Cubic Yard Calculator

Convert project dimensions into cubic yards, cubic feet, and bag counts. Add multiple beds, pick a material to load sensible depth and waste defaults, and see how big the delivered pile will be before it lands on your driveway.

Reviewed and updated June 30, 2026

Use it when you want to know
  • Mulch, soil, gravel, sand, or concreteEach material loads a recommended depth, waste %, and bag size that you can adjust.
  • Multiple beds at onceAdd rectangles, circles (tree rings), and triangles for the whole project, not one bed at a time.
  • See the pile before it arrivesEstimate how many truck beds, wheelbarrow loads, and parking spots the bulk pile will use.
Calculator

Turn your project dimensions into cubic yards

Pick a material to load sensible depth and waste defaults, add each bed or area as a row, and read your cubic yards, cubic feet, bag count, and an estimate of the bulk pile.

Tip: split irregular beds into rectangles, circles, and triangles. Measure each piece in feet.

Guide

How to calculate cubic yards for a home project

Cubic yards are the standard ordering unit for bulk landscape material. The math is simple, but the inches-versus-feet depth mistake is the most common error. Use this guide to get it right the first time.

The core formula

Most homeowners measure length and width in feet but think about mulch, soil, or gravel depth in inches. Convert the depth to feet first, then multiply to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards.

Standard formulayd³ = (length ft × width ft × depth in) ÷ 324

Equivalent to: depth in feet = depth in inches ÷ 12; cubic feet = length × width × depth in feet; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. The 324 shortcut combines both steps (12 × 27).

One cubic yard is a 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft cubeA line drawing of a cube with each edge labelled 3 feet, showing that one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet.3 ft3 ft3 ft1 cubic yard= 27 cubic feet
One cubic yard is a 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft cube holding 27 cubic feet. That is the unit bulk suppliers use to sell mulch, soil, gravel, and sand.

Example: a 12 ft by 10 ft bed at 3 inches deep. 12 × 10 × 3 ÷ 324 = 1.11 cubic yards. With a 10% waste allowance, order about 1.25 yards, or round up to 1.5 yards at the supplier.

Coverage per cubic yard by depth

One cubic yard covers a fixed area at a given depth. Use this to sanity-check your result before ordering.

Depth1 yd³ coversTypical use
1 inch324 sq ftLawn topdressing
2 inches162 sq ftLight mulch top-up
3 inches108 sq ftStandard mulch bed
4 inches81 sq ftGravel path, paver base
6 inches54 sq ftDriveway base, raised bed fill
12 inches27 sq ftDeep raised bed, backfill

Recommended depth by project

  • Mulch beds: 2–3 inches. Keep mulch off stems and tree trunks.
  • Tree rings: 2–3 inches, leaving a mulch-free donut around the trunk.
  • Gravel paths: 3–4 inches over compacted base.
  • Paver base: 4–6 inches of crushed stone, compacted in lifts.
  • Raised bed soil: 6–12+ inches depending on what you grow.
  • Playground mulch: 8–12 inches, follow safety guidelines.

Circle and triangle beds

For a circle, area = π × radius² (radius is half the diameter). For a triangle, area = (base × height) ÷ 2, where height is straight up from the base, not a slanted side. Multiply by depth the same way as a rectangle after you have the area.

Visualize the pile before delivery

A dumped pile is wider than it is tall. As a rough guide: 1 yard is a small mound on a tarp, 5 yards is about the size of a VW Bug, and 8 yards spreads across one parking spot and can block a two-car driveway. Ask the supplier if the driver can dump and roll to shorten the pile.

Weight changes everything

Cubic yards measure volume, not weight. A yard of mulch is roughly 400–600 lb, but a yard of wet topsoil can hit 1,500 lb and a yard of gravel near 3,000 lb. If the supplier prices by the ton, use the weight estimate and confirm their density rather than converting blindly.

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FAQ

Cubic yard calculator questions

How do I calculate cubic yards?

Measure length and width in feet and depth in inches. Convert depth to feet by dividing by 12, multiply length × width × depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards. The shortcut when you already know square feet and depth in inches is cubic yards = (square feet × depth in inches) ÷ 324.

How many bags of mulch or soil equal a cubic yard?

One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, so the bag count depends on bag size. A 2 cubic foot bag needs 13.5 bags per yard, a 3 cubic foot bag needs 9 bags per yard, a 1.5 cubic foot bag needs 18 bags per yard, and a 0.5 cubic foot bag (common for gravel) needs 54 bags per yard. Always round up when ordering.

How many cubic yards do I need for mulch at 3 inches deep?

At 3 inches deep, one cubic yard covers about 108 square feet. Multiply your bed area in square feet by 3, then divide by 324. For example, a 300 sq ft bed at 3 inches needs about 2.78 cubic yards, or about 3 yards once you round up and add a small waste allowance.

Will a bulk delivery fit on my driveway?

A dumped pile is roughly cone shaped and wider than it is tall. As a practical guide, a standard pickup truck bed holds about 2.5 cubic yards level, 5 yards is about the size of a VW Bug, and 8 yards spreads across roughly one parking spot and can block a two-car driveway. This calculator estimates the pile footprint, truck loads, and wheelbarrow trips from your order size.

How much waste or settling buffer should I add?

Mulch settles 5% to 10% in the first season, so add about 10%. Topsoil and compost usually need about 10%. Gravel and crushed stone compact, so add 10% to 15%, and sand for leveling or bedding needs about 10%. The material preset in this calculator loads a sensible default that you can adjust.

How much does a cubic yard weigh?

Weight depends on material and moisture. A loose cubic yard of mulch is roughly 400 to 600 lb, topsoil about 1,000 to 1,200 lb, compost about 1,000 lb, gravel and crushed stone about 2,600 to 3,000 lb (1.3 to 1.5 tons), and sand about 2,400 to 2,700 lb. Wet material is heavier. Order by weight only when the supplier prices by the ton.