Quick answer
Cubic yards = area (ft²) × depth (inches) ÷ 12 ÷ 27. 200 ft² covered 4 inches deep is 66.67 ft³, or 2.4691 yd³.
Enter the area in square feet and the depth in inches. The calculator returns cubic yards and cubic feet.
Related tools: Volume Converter: Convert litres, gallons, cups, spoons and more.
How to use the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator
- Enter area (ft²) (above 0).
- Enter depth (in) (above 0).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Area | A number, in ft² | > 0 |
| Depth | A number, in in | > 0 |
Formula and method
Formula
cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
Material to spread over an area at a uniform depth.
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Area = 200; Depth = 4.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 2.4691 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 66.667 |
Example 2
Inputs: Area = 1000; Depth = 6.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 18.5185 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 500 |
Example 3
Inputs: Area = 150; Depth = 2.5.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Volume | 1.1574 yd³ |
| Cubic feet | 31.25 |
The first line is the headline result (volume). Below it the square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator lists cubic feet, which describe the same case from other angles. IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places.
Why the two divisions
Dividing depth by 12 converts inches to feet, giving cubic feet; dividing by 27 converts cubic feet to cubic yards. 200 × (4 ÷ 12) = 66.67 ft³ and 66.67 ÷ 27 = 2.4691.
Ordering
Add 5 to 10% for compaction and spillage. Mulch, gravel and soil are sold by the cubic yard, and a pickup truck carries about 1 to 2 yards.
How the result changes with area
Holding every other input at the first worked example, this table changes only area. It shows how sensitive the answer is to that one value; each row was produced by running this calculator.
| Area | Volume | Cubic feet |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 1.2346 yd³ | 33.333 |
| 200 | 2.4691 yd³ | 66.667 |
| 400 | 4.9383 yd³ | 133.333 |
| 800 | 9.8765 yd³ | 266.667 |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Area: entering "0" shows "Area must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
- Depth: entering "0" shows "Depth must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Square Feet to 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 |
|---|---|---|
| [Cubic Yards Calculator](/construction/cubic-yards-calculator/) | length, width and height or depth | Volume |
| [Volume Converter](/converters/volume-converter/) | value, from and to | US gallon → Litre (L) |
| [Cylinder Cubic Footage Calculator](/construction/cylinder-cubic-footage-calculator/) | diameter, height or length and unit | Volume |
| [Linear Feet to Square Feet Calculator](/converters/lf-to-sf/) | linear feet and width | Area |
| [Aquarium Volume Calculator](/construction/aquarium-volume/) | length, width and water height | Capacity |
Background: unit conversion
Many customary units are defined exactly in terms of metric ones: since the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement an inch is exactly 2.54 cm and a pound is exactly 0.45359237 kg (NIST SP 811 lists these). So most length and mass conversions are exact apart from the rounding of the displayed result.
To convert, multiply the value by the source unit's factor to reach the base unit, then divide by the target unit's factor; the unit table on this page lists every factor used. Temperature and fuel economy are the exceptions, because they are not simple multiples.
Assumptions and limitations
- Add allowance for compaction
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 area and depth to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
How many ft² does a yard cover at 3 inches?
At 3 inches deep one cubic yard covers 108 ft², because 27 ft³ ÷ 0.25 ft = 108.
How deep should mulch be?
2 to 3 inches is typical.
Is a cubic yard 27 ft³?
Yes, 3 × 3 × 3 feet.
What does the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator calculate?
Cubic yards of material covering an area at a depth. It returns Volume and Cubic feet.
What formula does the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator use?
cubic yards = area × depth ÷ 12 ÷ 27. Material to spread over an area at a uniform depth.
What do I need to enter in the square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator?
You enter Area (ft²) and Depth (in).
How is the result rounded or limited?
IEEE-754 double precision; shown to at most 6 decimal places. Add allowance for compaction.
What is an example of a square Feet to Cubic Yards result?
With area 200 and depth 4, the volume is 2.4691 yd³.
Where does the method come from?
The method follows: NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Appendix B (1 yd = 3 ft, so 1 yd3 = 27 ft3, exact).
Related calculators
- Volume Converter — Convert litres, gallons, cups, spoons and more.
- Linear Feet to Square Feet Calculator — Square feet covered by a length of material of a given width.
Sources
- NIST Special Publication 811, Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI), Appendix B (1 yd = 3 ft, so 1 yd3 = 27 ft3, exact)
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.