Soil, mulch, gravel, sand and ready-mix concrete are all sold by the cubic yard, but nobody measures a garden bed in yards. This calculator takes measurements in whatever units you have — feet, inches, yards, meters or centimeters — and returns cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters, with an optional cost estimate.
How to use the cubic yard calculator
- Enter length and width of the space to fill.
- Enter the depth — usually in inches for beds and slabs. Pick the unit from the menu.
- Set the quantity if you have several identical areas, such as raised beds.
- Optionally enter a price per cubic yard to estimate the cost.
Cubic yard formula
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
Cubic meters = cubic yards × 0.764555
The 27 comes from 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. The metric factor uses the exact international yard of 0.9144 m.
Worked example: topsoil for raised beds
You have three raised beds, each 8 ft long, 4 ft wide and 12 inches deep.
- One bed: 8 × 4 × 1 = 32 cu ft
- Three beds: 32 × 3 = 96 cu ft
- Cubic yards: 96 ÷ 27 = 3.56 cu yd
Most suppliers sell in half or whole yards, so you would order 3.5 or 4 yards. Soil settles, so many gardeners round up.
Cubic yards for common jobs
| Area | Depth | Cubic feet | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 4 in | 33.3 | 1.235 |
| 10 × 10 ft | 6 in | 50.0 | 1.852 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 4 in | 48.0 | 1.778 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 3 in | 100.0 | 3.704 |
| 8 × 4 ft raised bed | 12 in | 32.0 | 1.185 |
Depth conversions
| Inches | Feet | Area covered by 1 cubic yard |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.083 ft | 324 sq ft |
| 2 in | 0.167 ft | 162 sq ft |
| 3 in | 0.25 ft | 108 sq ft |
| 4 in | 0.333 ft | 81 sq ft |
| 6 in | 0.5 ft | 54 sq ft |
| 12 in | 1 ft | 27 sq ft |
Tips for ordering bulk material
- Loose material settles. Soil and mulch compact after spreading and watering — order a little extra.
- Check delivery minimums — some suppliers charge more for small loads.
- Know your trailer's limit. A cubic yard of wet soil or gravel can weigh more than a ton.
Measuring irregular areas
Few beds are perfect rectangles. For a curved bed, measure the longest length and the width at several points, then use the average width. For a circle, multiply 3.1416 by the radius squared to get the area, then multiply by the depth. For a sloped excavation, use the average depth — add the shallowest and deepest points and divide by two. These shortcuts are usually within a few percent, which is less than the settling allowance most people add anyway.
Need bag counts or tons? Use the Mulch Calculator, Gravel Calculator or Concrete Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. A bed 10 ft × 10 ft and 4 inches (0.333 ft) deep is 33.3 cu ft, or 1.23 cubic yards.
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet.
How do I convert inches of depth to feet?
Divide by 12. 2 in = 0.167 ft, 3 in = 0.25 ft, 4 in = 0.333 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft. Or choose inches in the depth menu and let the calculator convert.
How many cubic meters is a cubic yard?
One cubic yard is 0.7646 cubic meters, and one cubic meter is about 1.308 cubic yards.
How much does a cubic yard of soil weigh?
Weight varies a lot with the material and how wet it is, so the calculator works in volume. Ask your supplier for the weight per yard of the specific product if you need to plan for truck or trailer limits.