How many cubic yards of mulch do I need?

For mulch, measure your bed length and width in feet, then decide on depth (2–3 inches is standard for weed suppression). Enter these into our cubic yard calculator for mulch to get the exact cubic yards needed. One cubic yard of mulch covers approximately 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep.

How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?

There are exactly 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet). To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27. To convert cubic yards to cubic feet, multiply by 27.

How many cubic yards are in a ton?

It depends on the material density. Gravel: approximately 1.35 cubic yards per ton. Sand: approximately 1.25 cubic yards per ton. Topsoil: approximately 1.1–1.3 cubic yards per ton. Mulch: approximately 2.5–3 cubic yards per ton (much lighter). Use our cubic yards calculator to estimate weight by material.

How much does a cubic yard of gravel cost?

A cubic yard of gravel typically costs $15–$75 depending on gravel type and your location. Pea gravel averages $25–$55 per cubic yard. Crushed stone averages $20–$65 per cubic yard. Delivery fees usually add $50–$150. Use our cubic yard calculator for gravel to find how many cubic yards you need, then multiply by your local price.

How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?

One cubic yard covers different square footages depending on depth: at 1 inch deep = 324 sq ft; at 2 inches deep = 162 sq ft; at 3 inches deep = 108 sq ft; at 4 inches deep = 81 sq ft; at 6 inches deep = 54 sq ft. Our cubic yards calculator shows coverage automatically when you enter your dimensions.

Cubic Yard Calculator – Calculate Cubic Yards for Mulch, Dirt, Gravel & Concrete

Use this free cubic yard calculator to instantly calculate cubic yards of mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, concrete, and fill dirt. Supports rectangle, circle, and triangle area shapes. Also converts cubic feet to cubic yards and estimates material weight and cost. Updated 2026.

Quick Presets:

Length

Enter in feet or inches — select unit below

Width

Depth / Thickness

Measurement Unit

Material Type (for weight estimate)

Price Per Cubic Yard ($) — Optional

Leave 0 to skip cost estimate

⭕ Use this tab for round garden beds, circular ponds, tree rings, or any circular area needing fill material.

Diameter of Circle

Enter full diameter (not radius)

Depth / Thickness

Measurement Unit

Material Type

Price Per Cubic Yard ($) — Optional

🔄 Convert between cubic yards, cubic feet, cubic inches, cubic meters, and liters instantly.

Conversion Type

Value to Convert

Cubic Yard Calculator: Complete Guide to Calculating Cubic Yards (2026)

Whether you are ordering mulch for garden beds, filling a raised garden with topsoil, paving a driveway with gravel, or pouring a concrete slab — knowing exactly how many cubic yards you need is essential. Ordering too little means an extra delivery trip and delays. Ordering too much wastes money on material you cannot return. This cubic yard calculator gives you a precise answer in seconds based on your actual dimensions.

💡 Pro Tip: Always add 10–15% extra to your calculated cubic yards to account for settling, compaction, and uneven surfaces. Our calculator shows you this buffer amount in the results.

What Is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to a cube measuring 3 feet on each side — that is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. It is the standard unit used by landscaping suppliers, concrete companies, and material delivery services across the United States to measure and sell bulk materials like mulch, topsoil, gravel, sand, and concrete.

To visualize it: one cubic yard is roughly the size of a standard washing machine or a large dishwasher. A full-size pickup truck bed (short bed) holds approximately 1.5–2 cubic yards of most materials.

Cubic Yard Formula – How to Calculate Cubic Yards

The basic formula for calculating cubic yards from feet is:

Shape	Formula (all in feet)	Then Divide By
Rectangle / Square	Length × Width × Depth	27
Circle / Round	π × (Diameter ÷ 2)² × Depth	27
Triangle	(Base × Height ÷ 2) × Depth	27
From Cubic Feet	Cubic Feet ÷ 27	—
From Square Feet + Depth	Sq Ft × (Depth in inches ÷ 12) ÷ 27	—

⚠️ Common Mistake: Always convert your depth to feet before multiplying. If your depth is 3 inches, divide by 12 first → 3 ÷ 12 = 0.25 feet. Forgetting this step is the most common cause of calculation errors when ordering materials.

How to Use This Cubic Yard Calculator

Select your shape tab — Rectangle for most beds and slabs, Circle for round areas
Enter length and width in your preferred unit (feet, inches, yards, or meters)
Enter depth/thickness — for mulch typically 2–3 inches, for concrete 4 inches
Select your material type to get an estimated weight in tons
Enter price per cubic yard (optional) for a total cost estimate
Click Calculate Cubic Yards — results include cubic yards, cubic feet, tons, and cost

Cubic Yards by Material – How Much Do You Need?

Cubic Yard Calculator for Mulch

Mulch is one of the most common materials ordered by cubic yard for landscaping. The standard mulch depth is 2–3 inches for weed suppression and moisture retention. For established beds, 1–2 inches is sufficient for a refresh. One cubic yard of mulch covers approximately:

Depth	Coverage (1 cubic yard)	Common Use
1 inch	324 sq ft	Light refresh layer
2 inches	162 sq ft	Annual mulch refresh
3 inches	108 sq ft	New beds, weed suppression
4 inches	81 sq ft	Heavy suppression / slopes

Average mulch cost: $25–$65 per cubic yard depending on type (wood, rubber, pine straw, dyed). Delivery typically adds $50–$150.

Cubic Yard Calculator for Topsoil

Topsoil is used for raised garden beds, lawn leveling, and new lawn installation. Recommended depth is 4–6 inches for gardens, and 2–3 inches for lawn topdressing. One cubic yard of topsoil weighs approximately 1,100–1,400 lbs (0.55–0.7 tons).

Depth	Coverage (1 cubic yard)	Typical Use
2 inches	162 sq ft	Lawn topdressing
4 inches	81 sq ft	Lawn renovation
6 inches	54 sq ft	New garden bed
12 inches	27 sq ft	Raised bed filling

Cubic Yard Calculator for Gravel

Gravel and crushed stone are used for driveways, walkways, drainage projects, and landscaping. Standard gravel depth is 4 inches for paths and 6 inches for driveways. One cubic yard of gravel weighs approximately 2,700 lbs (1.35 tons).

Gravel Type	Avg. Cost Per Cubic Yard	Best Use
Pea Gravel	$25–$55	Paths, play areas, drainage
Crushed Stone (#57)	$20–$50	Driveways, base layers
River Rock	$45–$80	Landscaping, decoration
Decomposed Granite	$30–$60	Paths, xeriscaping
Caliche / Road Base	$15–$40	Driveways, compaction base

Cubic Yard Calculator for Concrete

Concrete is priced and ordered by the cubic yard — typically at $125–$200 per cubic yard delivered by ready-mix truck. Minimum orders are usually 1 cubic yard. Standard concrete slab thickness is 4 inches for patios and driveways, 6 inches for heavy-load areas.

Project	Standard Thickness	Example Area (20×20 ft)	Cubic Yards
Patio / Sidewalk	4 inches	400 sq ft	≈ 4.9 yd³
Driveway	4–6 inches	400 sq ft	≈ 4.9–7.4 yd³
Garage Floor	4 inches	576 sq ft	≈ 7.1 yd³
Foundation / Footing	8–12 inches	Varies	Use calculator

One cubic yard of concrete weighs approximately 4,050 lbs (2.02 tons) — the heaviest common landscape material.

Cubic Yard Calculator for Sand

Sand is used for leveling, play areas, paver base, and concrete mixing. Common depths are 1–2 inches for leveling and 4 inches for paver base. One cubic yard of sand weighs approximately 2,600–2,700 lbs (1.3 tons).

Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards Conversion Chart

Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards	Cubic Feet	Cubic Yards
1 cu ft	0.037 yd³	50 cu ft	1.85 yd³
5 cu ft	0.185 yd³	81 cu ft	3.0 yd³
10 cu ft	0.37 yd³	100 cu ft	3.70 yd³
13.5 cu ft	0.5 yd³	135 cu ft	5.0 yd³
27 cu ft	1.0 yd³	270 cu ft	10.0 yd³

How Many Cubic Yards in a Dump Truck?

Truck Type	Cubic Yards	Common Use
Pickup Truck (short bed)	1–1.5 yd³	Small DIY loads
Pickup Truck (long bed)	1.5–2 yd³	Medium DIY loads
Small Dump Truck	5–8 yd³	Residential delivery
Standard Dump Truck	10–14 yd³	Most landscape/material deliveries
Semi / Tandem Dump	14–16 yd³	Large construction projects
Ready-Mix Concrete Truck	8–10 yd³	Concrete pours

Square Feet to Cubic Yards – Instant Reference

One of the most common questions is how to convert square feet to cubic yards. You need to know the depth to do this conversion. Here is a quick reference chart:

Area (sq ft)	2" deep	3" deep	4" deep	6" deep	12" deep
100 sq ft	0.62 yd³	0.93 yd³	1.23 yd³	1.85 yd³	3.70 yd³
200 sq ft	1.23 yd³	1.85 yd³	2.47 yd³	3.70 yd³	7.41 yd³
500 sq ft	3.09 yd³	4.63 yd³	6.17 yd³	9.26 yd³	18.52 yd³
1000 sq ft	6.17 yd³	9.26 yd³	12.35 yd³	18.52 yd³	37.04 yd³
2000 sq ft	12.35 yd³	18.52 yd³	24.69 yd³	37.04 yd³	74.07 yd³

Bulk Material Weights – Cubic Yards to Tons

Material	lbs per yd³	Tons per yd³	yd³ per Ton
Mulch (wood)	800	0.40	2.5
Compost	1,000	0.50	2.0
Topsoil	2,200	1.10	0.91
Fill Dirt	2,500	1.25	0.80
Sand	2,600	1.30	0.77
Pea Gravel	2,700	1.35	0.74
Crushed Stone	2,700	1.35	0.74
Concrete	4,050	2.025	0.49

Frequently Asked Questions – Cubic Yard Calculator

Q: How do I calculate cubic yards for an irregular shape area?

A: Break the irregular area into smaller rectangles or simple shapes and calculate each section separately using the cubic yard formula. Add the results together. For very irregular shapes, you can also estimate by measuring the longest length and widest width and multiplying — then subtract roughly 10–20% for the missing corners.

Q: How many bags of mulch equal one cubic yard?

A: A standard 2-cubic-foot bag of bagged mulch: you need 13.5 bags to equal 1 cubic yard (27 ÷ 2 = 13.5). A 3-cubic-foot bag: you need 9 bags per cubic yard. Bulk mulch by the cubic yard is almost always more cost-effective for areas over 3–4 cubic yards.

Q: How many cubic yards does a standard dump truck hold?

A: A standard residential dump truck holds 10–14 cubic yards. A small dump truck holds 5–8 cubic yards. Always confirm with your supplier — truck capacity varies. Most landscape material suppliers price by the cubic yard and use 10-yard truck loads as the standard delivery size.

Q: How do I convert tons to cubic yards?

A: Divide the tons by the material's density in tons per cubic yard. For gravel (1.35 tons/yd³): 5 tons ÷ 1.35 = 3.7 cubic yards. For topsoil (1.1 tons/yd³): 5 tons ÷ 1.1 = 4.5 cubic yards. The density varies by material, which is why our cubic yard calculator includes a material selector for accurate weight estimates.

Q: How much does a cubic yard of concrete cost?

A: Ready-mix concrete typically costs $125–$200 per cubic yard delivered. Prices vary by location, mix design (PSI strength), and current material costs. Short-load fees apply for orders under 3–4 cubic yards. A 10×10 ft patio at 4 inches thick needs approximately 1.23 cubic yards — use our concrete cubic yard calculator for exact figures.

Q: How many cubic yards of topsoil do I need for a raised bed?

A: For a standard 4×8 ft raised bed, 12 inches deep: (4 × 8 × 1 foot) ÷ 27 = 1.19 cubic yards. For a 4×8 ft bed at 6 inches deep: 0.59 cubic yards. Many raised bed gardeners mix topsoil with compost in a 60/40 ratio for best results. Use our cubic yard calculator to plan your exact soil volumes and quantities per bed.

Last Updated: 2026. This cubic yard calculator is provided for estimation purposes. Actual material requirements may vary based on site conditions, compaction, and settling. Always confirm quantities with your local supplier before placing orders.