Cubic Yard Calculator | Material Volume for Projects

Cubic Yard Calculator

Estimate how many cubic yards of soil, gravel, mulch, concrete, or sand you need. Choose shape, enter dimensions, and get an accurate material volume with optional waste allowance.

Area shape

Length (feet) Width (feet)

Depth

Enter depth either as decimal feet (e.g., 0.5 ft) or inches (e.g., 6 in). Both fields combine automatically. Add waste / overage (%)

How the calculator works

We compute area (square feet) based on shape and multiply by depth (feet) to get cubic feet. Then we convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing by 27 (27 ft³ = 1 yd³).

Formulas

Rectangular	Length × Width × Depth
Circular	π × radius² × Depth
Convert	Cubic Yards = Cubic Feet ÷ 27

Quick tips

Round up to account for settling or compaction (5–10% typical).
For irregular shapes, divide into sections and sum volumes.
Suppliers may sell by the ton or bag; check material density and packaging.

What Is a Cubic Yard Calculator?

A Cubic Yard Calculator is an online tool designed to help you quickly determine the volume of materials like soil, gravel, concrete, mulch, or sand needed for construction or landscaping projects. It measures how much space a material occupies in cubic yards, the most common unit used in the U.S. for large-volume materials.

Whether you’re planning a home garden, building a driveway, or ordering concrete, this calculator makes it simple to figure out how many cubic yards you’ll need — helping you avoid costly over-ordering or frustrating shortages.

How to Calculate Cubic Yards

The basic formula for cubic yards is: Cubic Yards=Length (ft)×Width (ft)×Depth (ft)27\text{Cubic Yards} = \frac{\text{Length (ft)} \times \text{Width (ft)} \times \text{Depth (ft)}}{27}Cubic Yards=27Length (ft)×Width (ft)×Depth (ft)

There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, so dividing by 27 converts cubic feet into cubic yards.

Example:
If your flower bed is 12 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 1 foot deep, the calculation would be: 12×9×127=4 cubic yards\frac{12 \times 9 \times 1}{27} = 4 \text{ cubic yards}2712×9×1=4 cubic yards

You would need 4 cubic yards of soil to fill that space.

Why Use a Cubic Yard Calculator?

Doing this math manually can be tricky when measurements vary or when you’re working with different shapes. A Cubic Yard Calculator instantly performs these calculations for you — just enter the dimensions, and it gives the exact amount of material you need.

You can use it for:

Landscaping projects (soil, mulch, sand).
Concrete or asphalt estimates.
Gravel driveways or patios.
Garden beds, ponds, or retaining walls.

By using this calculator, you can plan better, reduce material waste, and save time and money.

Tips for Accurate Results

Measure in feet and round up slightly to account for settling or compaction.
For irregular areas, divide your project into smaller sections and calculate each part separately.
Always check with your supplier — some materials are sold by ton or bag, not cubic yard.

Final Thoughts

The Cubic Yard Calculator is an essential tool for anyone working on home improvement, construction, or landscaping projects. It ensures accuracy, saves money, and makes project planning easier. Whether you’re ordering mulch for your garden or concrete for a new patio, this calculator takes the guesswork out of measuring material volume.