Cubic Yard Calculator

1. Choose your project shape. Select "Rectangle or square" for most beds, patios, and driveways. Use "Circle" for tree rings, fire pit pads, or round beds. Choose "Known area" if you already measured your square footage.
2. Enter your dimensions. Measure length and width in feet for rectangles, or diameter for circles. For irregular shapes, split into smaller rectangles, run this cubic yard calculator on each section, and add the results.
3. Enter the material depth. Use the average depth, not the deepest single point. Measure at three or more spots and average them. Common depths: 2 to 3 inches for mulch, 4 inches for walkway gravel, 6 to 8 inches for driveway base. The cubic yard calculator converts inches to feet automatically.
4. Pick a material type. This changes the practical guidance shown in your results. It does not change the volume formula. Choose the closest match for your project material.
5. Set a waste or compaction factor. Use 10% for most landscape jobs. Gravel and stone bases that will be compacted need 15% to 20%. Skip the allowance only if the material sits undisturbed on a flat, prepared surface.
6. Enter price per cubic yard (optional). If you know your supplier's bulk rate, enter it for a cost estimate. Leave it blank if you're only calculating volume.
7. Review your results. The cubic yard calculator shows raw volume, adjusted order quantity, cubic feet, and a round-up line for easy ordering. Use the round-up figure when calling your supplier.

Pro tip: Measure depth at three different points and average them. I once ordered gravel based on the deepest corner of a driveway pad and ended up with nearly two extra cubic yards piled on the street. Three quick measurements with a tape measure save money and prevent over-ordering.

This cubic yard calculator converts your project measurements into cubic yards, the standard ordering unit for bulk landscape materials like soil, mulch, gravel, sand, and stone. The formula has three steps: area calculation, volume conversion, and order adjustment.

Volume:

Depth (ft) = Depth (in) / 12

Cubic feet = Area (sq ft) × Depth (ft)

Cubic yards = Cubic feet / 27

There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 ft³). That conversion is the core of every cubic yard calculation.

Area by shape:

• Rectangle: Area = Length × Width
• Circle: Area = π × (Diameter / 2)²
• Known area: Use your measured square footage directly

Order quantity:

Adjusted cubic yards = Cubic yards × (1 + Waste % / 100)

Variables:

• Area = project surface in square feet (from length × width, diameter, or entered directly)
• Depth = average material thickness converted to feet (divide inches by 12)
• Waste factor = percentage added for compaction, settling, or edge loss
• Price per cubic yard = local supplier bulk rate (optional, for budgeting)

Example:

A 12 ft × 10 ft flower bed filled with 3 inches of mulch.

• Area = 12 × 10 = 120 sq ft
• Depth in feet = 3 / 12 = 0.25 ft
• Cubic feet = 120 × 0.25 = 30 ft³
• Cubic yards = 30 / 27 = 1.11 yd³
• With 10% waste = 1.11 × 1.10 = 1.22 yd³
• At $35/yd³ = 1.22 × $35 = $42.70

Most suppliers deliver in half-yard increments, so you'd order 1.5 cubic yards for this job.

Quick rule: One cubic yard covers about 108 sq ft at 3 inches deep, 81 sq ft at 4 inches, or 54 sq ft at 6 inches. Use that to sanity-check your result before ordering.

Coverage by depth:

Material notes:

• Mulch: Add 5% to 10% for settling. Fresh mulch compresses 10% to 15% in the first season
• Topsoil or dirt: Add 10% for settling. Wet soil is heavier but doesn't change volume much
• Gravel or stone: Add 10% to 15% for compaction. Crushed stone compacts more than round gravel
• Sand: Add 10% for compaction and edge loss. Leveling sand for pavers needs tight depth control

Assumptions:

• The area is roughly rectangular, circular, or a known square footage. For L-shapes or irregular beds, split into sections and add the volumes
• Depth is the average across the project area. Uneven ground can throw off estimates if you only measure one spot
• This cubic yard calculator does not convert to tons or weight. Density varies by material type and moisture content. Ask your supplier for the density of their specific product
• Cost estimates use the price you enter. If left blank, no cost is shown. Delivery typically adds $50 to $150 per load depending on distance