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Cubic Yard Calculator
Length × width × depth in feet and inches, plus waste, gives the yards to order for concrete, gravel, fill, topsoil, or mulch. There's also a quick cubic feet to cubic yards converter. Also searched as the cubic yards calculator or yard calculator.
Quick convert
Cubic feet to cubic yards
Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27. For example, 54 ft³ ÷ 27 = 2 yd³.
Formula
How the Math Works
Cubic yards = (L ft × W ft × D ft) ÷ 27 × (1 + waste %)
Worked example: a 12 ft × 10 ft pad, 4 in deep, with 10% waste.
- Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12: 4 in = 0.333 ft.
- 12 ft × 10 ft × 0.333 ft = 40.0 ft³
- 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 yd³ neat
- Add 10% waste: 1.48 × 1.10 = 1.63 yd³, so order 1.75 yd³
Units & assumptions
Enter feet and inches in any mix (for example 12 ft 6 in = 12.5 ft). 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet = 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. The result is bank (in-place) volume. Loose material fluffs and compacted base shrinks, so check the yield with your supplier. "Round up to" rounds to the next ¼ yard.
Planning tool, not a PE stamp. Your spec, drawings, and supplier still win.
Field Questions
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide cubic feet by 27, because one cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. For example, 54 ft³ ÷ 27 = 2 yd³.
How many cubic yards is a 10 × 10 slab 4 inches thick?
10 ft × 10 ft × 0.333 ft = 33.3 ft³. Divide by 27 to get 1.23 cubic yards neat. With 10% waste, order about 1.36 yd³, which rounds up to 1.5 yd³.
How much waste should I add when ordering by the yard?
Crews commonly add 5–10% for concrete on formed, graded work and more on uneven subgrade. Loose fill and gravel also compact, so ask the supplier for the compaction factor.
How do I measure depth in inches for a cubic yard calculation?
Put the inches in the Depth (in) box and leave Depth (ft) at 0. The calculator divides the inches by 12, so 6 in counts as 0.5 ft.