StoreBox's Cubic Yard Calculator
Dirt, concrete, mulch, gravel, sand, topsoil. Enter your dimensions — get cubic yards, weight, bags, and cost instantly.
only
How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is a block of material 3 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall — one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet (3 × 3 × 3). Bulk materials like dirt, concrete, mulch, gravel, sand, and topsoil are all sold by the cubic yard.
The math is short: convert every measurement to feet, multiply length × width × depth to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. The calculator above handles everything automatically.
The cubic yard formula
The most common mistake is leaving depth in inches. Four inches is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft — not 4. Leave it as inches and your order comes out 12× too large.
How much does a cubic yard weigh?
Trucks and delivery fees are limited by weight, not volume. These are typical dry weights — moisture can add 10–20%.
| Material | Weight / yd³ | US tons / yd³ | Yards per ton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mulch (wood) | ~800 lbs | 0.40 | ~2.5 |
| Compost | ~1,100 lbs | 0.55 | ~1.8 |
| Topsoil | ~2,200 lbs | 1.10 | ~0.9 |
| Fill dirt | ~2,200 lbs | 1.10 | ~0.9 |
| Sand | ~2,700 lbs | 1.35 | ~0.7 |
| Gravel / crushed stone | ~2,835 lbs | 1.42 | ~0.7 |
| Concrete (ready-mix) | ~4,050 lbs | 2.03 | ~0.5 |
How deep should each material go?
- Mulch: 2–3 in for established beds, 3–4 in for weed suppression.
- Topsoil for a new lawn: 4–6 in before seeding or sodding.
- Gravel driveway: 4 in top layer; 8–12 in total for a new base.
- Concrete slab: 4 in for patios; 5–6 in for driveways.
- Paver / sand base: 1 in bedding sand over 4–6 in compacted gravel.
You price the job.
Make sure customers can find you to hire you.
Worked examples
Concrete patio slab
A 12 ft × 12 ft patio at 4 in thick: 12 × 12 × 0.333 = 48 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.78 yd³. Order 2 yards — roughly 3.6 tons of concrete.
Mulch for garden beds
200 ft² at 3 in deep: 200 × 0.25 = 50 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.85 yd³. About 25 standard 2 ft³ bags — the clear break-even where bulk delivery wins.
Gravel driveway top-up
40 ft × 10 ft at 4 in: 40 × 10 × 0.333 = 133 ft³ ÷ 27 = 4.94 yd³, close to 7 tons. Add 5–10% for compaction.
Five tips before you order
- Always round up. A 5–10% overage is cheap insurance against a second delivery fee.
- Break odd shapes into rectangles. Add the cubic yards together — the quantity field handles repeated identical areas.
- Compacted materials need more. Gravel and road base lose volume when tamped — add 10–15%.
- Bulk beats bagged past ~1 yard. Delivered bulk is almost always cheaper per yard than bagged above one cubic yard.
- Confirm weight limits. Check what your truck or supplier's vehicle can legally carry.
Frequently asked questions
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard. A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on every side: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
Convert length, width and depth to feet, multiply for cubic feet, then divide by 27. A 10 ft × 10 ft area at 4 in deep: 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.3 ft³ ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Mulch ~800 lbs, topsoil ~2,200 lbs, gravel ~2,835 lbs, concrete ~4,050 lbs per cubic yard. Moisture raises these.
For gravel ~0.7 yards per ton. Topsoil ~0.9 yards. Light mulch ~2.5 yards per ton.
Standard 2 ft³ bags: one cubic yard (27 ft³) = about 13.5 bags. Above one yard, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper.
An 80-lb bag yields ~0.6 ft³, so a cubic yard takes ~45 bags. Past a few yards, ready-mix delivery is the practical choice.
Make sure customers can find you to hire you.
Stop losing jobs to competitors with better Google rankings. The world's first done-for-you website and SEO platform built for US small businesses — by ex-Google Engineers and Chamber of Commerce Execs.
+ ChatGPT
+ Chamber of Commerce Execs
Disclaimer: This tool is provided by StoreBox for informational purposes only. StoreBox makes no warranties regarding the accuracy of results and is not liable for any losses, damages, or costs arising from reliance on this calculator. Always verify quantities and costs with a qualified professional before placing orders or making purchasing decisions.