Calculate cubic yards for concrete, gravel, mulch, sand, topsoil, and fill dirt using accurate contractor-grade volume estimation formulas.
Length × width × depth — results update as you type
Tap a project to load dimensions into the cubic yard calculator above.
12 ft × 12 ft × 4 in slab — typical backyard pour.
40 ft × 12 ft × 6 in crushed stone base.
20 ft × 10 ft × 3 in decorative mulch.
50 ft × 20 ft × 4 in new lawn grade.
Every material order on a job site starts with the same question: how many cubic yards do we need? Whether you are pouring a slab, topping a driveway with gravel, or spreading mulch in beds, the math is identical until you apply waste and material weight.
Convert all dimensions to feet first: inches ÷ 12, yards × 3, meters × 3.28084, centimeters × 0.0328084. Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. Our cubic yards calculator handles unit dropdowns so you can measure in the field the way your tape reads.
Ready-mix plants quote by the yard. A concrete yard calculator (or yard calculator concrete workflow) is the same volume formula with 5–10% waste for overpour, pump loss, and uneven subgrade. Typical wet concrete weighs about 4,000 lbs per cubic yard—use our concrete calculator for bag counts and cost detail.
Supers verify form dimensions before the truck call, round up to the nearest quarter yard on small pours, and match truck tickets at the scale. For aggregate and soil, they compare tons per yard from the supplier ticket against this estimate. When you calculate cubic yards concrete or gravel, always state whether depth is compacted or loose—our loose toggle adds volume for fluffy delivery.
How far one cubic yard spreads at common depths (27 cu ft per yard).
~81 sq ft
Patios, walkways, and slab pours at 4 inches.
~108 sq ft
Mulch beds and light aggregate layers.
~54 sq ft
Driveway gravel base and structural fill.
~27 sq ft
Deep topsoil, fill, or trench stone.
This page is the hub for calculate cubic yards across your project—not a single-material shortcut. Use dedicated tools when you need cost lines and supplier-specific outputs: gravel calculator for tons and delivery cost, mulch calculator for bags, topsoil calculator for lawn grading, sand calculator for pavers, and fill dirt calculator for rough grade.
When your search is specifically cubic yard concrete calculator or calculate cubic yards concrete, the volume here matches what dispatch asks for. Pair results with our concrete estimator for quote-ready pricing, or the full concrete calculator for bags, trucks, and slab diagrams.
Understanding cubic yards of concrete versus tons of gravel prevents the most common ordering mistake: confusing square feet (area) with cubic yards (volume). Depth must be in the equation every time.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft). Bulk materials—concrete, gravel, soil, mulch—are sold and delivered by the cubic yard at landscape yards and ready-mix plants.
Measure length and width in feet and thickness in inches (divide inches by 12 for feet). Multiply the three numbers, divide by 27, then add 5–10% waste. Example: 10×10 ft at 4 in = 1.23 cu yd before waste.
At roughly 2,800 lbs per cubic yard, gravel is about 1.4 US tons per yard. Density varies by stone type—always confirm on your supplier ticket.
Divide cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards. Multiply cubic yards by 27 for cubic feet. Suppliers in the US typically price bulk deliveries in cubic yards.
Concrete: 5–10%. Compacted gravel and soil on cut/fill sites: 10–15%. Mulch: 5–10% for settling. Enable waste % in the calculator to include it in the total.
Divide your total cubic yards by truck capacity (often 10 yd for ready-mix or aggregate). Partial loads may cost more per yard—plan access for full trucks when possible.
Yes. Loose delivery can settle 10% or more after spreading. Use the loose material toggle to add volume before ordering fluffy products like mulch or uncompacted topsoil.
The volume formula is the same. A dedicated concrete yard calculator page focuses on ready-mix; this master tool adds gravel, mulch, sand, topsoil, and fill dirt with correct density for weight and trucks.