Cubic Yard Calculator

As a contractor, landscaper or even a homeowner, accurately calculating the volume of waste your project will produce is essential for saving you time and money.

While some items like old furniture can be easy to estimate volume requirements, other materials like concrete, mulch or drywall can be more challenging to calculate.

You can use our free cubic yard calculator to estimate your project needs today.

What Is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume that measures 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet. It’s commonly used in construction and landscaping to calculate materials like dirt, gravel, sand, or concrete. Knowing how to calculate cubic yards is essential when ordering materials for projects like filling a hole, leveling a surface, or hauling debris.

Likewise, when it comes time for disposing of these materials, it’s just as important in calculating disposal costs and ordering the proper dumpster size.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards Manually

The formula for cubic yards is:

(Length (ft) * Width (ft) * (Depth (in)/12)) / 27 =  Cubic Yards

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Measure Your Space: Use a tape measure to find the length, width, and height of your project area in feet.
• Multiply: Multiply the three dimensions (length × width × height) to find the total cubic feet.
• Convert to Cubic Yards: Divide the total cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
  

Common Materials and Weight Per Cubic Yard

• Soil: 2,200 - 2,700 lbs/cubic yard
• Gravel: 2,800 -  3,000 lbs/cubic yard
• Sand: 2,700 - 3,100 lbs/cubic yard
• Concrete: 3,700 -  4,200 lbs/cubic yard
• Mulch: 400 - 800 lbs/cubic yard