How many cubic yards do I need?
Pick the shape of your area, enter its size and the depth of material, and see how many cubic yards to order, with the cost if you know the price.
- Cubic yards
- 0.93 yd³
Filling the area 3 in deep takes 0.93 yd³ of material.
- Cubic feet
- 25 ft³
- Cubic metres
- 0.71 m³
- Area of one shape
- 100 ft²
Cubic yards: 0.93 yd³. Filling the area 3 in deep takes 0.93 yd³ of material.
How to calculate
Computes the volume of material for a rectangle, square, circle, ring, triangle, trapezoid or rectangular border at a given depth, in cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic metres, with an optional cost.
Example with the default inputs (Area shape Rectangle, Length 10 ft, Width 10 ft, Depth 3 in, How many areas 1, Price per Cubic yard): Filling the area 3 in deep takes 0.93 yd³ of material.
Method: volume = area of the shape × depth × how many; cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
- Rectangle: length × width. Square: side². Circle: π × diameter² ÷ 4. Ring: π × (outer² − inner²) ÷ 4. Triangle: Heron’s formula from the three sides. Trapezoid: (side A + side B) ÷ 2 × height.
- A rectangle border runs around the outside of the rectangle: (length + 2 × border) × (width + 2 × border) − length × width.
- The volume is the loose volume of the layer. It adds nothing for waste, settling or compaction.
- The cost is the total volume in the price unit × the price.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Area shape Rectangle, Length 10 ft, Width 10 ft, Depth 3 in, How many areas 1, Price per Cubic yard gives Cubic yards 0.93 yd³, Area of one shape 100 ft².Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
- Area shape Rectangle, Length 12 ft, Width 16 ft, Depth 4 in, How many areas 1, Price $45.00, Price per Cubic yard gives Cubic yards 2.37 yd³, Total cost $106.67.Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
- Area shape Circle, Diameter 12 ft, Depth 4 in, How many areas 2, Price per Cubic yard gives Cubic yards 2.79 yd³.Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
- Area shape Triangle, Side A 3 ft, Side B 4 ft, Side C 5 ft, Depth 12 in, How many areas 1, Price per Cubic foot, Price $2.00 gives Area of one shape 6 ft², Cubic feet 6 ft³, Total cost $12.00.Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
- Area shape Rectangle border, Length 20 ft, Width 10 ft, Border width 2 ft, Depth 4 in, How many areas 1, Price per Cubic yard gives Area of one shape 136 ft².Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
- Area shape Circle border (ring), Diameter 12 ft, Inner diameter 8 ft, Depth 4 in, How many areas 1, Price per Cubic yard gives Area of one shape 62.83 ft².Source: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C, General Tables of Units of Measurement: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, 1 short ton = 2,000 pounds. https://www.nist.gov/document/2026-nist-handbook-44-appendix-c
How it works
The calculator finds the area of one shape, multiplies it by the depth and by how many areas you fill, and converts the volume.
| Shape | Area |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | length × width |
| Square | side × side |
| Circle | π × diameter² ÷ 4 |
| Circle border (ring) | π × (outer diameter² − inner diameter²) ÷ 4 |
| Triangle | Heron's formula: with s = (a + b + c) ÷ 2, area = √(s × (s − a) × (s − b) × (s − c)) |
| Trapezoid | (side A + side B) ÷ 2 × height, where A and B are the parallel sides |
| Rectangle border | (length + 2 × border) × (width + 2 × border) − length × width |
- Volume = area × depth × how many areas.
- Cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27, because 1 yd = 3 ft and 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. Cubic metres use 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly, so 1 yd³ = 0.764555 m³.
- Total cost = the volume in the price unit (cubic yards, cubic feet or cubic metres) × the price. It is shown only when you enter a price.
Assumptions
- The rectangle border runs around the outside of the rectangle, like a path around a patio.
- The inner diameter of a ring must be smaller than the outer one, and the three sides of a triangle must make a triangle (each side shorter than the other two together).
- The result is the volume of the finished layer. It adds nothing for waste, settling or compaction.
Worked examples by hand
A 10 ft × 10 ft bed, 3 in deep. 3 in = 0.25 ft. 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 ft³, and 25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 yd³.
A 12 ft × 16 ft slab, 4 in thick, at $45 a cubic yard. 4 in = 1/3 ft. 12 × 16 × 1/3 = 64 ft³ = 64 ÷ 27 = 2.370 yd³. The cost is 2.370 × $45 = $106.67.
Two circles 12 ft across, 4 in deep. π × 12² ÷ 4 = 113.10 ft². 113.10 × 1/3 × 2 = 75.40 ft³ = 2.79 yd³.
A triangle with sides 3, 4 and 5 ft, 1 ft deep, at $2 a cubic foot. s = 6, so the area is √(6 × 3 × 2 × 1) = √36 = 6 ft². The volume is 6 ft³ and the cost $12.
A 2 ft border around a 20 ft × 10 ft patio. (20 + 4) × (10 + 4) − 20 × 10 = 336 − 200 = 136 ft².
A ring 12 ft across with an 8 ft hole. π × (144 − 64) ÷ 4 = 20π = 62.83 ft².
Other questions people ask
What is a cubic yard?
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 27 cubic feet or approximately 0.7646 cubic meters. It's commonly used in construction and landscaping to measure materials like concrete, soil, gravel, and mulch.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
To calculate cubic yards, first determine the area in square feet, then multiply by the depth in feet, and finally divide by 27. The formula is: Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27. For example, a 10 ft × 10 ft area 3 inches (0.25 ft) deep is 10 × 10 × 0.25 ÷ 27 = 0.93 cubic yards.
What shapes does this calculator support?
This calculator supports rectangles, squares, circles, circle borders (rings), triangles, trapezoids, and rectangle borders. Each shape has its own area formula, which the calculator multiplies by the depth.
How do I convert cubic feet to cubic yards?
To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide the cubic feet by 27. For example, 54 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 2 cubic yards.
What materials can I calculate with this tool?
This calculator works for any material that can be measured by volume, including concrete, soil, gravel, mulch, sand, stone, and other construction or landscaping materials.
How accurate are the calculations?
The calculations are mathematically exact for the dimensions you provide. However, actual material quantities may vary due to compaction, settling, and other factors. Many suppliers suggest adding 5-10% extra for waste and settling.