How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard measures volume: the space in a box 3 ft long, 3 ft wide and 3 ft high. To find the cubic yards you need, multiply length × width × depth in feet and divide by 27. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first, or pick the units above and let the calculator convert.
Example: a 10 ft × 10 ft area that is 4 inches deep. Depth = 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft. Volume = 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.33 cu ft. Cubic yards = 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Square feet to cubic yards
If you already know the area, multiply it by the depth in feet and divide by 27. With the depth in inches use square feet × inches ÷ 324. The table shows cubic yards for common areas and depths.
| Area | 2 in deep | 3 in deep | 4 in deep | 6 in deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 sq ft | 0.31 | 0.46 | 0.62 | 0.93 |
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 | 0.93 | 1.23 | 1.85 |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 | 1.85 | 2.47 | 3.7 |
| 300 sq ft | 1.85 | 2.78 | 3.7 | 5.56 |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 | 4.63 | 6.17 | 9.26 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 | 9.26 | 12.35 | 18.52 |
Cubic feet to cubic yards
Divide cubic feet by 27. One cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters.
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cu ft | 0.04 | 0.028 |
| 10 cu ft | 0.37 | 0.283 |
| 27 cu ft | 1 | 0.765 |
| 50 cu ft | 1.85 | 1.416 |
| 100 cu ft | 3.7 | 2.832 |
| 200 cu ft | 7.41 | 5.663 |
| 500 cu ft | 18.52 | 14.158 |
| 1,000 cu ft | 37.04 | 28.317 |
What can you measure in cubic yards?
Mulch, topsoil, sand, compost, gravel, fill dirt and concrete are all sold by the cubic yard. Measure the length and width of the area, decide on the depth, and enter them above. Because ground is rarely perfectly level and loose material settles, many people add roughly 5–10% extra; use the waste box in the options.
Two materials have their own pages: the gravel calculator also gives tons, and the concrete calculator also gives the number of premixed bags. If you only have a room's length and width, start with the square footage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth, all in feet, then divide by 27. If the depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. For example, 10 ft × 10 ft × 4 in is 10 × 10 × (4 ÷ 12) = 33.33 cu ft, and 33.33 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, because a cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft.
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply the area in square feet by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. With the depth in inches, a shortcut is square feet × inches ÷ 324. For example, 100 sq ft at 4 inches deep is 1.23 cubic yards. Use the From square feet tab above.
How many cubic yards is 100 square feet?
It depends on the depth. At 2 inches deep it is 0.62 cubic yards, at 3 inches 0.93, at 4 inches 1.23 and at 6 inches 1.85.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27. For example, 100 cu ft ÷ 27 = 3.7 cubic yards.
How many cubic yards are in a cubic meter?
One cubic meter is 1.308 cubic yards, and one cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters.
Can I use this for mulch, topsoil or sand?
Yes. They are all sold by the cubic yard, so enter the length, width and depth of the area. Add a little extra for settling and uneven ground. For gravel and concrete use the gravel calculator (adds tons) and the concrete calculator (adds bags).
Does this calculator upload my measurements?
No. The maths runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server, and it works offline once the page has loaded.
Written by Prakhar Singh, software engineer and creator of K4Converter · Last updated November 2026