# How many square yards?

Square yard calculator: the area of a rectangle, circle, triangle or trapezoid in square yards, square feet and square metres, with the cost at a price per square yard, as carpet and sod are sold.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/construction/square-yards-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/construction/square-yards-calculator.json
- Version: 1db6a52c98f5

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Shape Rectangle or square, Length 12 ft, Width 15 ft, How many 1): The area is 20 yd² (180 ft²).

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| shape | Shape | The shape of the area. |
| len | Length | The length of the rectangle. |
| wid | Width | The width of the rectangle. |
| dia | Diameter | The diameter of the circle. |
| base | Base | The base of the triangle. |
| h | Height | The height of the triangle or trapezoid, measured at right angles to the base. |
| a | Top side | The first of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid. |
| b | Bottom side | The second of the two parallel sides of the trapezoid. |
| qty | How many | How many areas of this size. |
| price | Price per square yard | The price of one square yard. Leave empty to skip the cost. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| squareYards | Square yards | The total area in square yards (9 square feet each). |
| squareFeet | Square feet | The total area in square feet. |
| squareMeters | Square metres | The total area in square metres. |
| cost | Cost | Square yards × the price per square yard. |

## Method

square yards = area of the shape × how many ÷ 9 ft²; cost = square yards × the price per square yard

## Assumptions

- Rectangle: length × width. Circle: π × diameter² ÷ 4. Triangle: base × height ÷ 2. Trapezoid: (top + bottom) ÷ 2 × height.
- The area is the flat area. It adds nothing for waste or seams.

## Worked examples

1. shape = rectangle, len = 3.6576, wid = 4.572, qty = 1, price = $25.00 gives squareYards = 16.722547, cost = $500.00. Source: NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, so 1 yd² = 9 ft² = 0.83612736 m², https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811 (retrieved 2026-10-03).
2. shape = rectangle, len = 4, wid = 5, qty = 1 gives squareYards = 20. Source: NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, so 1 yd² = 9 ft² = 0.83612736 m², https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811 (retrieved 2026-10-03).
3. shape = trapezoid, a = 1.8288, b = 3.048, h = 2.7432, qty = 1, price = $30.00 gives squareYards = 6.689019, cost = $240.00. Source: NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, so 1 yd² = 9 ft² = 0.83612736 m², https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811 (retrieved 2026-10-03).
4. shape = circle, dia = 2.7432, qty = 1 gives squareYards = 5.910236. Source: NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, so 1 yd² = 9 ft² = 0.83612736 m², https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811 (retrieved 2026-10-03).

## FAQ

### How do I calculate square yards?

Multiply the length by the width in feet to get square feet, then divide by 9. A 12 × 15 ft room is 180 ft², which is 180 ÷ 9 = 20 square yards.

### How many square feet are in a square yard?

Nine. A yard is 3 ft, so a square yard is 3 × 3 = 9 ft². It is also 0.83612736 m² exactly.

### How do I convert square metres to square yards?

Divide by 0.83612736, or multiply by about 1.196. A 4 × 5 m room is 20 m², or 23.92 square yards.

### Why is carpet sold by the square yard?

In the US, carpet and sod are often priced per square yard. Multiply the square yards by the price: 20 yd² at $25 is $500. Carpet comes on 12 or 15 ft rolls, so you may need more than the room’s area; the carpet calculator counts that.

### How do I find the square yards of a round area?

Use π × diameter² ÷ 4. A circle 3 yd across (9 ft) is π × 9 ÷ 4 = 7.07 square yards.

## Sources

- NIST SP 811 (2008), Appendix B: 1 ft = 0.3048 m and 1 yd = 0.9144 m exactly, so 1 yd² = 9 ft² = 0.83612736 m², retrieved 2026-10-03. https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811