Quick answer: cubic yards = length × width × depth (all in feet) ÷ 27. Divide any inch measurement by 12 first. The number to remember is 27 — a cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 feet. Dividing by 9 gives square yards, which is a different quantity entirely.
Cubic yards to tons, by material
Suppliers sell soil, mulch and concrete by the yard, but stone and sand usually by the ton. This is the table that bridges the two:
| Material | lb per yd³ | Tons per yd³ | yd³ per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch (bark) | 675 | 0.34 | 2.96 |
| Compost | 1,215 | 0.61 | 1.65 |
| Topsoil (screened) | 2,160 | 1.08 | 0.93 |
| Gravel / crushed stone | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Sand (dry) | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Fill dirt | 2,700 | 1.35 | 0.74 |
| Sand (wet) | 3,240 | 1.62 | 0.62 |
| Asphalt (hot mix) | 3,915 | 1.96 | 0.51 |
| Concrete | 4,050 | 2.03 | 0.49 |
What one cubic yard covers
| Depth | ft² covered | yd³ per 100 ft² |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 324 | 0.31 |
| 2 in | 162 | 0.62 |
| 3 in | 108 | 0.93 |
| 4 in | 81 | 1.23 |
| 6 in | 54 | 1.85 |
| 12 in | 27 | 3.70 |
For scale: a cubic yard is roughly the size of a domestic washing machine, weighs anywhere from a third of a ton to two tons depending on what it is, and takes nine to fourteen wheelbarrow loads to move by hand.
Common mistakes & pro tips
- Dividing by 9. Nine is square feet per square yard. Volume needs 27.
- Leaving depth in inches. Four inches is 0.333 ft. Multiplying 20 × 10 × 4 gives 800, not 66.7.
- Assuming yards and tons are interchangeable. They differ by a factor of 0.34 to 2.03 depending on the material.
- Forgetting compaction. Aggregates and soil settle 10–15% once spread. Order the loose volume.
- Pro tip — irregular areas. Break the space into rectangles, calculate each, and add. It beats trying to average an odd shape.
- Pro tip — check the delivery. A dumped load forms a rough cone. Measure its base and height and check with the cone calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 20 × 10 ft area covered 4 inches deep is 20 × 10 × 0.333 = 66.7 cubic feet, which is 66.7 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.47 cubic yards. If any measurement is in inches, divide it by 12 first.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
Twenty-seven, because a cubic yard is a cube three feet on each side and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. The most common error in material estimating is dividing by 9 instead — nine is the number of square feet in a square yard, which measures area rather than volume.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
It depends entirely on the material. Mulch is about 675 lb per yard, topsoil 2,160 lb, gravel 2,700 lb and concrete 4,050 lb. That six-fold spread is why a pickup that carries three yards of mulch comfortably will be overloaded by a single yard of wet stone.
How big is a cubic yard?
A cube three feet on each side — about the size of a domestic washing machine, or roughly what fits in a standard wheelbarrow nine to fourteen times over. Spread one inch deep, a cubic yard covers 324 square feet; at four inches it covers 81.
How many wheelbarrows are in a cubic yard?
Between nine and fourteen, depending on the barrow. A 3 cubic foot builder's barrow takes nine loads per yard; a 2 cubic foot garden barrow takes fourteen. Worth knowing before you agree to move a delivery by hand.