What a cubic yard is
Bulk landscape materials such as topsoil, compost, fill dirt, sand, mulch and gravel are usually sold by the cubic yard. One cubic yard is a cube 3 ft on each side, which works out to 27 cubic feet. It is a lot of material: it fills a typical pickup bed heaping or more, depending on the truck.
How to measure
- Length and width in feet. For irregular beds, split them into rectangles and run the calculator once for each, or find the area with the square footage calculator and enter it as a length with a width of 1.
- Depth in inches. This is how thick the finished layer should be. For fill, measure from the current surface to the target height in several spots and average them.
The formula
Cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (in ÷ 12) ÷ 27. The calculator also shows cubic feet and cubic meters.
Worked example
You want to top-dress a 20 ft × 8 ft garden bed with 3 in of compost.
- 20 × 8 × (3 ÷ 12) = 40 cu ft
- 40 ÷ 27 = 1.48 cubic yards
Most suppliers sell in whole or half yards, so you would order 1.5 yards. If you are filling a low spot that will settle, add some extra with the waste box.
Quick coverage reference
Because a cubic yard is 27 cu ft, it covers 324 sq ft at 1 in deep. Divide 324 by your depth for a quick check:
- 2 in deep: about 162 sq ft
- 3 in deep: about 108 sq ft
- 4 in deep: about 81 sq ft
- 6 in deep: about 54 sq ft
Settling, compaction and overage
Loose materials settle. Topsoil and fill dirt compact after watering and foot traffic, and gravel compacts when tamped. For fill and raised beds, many people order roughly 10–20% more than the measured volume. For a decorative top layer that will not be compacted, a small overage of 5–10% to cover uneven ground is usually enough.
Common mistakes
- Entering depth in feet. The depth box is in inches, so a 6 in layer is 6, not 0.5.
- Dividing by 9 instead of 27. Square yards use 9; cubic yards use 27.
- Ignoring weight. Volume and weight are different. A yard of wet soil or gravel can weigh more than a ton and may exceed what a light pickup can safely carry. Ask the supplier for the weight per yard before you haul it yourself.
- Ordering exactly the measured amount for fill that will settle.
Buying tips
- Bagged soil and amendments are often sold in 1, 1.5 and 2 cu ft bags. Divide your cubic feet by the bag size on the label.
- Bulk is usually cheaper per yard than bags once you need more than a yard or so, but delivery fees apply. Compare the total delivered cost.
- Have the truck dump as close to the work as possible, on a tarp if it lands on a lawn or driveway.
Haul bulk material