10% for waste before you order.
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Common Questions About Cubic Yards
How do you calculate cubic yards?
Cubic yards = (length in feet × width in feet × depth in feet) ÷ 27. Convert all measurements to feet first — if depth is in inches, divide by 12. Multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 because a cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet. This calculator does it all automatically.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard — a cube 3 feet on each side (3 × 3 × 3 = 27). To convert cubic feet to cubic yards divide by 27; to go the other way multiply by 27.
How do I convert cubic yards to tons?
Multiply cubic yards by the material's density in tons per cubic yard. Concrete is about 2.03 tons/yd³ (roughly 4,050 lb/yd³), gravel about 1.4, sand about 1.35, and topsoil about 1.1. Select a material in this calculator to see estimated tons automatically.
How many cubic yards of concrete do I need for a slab?
Multiply slab length × width × thickness in feet and divide by 27. A 10 ft × 10 ft slab at 4 inches thick is 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.3 cubic feet ÷ 27 = about 1.23 cubic yards. Order 5–10% extra for spillage and uneven subgrade.
How do I measure depth in inches for a cubic yard calc?
Measure depth in inches, then divide by 12 to convert to feet before applying the formula — for example 6 inches ÷ 12 = 0.5 feet. This calculator has an inches/feet toggle so you can enter depth in inches directly and let the tool convert it.
How much material should I add for waste?
Add 5–10% to your calculated volume for waste, spillage, compaction, and uneven ground. Concrete slabs and footings usually need 5–10%; for compacting aggregates and landscape fill over irregular terrain, lean toward 10%. Extra material is cheaper than a second delivery.
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Book a Free DemoVolume results are based on the dimensions you enter and divide cubic feet by 27 to produce cubic yards. Tonnage estimates use typical average material densities and will vary with moisture, compaction, and aggregate mix. Verify quantities against supplier data and site conditions before ordering.