ContractorCounter
Explore estimating and business tools for contractors working with material quantities and project plans.
Explore ContractorCounter →Enter your dimensions
Use feet for length and width. Enter depth in inches or feet.
Tip: 6 inches = 0.5 feet.
Enter a length, width and depth greater than zero.
How to calculate cubic yards
A cubic yard is a volume measuring 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet. To figure cubic yards for a rectangular area, multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27. If depth is measured in inches, divide the inches by 12 first.
1. Measure the area
Enter the project length and width in feet. Yardaris multiplies them to get square feet.
2. Convert the depth
If you enter inches, Yardaris divides by 12 so the depth is converted to feet before volume is calculated.
3. Convert to cubic yards
Length × width × depth gives cubic feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards.
Example: 100 ft × 50 ft × 6 in
Area: 5,000 square feet
Depth: 6 inches = 0.5 feet
Volume: 5,000 × 0.5 = 2,500 cubic feet
Cubic yards: 2,500 ÷ 27 = 92.59 CY
Use it as a yardage calculator or cubic yard estimator
This cubic yard calculator also works as a yardage calculator or cubic yard estimator when you need to calculate cubic yards for dirt, gravel, sand, topsoil, stone and other bulk materials.
Common depth conversions: 2 in = 0.167 ft • 3 in = 0.25 ft • 4 in = 0.333 ft • 6 in = 0.5 ft • 8 in = 0.667 ft • 12 in = 1 ft.
Enter the project length and width in feet, choose inches or feet for depth, and Yardaris will calculate cubic yards along with square feet, square yards and cubic feet.
Cubic yard estimates for common project sizes
These examples use level, rectangular areas. Enter your own dimensions in the yardage calculator above for an exact geometric volume estimate.
Example quantities
| Length × width | Depth | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft × 10 ft | 3 in | 0.93 CY |
| 20 ft × 10 ft | 4 in | 2.47 CY |
| 30 ft × 20 ft | 6 in | 11.11 CY |
| 50 ft × 20 ft | 6 in | 18.52 CY |
These figures exclude extra material for compaction, settlement, and waste. For estimated material weight, continue to the Aggregate Tons Calculator.
How to figure cubic yards from feet and inches
To determine cubic yards for a rectangular area, multiply length (feet) by width (feet) by depth (feet), then divide by 27. When your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first. This yardage calculator handles that conversion automatically.
Quick example: 20 ft × 10 ft × 4 in
20 × 10 = 200 square feet. Four inches is 4 ÷ 12 = 0.3333 feet.
200 × (4 ÷ 12) ÷ 27 = 2.47 cubic yards (rounded).
Use the calculator above for your own dimensions rather than rounding intermediate values.
Common cubic yard questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. Divide cubic feet by 27 to convert to cubic yards.
Can I use this for gravel, dirt and sand?
Yes. It calculates geometric volume for a rectangular area. Ordering quantities may vary with compaction, settlement and waste.
Does a cubic yard tell me the weight?
No. Weight depends on the material and its density. For aggregate, use the Aggregate Tons Calculator after estimating volume.
How do I estimate cubic yards for several areas?
Calculate each rectangular section separately, then add the cubic-yard results. For irregular shapes, divide the project into simpler sections and use measured dimensions for each.
Cubic yards are only the starting quantity
This calculator gives geometric volume. Actual hauling or purchase quantity can differ because of swell, shrink, compaction, waste, density and truck payload limits. For those job-planning calculations, use the full Yardaris Sitework & Hauling Estimator.
Continue your material and sitework estimate
Use these related Yardaris calculators when you need to move from cubic yards into material tonnage, earthwork adjustment or project-specific quantities.
Aggregate Tons Calculator
Convert aggregate volume and density into estimated tons.
Excavation Swell & Shrink Calculator
Adjust earthwork quantities for swell, shrink and material condition.
Topsoil Calculator
Estimate topsoil volume from area and installation depth.
Asphalt Tons Calculator
Estimate asphalt tonnage from area, thickness and density.
Need truckloads, fleet production and cost?
Carry the quantity into the full Yardaris estimator to model material condition, truck capacity, cycle time, fleet size, production, duration and cost.
Plan the work beyond cubic yards
Once you have a volume estimate, explore contractor tools for planning estimates and managing the job.
ContractorTools
Explore tools for estimates, job information and contractor business workflows.
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