Keep every zone visible
Separate a driveway, path, planter or other measured zone. A shared total is useful for ordering, while each row keeps the measurement that produced it.
Measured area to material volume
Cubic Yard Calculator
Area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324 = cubic yards. Enter measured dimensions and planned depth to see cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic metres and liters. Already know the square footage? Choose Known area. Bag, bulk and weight estimates are optional.
Rectangle, circle or known areaSeparate rows for different usesBag and bulk rules visibleNo login or usage limit
01 Measure each zone02 Enter planned depths03 Match the supplier facts
Total volume = sum of (area × planned depth) × (1 + allowance ÷ 100) · whole bags round up · bulk orders follow only the minimum and increment you enter
Transparent volume math
How this cubic yard calculator works
Choose US customary or metric dimensions, then add one row for each rectangle, circle or known area. Each row can have its own planned depth and label. The calculator totals the volumes, applies your allowance, and shows cubic feet, cubic yards, cubic metres and liters. Bag counts round up to whole packages; bulk quantities change only when you enter a supplier minimum or order increment.
Conversions stay traceable
The page shows the conversion path from your dimensions to cubic feet and cubic yards, then to cubic metres and liters. It does not hide a material-specific density or price.
Quotes stay yours
Enter the bag volume and quote, loose density, bulk minimum, order step and delivery fee from the same supplier. Blank fields stay unknown instead of being filled with a made-up default.
Cubic yards = area (sq ft) × depth (in) ÷ 324. Divide by 12 first for cubic feet, then by 27 for cubic yards. One cubic foot is 28.316846592 liters; one cubic metre is 1,000 liters. Conversion factors: NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C.
One volume workflow, different jobs
One volume workflow for many projects
A cubic yard measures volume, not surface area or weight. It is the space inside a cube 3 feet on each side. This tool calculates uniform-depth layers: split a changing-depth footprint into separate measured zones rather than treating a mound or tapered hole as a flat layer.
Check the numbers: an 18 ft × 6 ft rectangle at 3 in deep has 108 sq ft of area and 27 cubic feet of volume, exactly 1 cubic yard before any allowance. At 2 cubic feet per bag, that is 14 whole bags. These are calculation inputs, not recommended dimensions, depth or package size.
Keep different materials separate when ordering. The combined total adds volume across rows; it does not sort soil, gravel or other products into separate orders. A use label names the zone but does not select a material, density or compaction factor.
For a patio project, use the paver calculator when you want the base and bedding layers kept apart beside the paver count. For a material-specific worksheet, open the gravel calculator or soil calculator; each keeps supplier density and order rules explicit.
Common questions
Cubic yard calculator FAQ
How do I use a cubic yard calculator?
Enter each area and its planned depth. The calculator multiplies area by depth, totals the measured volume, then applies only the allowance you enter. For a rectangle, area is length × width; for a circle, area is π × (diameter ÷ 2)².
What is the cubic yard formula?
For US measurements, multiply square feet by depth in inches, divide by 12 for cubic feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. The formula panel shows the same conversion path.
How do I convert cubic yards to cubic feet, cubic metres and liters?
One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet. The calculator also shows cubic metres and liters using full-precision volume before display rounding.
Can I convert square feet to cubic yards without a depth?
No. Square feet measure area; cubic yards measure volume. Choose Known area and enter both the square footage and planned depth. For example, 1,000 sq ft at 2 in deep is 1,000 × 2 ÷ 324, or about 6.173 cubic yards before any allowance. The example depth is not a project recommendation.
Can I calculate more than one area?
Yes. Add a row for each zone, choose its label and shape, and enter its own dimensions and depth. The page shows row-level volume and one combined order estimate.
Do I need to log in or register?
No. This free cubic yard calculator runs in your browser without login, registration or a usage limit.
How many bags do I need?
Enter the volume shown on the package in cubic feet or liters. The calculator divides planned volume by the bag volume and rounds the result up to a whole package.
Can it estimate weight and cost?
Yes, if you enter loose density for weight and your own bag or bulk quote for cost. Supplier minimums, order increments and delivery fees are applied only when entered.
Continue the project
Connect the volume to the rest of the job
Use the gravel calculator for aggregate, the soil calculator for soil and compost, or the paver calculator for patio count, base and bedding layers. Need a measured footprint first? Use the square footage calculator for rooms and project zones.
This page reports conversions and user-entered quantities. Product choice, finished depths, density and supplier terms remain outside the calculation.