Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate volume in cubic yards for your project needs
Whether you're planning a dumpster rental, ordering concrete, or calculating materials for your construction project, our free cubic yard calculator makes it easy to determine exactly how much volume you need.
Enter your measurements to calculate cubic yards:
Enter your measurements to see the result
What is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume measurement equivalent to a cube that measures 3 feet on each side. It's often used for projects in the construction, landscaping, and waste management industries.
- Standard measurement for bulk materials
- Used for concrete, mulch, gravel, and soil
- Common dumpster size measurement (Example: 10 yard dumpster)
1 Cubic Yard = 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet
Cubic Yard Formula
Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ 27
(when measurements are in feet)
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Measure length, width, and height in feet
- Multiply: Length × Width × Height = Cubic Feet
- Divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards
- Round up for material orders
Example: 10 ft × 12 ft × 4 ft = 480 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 17.78 cubic yards
Common Uses for Cubic Yard Calculations
Dumpster Rentals
Calculate volume for proper dumpster sizing. Knowing how many cubic yards your project needs helps you choose the right container size and prevents costly overages.
Concrete Projects
Determine amount of concrete needed for slabs, driveways, foundations, and sidewalks. Accurate volume calculations helps contractors order the right amount of concrete for your construction project.
Landscaping Materials
Calculate mulch, soil, gravel, sand, and other bulk landscaping materials. Get precise measurements for garden beds, pathways, and outdoor improvement projects.
Calculation Tips & Guidelines
Measurement Tips
Common Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
Divide the cubic feet by 27. Since there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard, this conversion is straightforward. For example: 54 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards.
What's the difference between volume and weight?
Volume measures space (cubic yards), while weight measures mass (tons). Different materials have different densities, so the same volume can have different weights. For example, 1 cubic yard of mulch weighs much less than 1 cubic yard of concrete.
How accurate should my estimates be?
For material orders or for renting a dumpsters, its always best to round up to the nearest 0.5 or 1 cubic yards.
Can I use this calculator for irregular shapes?
This calculator works for rectangular volumes. For irregular shapes, break them into smaller rectangles, calculate each section separately, and add them together. Alternatively, add 10-15% extra to account for shape complexity.
How many wheelbarrows equal a cubic yard?
A standard wheelbarrow holds about 2-3 cubic feet. Therefore, you'll need approximately 9-14 wheelbarrow loads to equal one cubic yard, depending on the wheelbarrow size and how full you load it.
What size dumpster do I need for my project?
Use this calculator to determine your total cubic yards, then choose a dumpster size. A 10-yard dumpster holds about 10 cubic yards, a 20-yard holds 20 cubic yards, and so on.