Cubic Yard Calculator
Convert length, width and depth into cubic yards with an optional waste allowance for concrete, gravel, soil and landscaping materials.
Your project details
Change the inputs below to match your project.
What the calculator is doing
It turns three dimensions into volume. Length and width stay in feet, depth is converted from inches to feet, and the resulting cubic feet are divided by 27 because one cubic yard contains 27 cubic feet.
Worked example: 20 × 10 ft at 4 inches deep
Four inches is 0.333 ft. Multiply 20 × 10 × 0.333 to get about 66.7 cubic feet. Divide by 27 and the base volume is about 2.47 cubic yards. A 5% allowance would bring that to roughly 2.59 yd³.
Why the material matters after the math
The geometry tells you how much space needs to be filled. It does not tell you how a supplier will sell the product. Ready-mix is commonly ordered by cubic yard. Gravel may be sold by the ton. Mulch may be sold by the yard or by bag. Topsoil can settle. The volume calculation stays the same; the purchasing step changes.
Do not hide irregular sections inside “waste”
If the project has a thickened edge, footing, step or deeper low spot, calculate that section separately and add it to the base volume. A waste allowance should cover uncertainty and handling loss, not missing geometry.
Quick depth reference
| Depth | Depth in feet |
|---|---|
| 2 in | 0.167 ft |
| 3 in | 0.250 ft |
| 4 in | 0.333 ft |
| 6 in | 0.500 ft |
| 8 in | 0.667 ft |
Pick the specialized calculator when you can
Use the Concrete Calculator for slab quantities, the Gravel Calculator when weight matters, or the Mulch Calculator for landscape beds.