Quick answer
Cubic yards = length × width × height ÷ 27 (with all three in feet). A 10 × 10 ft area 0.5 ft deep is 50 ft³, which is 1.852 yd³ or 1.416 m³.
Enter length, width and depth in the same unit. The calculator returns cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres.
Related tools: Concrete Calculator: Cubic yards of concrete for a slab, plus bag counts. Square Footage Calculator: Area of a rectangular space in square feet, square metres and square yards. Gravel Calculator: Cubic yards of gravel for an area.
How to use the Cubic Yards Calculator
- Enter length (above 0).
- Enter width (above 0).
- Enter height or depth (above 0).
- Choose unit: Feet, Inches, Meters and Yards.
- Optionally, enter quantity (a whole number, 1 or more).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Length | A number | > 0 |
| Width | A number | > 0 |
| Height or depth | A number | > 0 |
| Unit | Choose one: Feet; Inches; Meters; Yards | Starts at Feet |
| Quantity (optional) | A whole number | ≥ 1 |
Formula and method
Formula
volume = length × width × height × quantity
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
All three dimensions use the same unit. Plan geometry only; confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Length = 10; Width = 10; Height or depth = 0.5; Unit = Feet.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 1.852 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 50 |
| Cubic meters | 1.416 |
Example 2
Inputs: Length = 120; Width = 60; Height or depth = 4; Unit = Inches; Quantity = 2.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 1.235 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 33.333 |
| Cubic meters | 0.944 |
Example 3
Inputs: Length = 3; Width = 2; Height or depth = 1; Unit = Meters.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 7.848 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 211.888 |
| Cubic meters | 6 |
The first line is the headline result (volume). Below it the cubic Yards Calculator lists cubic feet and cubic meters, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated.
Why divide by 27
A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Bulk materials such as soil, gravel, mulch and concrete are sold by the cubic yard, so this is the final figure to order.
Mixed units
Use the same unit for all three dimensions. If depth is in inches, divide by 12 first: 6 inches is 0.5 ft. Add a little for compaction and spillage.
How the result changes with length
Holding every other input at the first worked example, this table changes only length. It shows how sensitive the answer is to that one value; each row was produced by running this calculator.
| Length | Volume | Cubic feet | Cubic meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.926 yd³ | 25 | 0.708 |
| 10 | 1.852 yd³ | 50 | 1.416 |
| 20 | 3.704 yd³ | 100 | 2.832 |
| 40 | 7.407 yd³ | 200 | 5.663 |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Length: entering "0" shows "Length must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
- Height or depth: entering "0" shows "Height or depth must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Cubic Yards Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Concrete Calculator](/construction/concrete-calculator/) | length, width and depth / thickness | Cubic yards |
| [Square Footage Calculator](/construction/square-footage-calculator/) | length, width and unit | Area |
| [Gravel Calculator](/construction/gravel-calculator/) | length, width and depth / thickness | Cubic yards |
| [Mulch Calculator](/construction/mulch-calculator/) | length, width and depth / thickness | Cubic yards |
| [Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator](/converters/ft2-yd3/) | area and depth | Volume |
Background: construction estimates
Material quantities are geometry plus a margin. Calculate the exact volume or area, add an allowance for waste, spillage, cuts and uneven ground (calculator pages commonly mention 5 to 10 percent, a rule of thumb that varies by material and job) and round up to whole units. One cubic yard is exactly 27 cubic feet.
Suppliers often have minimum order sizes and may charge for small loads, so confirm quantities, product yields and local code with your supplier or a qualified estimator before ordering.
Assumptions and limitations
- Use the same unit for all three dimensions
Quantities are estimates. Add allowances for waste and site conditions, and follow local codes and a qualified professional's instructions for structural or safety-critical work.
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for length and height or depth to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards is 1 cubic metre?
About 1.308 cubic yards.
How much does a yard of soil weigh?
Roughly 2,000 to 2,700 lb.
What is a cubic foot?
A cube measuring one foot on each side.
What does the Cubic Yards Calculator calculate?
Cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters from length, width and height. It returns Volume, Cubic feet and Cubic meters.
What formula does the Cubic Yards Calculator use?
volume = length × width × height × quantity. All three dimensions use the same unit.
What do I need to enter in the cubic Yards Calculator?
You enter Length, Width, Height or depth and Unit. Optional: Quantity.
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to the decimals indicated. Use the same unit for all three dimensions.
What does the “Unit” option change?
It sets how the cubic Yards is worked out. The choices are Feet, Inches, Meters and Yards.
What is an example of a cubic Yards result?
With length 10, width 10, height or depth 0.5 and unit Feet, the volume is 1.852 yd³.
Can I rely on this calculator for a decision?
Quantities are estimates. Add allowances for waste and site conditions, and follow local codes and a qualified professional's instructions for structural or safety-critical work. For this calculator in particular: Use the same unit for all three dimensions.
Related calculators
- Concrete Calculator — Cubic yards of concrete for a slab, plus bag counts.
- Square Footage Calculator — Area of a rectangular space in square feet, square metres and square yards.
- Gravel Calculator — Cubic yards of gravel for an area.
- Mulch Calculator — Cubic yards of mulch for a bed.
- Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator — Cubic yards of material covering an area at a depth.
- Cylinder Cubic Footage Calculator — Volume of a cylinder (pipe, tank, column) in cubic feet, cubic yards, gallons and liters.
- Aquarium Volume Calculator — Capacity and filled weight of a rectangular aquarium.
- Pool Volume Calculator — Gallons of water in a rectangular, round or oval pool.
Sources
- OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e (Rice University): perimeter, area, volume, circumference and the Pythagorean theorem
- NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Appendix B conversion factors (international foot 0.3048 m, inch 25.4 mm, US gallon 3.785411784 L)
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.