A cubic yard is a measure of space. Think of a box. This box is 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The amount of space inside this box is one cubic yard. This measure is used for many things, like dirt, mulch, and concrete. Knowing its size helps you buy the right amount for your projects.
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What is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a unit. It measures volume. Volume is the space an object or material takes up. Think of how much water fills a container. That is volume. A cubic yard is a specific amount of space. It is like a standard box size for loose materials.
We use different units to measure length. Inches, feet, and yards are common in the United States. A yard is 3 feet long. To measure space in 3D, we use cubic units. We can use cubic inches, cubic feet, or cubic yards. A cubic yard is a large unit of volume. It is great for big jobs.
Why is it called “cubic”? Because it is based on a cube. A cube has sides that are all the same length. A cubic yard is like a cube with 1-yard sides. Since a yard is 3 feet, it is a cube with 3-foot sides.
Understanding this helps you figure out how much material you need. It stops you from buying too little or too much. Both waste time and money.
The Core Cubic Yard Dimensions
Let’s talk about the size of a cubic yard. It is simple. It is a measure of volume. But it is based on length. The basic unit is a yard. A yard is 3 feet long.
A cubic yard is volume. You get volume by multiplying three lengths together. You need length, width, and height. For a perfect cube, these three lengths are the same.
For a cubic yard, the sides measure 1 yard each.
Length = 1 yard
Width = 1 yard
Height = 1 yard
To get the volume, you multiply these:
Volume = Length × Width × Height
Volume = 1 yard × 1 yard × 1 yard
Volume = 1 cubic yard
So, the cubic yard dimensions are based on a 1 yard by 1 yard by 1 yard cube. This shape is how we picture the basic unit. But a cubic yard of material does not have to be in this shape. It can be in a pile. Or in a truck bed. Or in a hole in the ground. It is the total amount of space the material fills that matters. That space equals the space inside a 1x1x1 yard cube.
How Many Cubic Feet Make One Cubic Yard?
This is a very common question. We often measure things in feet. So, we need to know how a cubic yard relates to feet. We know a cubic yard is like a box that is 1 yard on each side. We also know that 1 yard is the same as 3 feet.
So, let’s think about that 1-yard box using feet.
Length = 1 yard = 3 feet
Width = 1 yard = 3 feet
Height = 1 yard = 3 feet
To find the volume in cubic feet, we multiply the lengths in feet:
Volume = Length × Width × Height
Volume = 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet
Let’s do the math:
3 × 3 = 9
9 × 3 = 27
So, 3 feet × 3 feet × 3 feet = 27 cubic feet.
This gives us a key fact: 1 cubic yard in feet is equal to 27 cubic feet.
This means how many cubic feet in a cubic yard is always 27. This is a fixed number. It does not change based on the material. 1 cubic yard of soil takes up 27 cubic feet of space. 1 cubic yard of mulch takes up 27 cubic feet of space. 1 cubic yard of air takes up 27 cubic feet of space.
This fact is super useful. Many projects are measured in feet. You might need to fill a space that is 9 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 1 foot deep. How much material is that?
Volume = 9 feet × 3 feet × 1 foot = 27 cubic feet.
Since 27 cubic feet is 1 cubic yard, you know you need exactly 1 cubic yard of material. Easy!
We will use this number, 27 cubic feet, a lot when figuring out how much material you need.
Calculating Cubic Yards For Your Project
Now you know what a cubic yard is. You also know it is 27 cubic feet. But how do you figure out how many cubic yards you need for your specific job? You need to calculate cubic yards.
This usually means measuring the space you want to fill or cover. You measure the length, width, and depth of that space. It could be a garden bed, a hole, a walkway area, or a whole yard.
You should measure in feet. Why feet? Because the conversion (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet) uses feet. Measuring in feet makes the math easier later.
Simple Shape Calculations
Most areas you work with will be like a box or a rectangle.
Think of a rectangular garden bed.
You need to measure:
1. Length (how long it is)
2. Width (how wide it is)
3. Depth (how deep you want the material)
Make sure all your measurements are in feet. If you measure in inches, divide by 12 to get feet. If you measure in yards, multiply by 3 to get feet. Sticking to feet is best.
Once you have the measurements in feet:
Step 1: Calculate the volume in cubic feet.
Volume (cubic feet) = Length (feet) × Width (feet) × Depth (feet)
Step 2: Convert cubic feet to cubic yards.
You know that 27 cubic feet is 1 cubic yard.
So, to find out how many cubic yards you have, you divide the total cubic feet by 27.
Volume (cubic yards) = Volume (cubic feet) / 27
Let’s do an example:
You want to cover an area for a patio.
The area is 18 feet long.
The area is 12 feet wide.
You want the base material to be 6 inches deep.
First, get all measures in feet:
Length = 18 feet (already in feet)
Width = 12 feet (already in feet)
Depth = 6 inches. To convert inches to feet, divide by 12. 6 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.5 feet.
Now, calculate cubic feet:
Volume (cubic feet) = 18 feet × 12 feet × 0.5 feet
18 × 12 = 216
216 × 0.5 = 108
So, the volume is 108 cubic feet.
Next, convert cubic feet to cubic yards:
Volume (cubic yards) = 108 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet/cubic yard
108 / 27 = 4
You need 4 cubic yards of material.
Here is a table to help with the math:
| Step | What to Measure or Calculate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Measure Length | Longest side of area | Feet |
| 2. Measure Width | Shorter side of area | Feet |
| 3. Measure Depth | How deep you need the material | Feet (convert inches by /12) |
| 4. Calculate Cubic Feet | Length × Width × Depth | Cubic Feet |
| 5. Calculate Cubic Yards | Cubic Feet result / 27 | Cubic Yards |
Figuring Out Piles
Sometimes you are measuring a pile of material. This is harder. A pile is not a perfect box shape. It is usually a cone or half a ball shape. It is best to estimate.
You can try to picture a box that the pile would fit into. Measure the length, width, and height of that imaginary box. Use the calculation method above to get an estimate.
Or, if the pile is somewhat flat on top, you might treat it like a cylinder (a round shape). Measure the distance across the flat top (diameter). Divide by 2 to get the radius. Measure the height of the pile.
Volume of a cylinder = π × (radius)² × height (where π is about 3.14)
Then divide the cubic feet result by 27 to get cubic yards.
Getting the exact amount for a pile is tricky. It is often okay to estimate and order a little extra. Or plan on needing less than your first guess.
Always double-check your measurements before ordering large amounts of material. Ordering too much means extra material and cost. Ordering too little means waiting for a second delivery.
Visualizing the Size of a Cubic Yard
What does cubic yard size comparison feel like in the real world? It is hard to picture a box that is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. Let’s use some common things to help.
Imagine a washing machine. A large one. A cubic yard is roughly the size of two or three large washing machines stacked up.
Think about a standard oven in your kitchen. A cubic yard is bigger than that. Maybe like 4 to 6 ovens put together.
Consider a small car trunk. A cubic yard is likely bigger than the space in a small car’s trunk. It might be closer to the space in a large SUV’s cargo area with the back seats folded down.
Picture a standard doorway. It is usually about 3 feet wide. It is usually about 6 to 7 feet tall. A cubic yard is as wide as a doorway. But it is not as tall. If you filled the bottom 3 feet of a doorway with material, that would be 3 feet wide, maybe 1 foot deep (the wall thickness), and 3 feet high. That volume would be 3x1x3 = 9 cubic feet. Remember, a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. So, it’s like stacking three of those 3x1x3 sections on top of each other.
Another way to picture it is using common building materials.
A standard sheet of plywood is 4 feet by 8 feet. That is 32 square feet.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
So, if you had a stack of material 4 feet by 8 feet, it would only need to be about 10 inches deep (4 * 8 * 0.84 feet ≈ 27 cubic feet) to be a cubic yard.
Let’s think about it another way. Imagine a small pickup truck bed. Not a huge one. The bed itself might hold somewhere between 1/2 and 1 cubic yard of loose material, depending on its size and how high you pile it. A full-size pickup truck bed, level with the top, might hold 1.5 to 2 cubic yards. Piled high, it could carry more, but there are weight limits.
Visualizing 27 cubic feet can also help. That is like filling 27 boxes, each 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 foot high. Imagine those small cubes. Put 3 in a row. Put 3 rows together. That’s 3×3=9 cubic feet on the bottom layer. Now stack three of those layers up. 9 x 3 = 27 cubic feet. That block of 27 small cubes is 3 feet tall, 3 feet wide, and 3 feet deep. That is one cubic yard.
It is a decent amount of material. More than you can easily move by hand in a short time. It is a good size for medium to large landscaping or construction tasks.
What You Can Fit in a Cubic Yard
A cubic yard is a volume measure. So, what fits in a cubic yard depends on how dense or chunky the material is. But the space is always 27 cubic feet.
Common materials measured and sold by the cubic yard include:
* Soil (topsoil, garden soil, fill dirt)
* Mulch (wood chips, bark, straw)
* Gravel (various sizes)
* Sand
* Compost
* Concrete (ready-mix concrete is often sold this way)
Let’s look closer at a few.
Cubic Yard of Soil
A cubic yard of soil is a lot of dirt! It is 27 cubic feet of soil. The weight of a cubic yard of soil varies. It depends on the type of soil and how wet it is.
Dry, loose topsoil might weigh around 2,000 to 2,400 pounds.
Wet, heavy soil can weigh 2,500 to 3,000 pounds or even more.
Think about bags of soil from the store. They often come in bags of 1 cubic foot or 2 cubic feet.
A 1 cubic foot bag is small. You would need 27 of those to make a cubic yard.
A 2 cubic foot bag is also common. You would need 27 / 2 = 13.5 of those bags. Since you cannot buy half a bag, you would need 14 bags.
Buying in cubic yards from a bulk supplier is much cheaper and easier for larger jobs than buying many small bags.
A cubic yard of soil can cover a good-sized area. If you spread it 1 inch deep, it covers 324 square feet. If you spread it 6 inches deep (0.5 feet), it covers 54 square feet (27 cubic feet / 0.5 feet depth = 54 sq ft area).
Cubic Yard of Mulch
A cubic yard of mulch is also 27 cubic feet of material. Mulch is usually lighter than soil or gravel. This is because it often includes wood chips or bark. These materials are not as dense as mineral soil or rock.
The weight of a cubic yard of mulch can vary a lot. It depends on the type of mulch (bark, wood chips, straw) and its moisture level. Dry wood mulch might weigh 400 to 800 pounds per cubic yard. Wet mulch can weigh over 1,000 pounds.
Because mulch is lighter, you can often move more cubic yards in a pickup truck than you could with soil or gravel before hitting the truck’s weight limit.
A cubic yard of mulch also goes a long way. Mulch is usually spread in thinner layers than soil. A common depth is 2 to 4 inches.
At 2 inches deep (about 0.167 feet), a cubic yard of mulch covers about 162 square feet (27 / 0.167 ≈ 162).
At 3 inches deep (0.25 feet), it covers 108 square feet (27 / 0.25 = 108).
At 4 inches deep (about 0.333 feet), it covers about 81 square feet (27 / 0.333 ≈ 81).
Mulch deliveries are common in cubic yards. It is the standard way to buy it in bulk.
Other Materials (Gravel, Sand, Concrete)
- Gravel: A cubic yard of gravel is also 27 cubic feet. Gravel is much heavier than soil or mulch. Depending on the type and size, a cubic yard of gravel can weigh 2,400 to 3,000 pounds or more. This weight is important for delivery and transport. A regular pickup truck might struggle to carry a full cubic yard of heavy gravel.
- Sand: Similar to gravel, a cubic yard of sand is 27 cubic feet. Sand is also heavy. A cubic yard of dry sand weighs around 2,500 to 3,100 pounds. Wet sand is even heavier, possibly over 3,300 pounds.
- Concrete: Ready-mix concrete is usually ordered by the cubic yard. When you order 1 cubic yard of concrete, you get 27 cubic feet of mixed concrete. Concrete is very heavy. A cubic yard weighs about 4,000 pounds (2 tons!). Concrete mixer trucks are built to carry this heavy load.
Knowing the approximate weight helps you plan for delivery and moving the material. Always check with the supplier for the specific weight of the material you are buying.
Moving a Cubic Yard of Material
Once your cubic yard of material arrives, you need to move it. This amount is too large for buckets or small bags. You will need tools.
How Many Wheelbarrows?
A common question for people doing yard work is how many wheelbarrows in a cubic yard? This helps you know how many trips you will need to make.
Wheelbarrow sizes vary. A standard homeowner wheelbarrow often holds about 3 cubic feet. Some are smaller, maybe 2 cubic feet. Some are larger, up to 6 cubic feet.
Let’s use the common 3 cubic foot size.
A cubic yard is 27 cubic feet.
If your wheelbarrow holds 3 cubic feet, the math is simple:
Number of wheelbarrows = Total cubic feet / Wheelbarrow cubic feet
Number of wheelbarrows = 27 cubic feet / 3 cubic feet per wheelbarrow
27 / 3 = 9
So, for a standard 3 cubic foot wheelbarrow, there are about 9 wheelbarrows in a cubic yard.
If you have a smaller, 2 cubic foot wheelbarrow:
27 cubic feet / 2 cubic feet per wheelbarrow = 13.5 wheelbarrows. You would likely need 14 trips.
If you have a larger, 6 cubic foot wheelbarrow:
27 cubic feet / 6 cubic feet per wheelbarrow = 4.5 wheelbarrows. You would likely need 5 trips.
Keep in mind:
* You might not fill the wheelbarrow completely full each time, especially with heavy material like gravel or wet soil. Filling it only halfway means double the trips.
* The weight matters. Even if a wheelbarrow can hold 3 cubic feet of light mulch, it might only hold 1.5 cubic feet of heavy gravel before it is too heavy to push safely.
* This is just an estimate. The actual number of trips will depend on the material, your wheelbarrow size, and how much you can comfortably carry.
Here is a table showing estimates for a 27 cubic foot cubic yard:
| Wheelbarrow Size (cubic feet) | Estimated Trips Needed (approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 14 |
| 3 (Standard Homeowner) | 9 |
| 4 | 7 |
| 6 (Large/Contractor) | 5 |
Using Trucks and Trailers
Moving a cubic yard all at once usually needs a truck or a trailer. As we saw, a full-size pickup truck bed might hold around 1.5 to 2 cubic yards, leveled. Piled up, it could hold more volume, but you hit weight limits fast with heavy materials.
Always know the weight capacity of your truck or trailer. A cubic yard of gravel weighs 2400+ pounds. Many smaller trucks can’t handle this weight. Overloading is dangerous and can damage your vehicle.
If you need many cubic yards, delivery is often the best option. The supplier uses large dump trucks. These trucks can carry many cubic yards at once. A small dump truck might carry 5-10 cubic yards. Larger ones carry 15-20 cubic yards or more.
Where You See Cubic Yards Used
Cubic yards are a standard measure in many industries and projects.
- Landscaping: Soil for garden beds, mulch for ground cover, gravel for paths or driveways, sand for paver bases. All are commonly sold and calculated in cubic yards.
- Construction: Concrete for foundations, patios, or walkways. Fill dirt for leveling areas. Sand for mixing mortar. Gravel for base layers under roads or buildings.
- Gardening: Filling large raised beds or containers. Improving large areas of soil.
- Waste Removal: Sometimes large dumpsters or skip bins are measured in cubic yards.
It is the go-to unit when dealing with loose, bulky materials in amounts larger than a few bags.
Why Use This Measurement?
Why do we use cubic yards instead of just cubic feet or tons?
- It matches common needs: For many medium to large home and garden projects, a few cubic yards is the typical amount needed. It is a convenient unit size.
- Simplifies bulk sales: Suppliers sell materials like soil and mulch in large volumes. The cubic yard is a practical unit for measuring, pricing, and delivering these bulk quantities.
- Standard for calculations: Whether you are building a concrete slab or adding mulch to flower beds, calculating the area in square feet and desired depth in inches leads easily to a total cubic feet number. Converting to cubic yards (by dividing by 27) gives a manageable number for ordering.
- Industry standard: It is used across the landscaping, construction, and material supply industries. Everyone uses the same language for volume.
Using cubic yards makes buying and planning for bulk materials more straightforward than dealing with hundreds or thousands of cubic feet, or trying to guess based on weight alone (since density changes).
Cost and Cubic Yards
Materials like soil, mulch, and gravel are almost always priced per cubic yard when you buy them in bulk. The price varies greatly based on:
- Material type: Mulch is usually cheaper than soil or gravel. Decorative gravel or special soil mixes cost more.
- Quality: High-quality topsoil or screened compost costs more than basic fill dirt.
- Quantity: Buying more often gets you a lower price per yard.
- Location: Prices vary by region.
- Delivery: Delivery adds a cost per trip or per mile.
When getting quotes, ask for the price per cubic yard. Also, ask about delivery fees. Sometimes, ordering slightly more to get a better price per yard makes sense, especially if you have multiple projects or storage space.
Always make sure you are comparing prices for the same type and quality of material measured in the same unit (cubic yards).
More Than Just Yards: Other Units
While cubic yards are key for bulk landscaping and construction materials in the US, other units exist.
- Cubic Feet: We know a cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Cubic feet are used for smaller volumes, like bags of soil or small projects. Measuring areas in feet and calculating cubic feet is the first step to getting cubic yards.
- Cubic Inches: Used for very small volumes. There are 1,728 cubic inches in one cubic foot (12x12x12). There are 46,656 cubic inches in one cubic yard (27 cubic feet * 1728 cubic inches/cubic foot). You won’t order mulch in cubic inches!
- Tons: Some materials, like gravel or sand, are sometimes sold by weight (tons). This is because heavy materials can hit weight limits before they fill a truck bed’s volume. A ton is 2,000 pounds. As we saw, a cubic yard of gravel or sand can weigh over a ton. So, volume and weight are related but different. Suppliers might sell by weight for very heavy items or very large quantities.
- Cubic Meters: In countries using the metric system, volume is measured in cubic meters. A cubic meter is 1 meter × 1 meter × 1 meter. A meter is about 3.28 feet. So, a cubic meter is about (3.28 ft)³ ≈ 35.3 cubic feet. A cubic meter is larger than a cubic yard (which is 27 cubic feet). If you see measurements in cubic meters, remember they are bigger than cubic yards. 1 cubic yard is about 0.76 cubic meters.
Knowing these other units helps when you read plans or buy materials from different places. But for typical bulk soil, mulch, or gravel in the US, the cubic yard is the standard.
Wrapping It Up
A cubic yard is a measure of volume. It is the space inside a cube that is 1 yard (3 feet) on each side. This means 1 cubic yard is equal to 27 cubic feet.
This unit is used for buying and selling bulk materials like soil, mulch, gravel, sand, and concrete. Knowing how big it is, how to calculate how many you need, and how to visualize its size helps you plan projects better.
Whether you are spreading mulch, pouring a concrete path, or filling a garden bed, figuring out the needed cubic yards is a key first step. Measure your area, calculate the volume in cubic feet, and divide by 27.
A cubic yard is a lot of material to move. Expect to use a wheelbarrow and make many trips. A standard wheelbarrow holds about 3 cubic feet, meaning roughly 9 wheelbarrow loads per cubic yard. For transport, trucks and trailers or delivery are usually needed.
Knowing the facts about a cubic yard makes your material buying easier and helps your projects go smoothly.
Questions People Ask
Here are some common questions about cubic yards.
Q: Is a cubic yard always shaped like a cube?
A: No. A cubic yard is a volume. It is the amount of space that is equal to the space in a 3x3x3 foot cube. The material itself can be in any shape – a pile, spread flat, in a truck bed, etc.
Q: How much area does a cubic yard cover?
A: This depends on how deep you spread the material.
Area = Volume (cubic feet) / Depth (feet)
Since 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet:
If spread 1 inch deep (1/12 foot): Area = 27 / (1/12) = 27 * 12 = 324 square feet.
If spread 2 inches deep (2/12 or 1/6 foot): Area = 27 / (1/6) = 27 * 6 = 162 square feet.
If spread 3 inches deep (3/12 or 1/4 foot): Area = 27 / (1/4) = 27 * 4 = 108 square feet.
If spread 4 inches deep (4/12 or 1/3 foot): Area = 27 / (1/3) = 27 * 3 = 81 square feet.
If spread 6 inches deep (6/12 or 1/2 foot): Area = 27 / (1/2) = 27 * 2 = 54 square feet.
If spread 12 inches deep (1 foot): Area = 27 / 1 = 27 square feet.
Q: How heavy is a cubic yard?
A: The weight changes a lot based on the material.
Mulch: 400 – 1000+ pounds
Dry Soil: 2000 – 2400 pounds
Wet Soil: 2500 – 3000+ pounds
Dry Sand: 2500 – 3100 pounds
Wet Sand: 3300+ pounds
Gravel: 2400 – 3000+ pounds
Concrete: About 4000 pounds (2 tons)
Always confirm weight with your supplier if it is important for transport.
Q: Can I use cubic yards for small amounts?
A: While you can calculate tiny volumes in cubic yards (like 0.01 cubic yards), it is not typical for very small jobs. For filling a few pots or a small flower bed, buying bags measured in cubic feet (or quarts/liters) is usually easier and more cost-effective. Cubic yards are best for bulk needs.
Q: Is a cubic yard the same as a scoop from a landscape yard?
A: Often, yes. Many landscape supply yards sell material by the “scoop” or “loader bucket,” and they calibrate these buckets to hold a standard volume, often one or two cubic yards. Always ask the supplier to confirm the volume of their scoop.
Q: How do I measure an area that is not a perfect rectangle?
A: For irregular shapes, try to break the area down into smaller rectangles or squares. Calculate the cubic yards needed for each smaller section, then add them up. Or, measure the average length and width of the whole area to get a rough estimate. It is often wise to order a little extra material for irregular shapes or to account for settling.