Concrete & Landscaping
Square Feet to Cubic Yards
Convert an area in square feet and a depth in inches into cubic yards of material.
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Concrete & Landscaping
Cubic Yard Calculator
Concrete, topsoil, mulch and gravel are sold by the cubic yard. Enter the size of your slab, bed or path to find how many yards to order, including a waste allowance.
What is a cubic yard calculator?
A cubic yard is a block 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. This calculator turns the surface size and depth of an area into cubic yards, the unit concrete plants and landscape yards use.
How does it work?
It multiplies length and width in feet by depth converted to feet (inches ÷ 12), which gives cubic feet. Dividing by 27 gives cubic yards. The waste percentage is added on top. If you already know the area in square feet, the Square Feet to Cubic Yards tool is quicker.
What information is needed?
- Length and width of the area in feet
- Depth or thickness in inches
- A waste allowance percentage
How to use the Cubic Yard Calculator
- Measure the length and width of the area.
- Decide on the depth — check the table in our guide to ordering by the yard.
- Enter a waste allowance; 10% is a safe default.
- Select Calculate and round up to your supplier’s increment.
The formula
In plain terms, here is the calculation the tool runs:
Cubic feet = L × W × (D ÷ 12)
Cubic yards = Cubic feet ÷ 27
- L
- Length in feet
- W
- Width in feet
- D
- Depth in inches
- 27
- Cubic feet in one cubic yard
Worked example
Example
A 12 ft × 10 ft patio slab poured 4 inches thick, with 10% extra.
- 4 ÷ 12 = 0.333 ft
- 12 × 10 × 0.333 = 40 cubic feet
- 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards
- 1.48 × 1.10 = 1.63 cubic yards
Order 1.75 cubic yards of concrete.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags of concrete make a cubic yard?
About 45 bags of 80 lb mix (0.6 cu ft each) or 60 bags of 60 lb mix (0.45 cu ft each).
How much area does one cubic yard cover?
At 4″ deep, one yard covers 81 sq ft. At 3″ deep it covers 108 sq ft, and at 2″ it covers 162 sq ft.
Should I add extra for gravel base?
Yes — calculate the base layer separately with its own depth. Compacted gravel also settles, so add 10–15%.
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