By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet — a cube 3 ft on each side. Bulk materials from concrete to mulch are ordered in cubic yards, so the job is always the same: find the volume in cubic feet, then divide by 27. This calculator handles a rectangular pour and a round column, and converts any volume you already know.
Turn measured dimensions into the cubic yards concrete and gravel are sold in.
Rectangular: V = L × W × D ÷ 27 Cylinder: V = π × (d ÷ 2)² × D ÷ 27
Dimensions must be in feet for the ÷27 to give cubic yards. A depth of 4 inches is 0.333 ft. Round bulk orders up to the next quarter yard and allow 5–10% for spillage and uneven subgrade.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| L, W | Length and width in feet. |
| d | Diameter of a round pour, in feet. |
| D | Depth or height in feet. |
| V | Volume in cubic yards. |
4 inches is 0.333 ft, so the volume is 10 × 12 × 0.333 = 40 cubic feet, or 1.48 cubic yards. Ordering 1.75 yards covers the extra from a slightly uneven subgrade.
Continue with the Board Foot Calculator, Gallons per Square Foot Calculator, Size to Weight Calculator (Rectangular Box), or the Square Feet to Cubic Yards Calculator — or browse more construction converters and all construction calculators.
27. A cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, and 3³ = 27.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026