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How Many 2 Cubic Feet Bags In A Yard? Calculation Tips
A cubic yard holds 27 cubic feet of material. This is the most important number to know when figuring out how many bags you need for a project. To find out how many bags that hold 2 cubic feet each are in one cubic yard, you simply divide the total cubic feet in a yard (27) by the size of the bag (2 cubic feet). So, 27 divided by 2 equals 13.5 bags. This means you would need 13.5 bags of material, each holding 2 cubic feet, to get one full cubic yard.
Grasping Basic Volume
Let’s start with the simple idea of volume. Volume is the amount of space something takes up. Think of a box. The volume of a box is how much stuff you can fit inside it.
We measure volume using units like cubic feet and cubic yards.
What is a Cubic Foot?
Imagine a perfect box. This box is 1 foot long. It is also 1 foot wide. And it is 1 foot tall. The space inside this box is one cubic foot.
You might see this written as 1 cu ft or 1 ft³.
What is a Cubic Yard?
Now, imagine a much bigger box. This box is 3 feet long. It is 3 feet wide. And it is 3 feet tall. The space inside this much bigger box is one cubic yard.
You might see this written as 1 cu yd or 1 yd³.
Simple Steps to Relate Cubic Feet and Cubic Yards
It helps to know how many cubic feet fit inside one cubic yard. This is key to figuring out how many bags you need.
Think about the big cubic yard box (3 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft).
How many small 1-foot cubes (cubic feet) can fit inside it?
- Along the front edge, you can line up 3 small 1-foot cubes.
- Going back from the front, you can fit another 3 rows of these cubes. That makes 3 * 3 = 9 cubes covering the bottom layer.
- The big box is 3 feet tall. So, you can stack 3 layers of these 9 cubes.
- The total number of small cubes is 9 cubes per layer * 3 layers = 27 cubic feet.
So, this shows us clearly:
One cubic yard is the same amount of space as 27 cubic feet.
This fact – that there are 27 cubic feet in a yard – is the cornerstone for all our bag calculations. It’s the core of the volume conversion cubic feet to cubic yards concept when dealing with cubic feet bags.
Calculating How Many Bags Make a Yard
Now that we know one cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet, we can easily figure out how many bags of any size fit into a yard. The process is always the same.
The Simple Volume Conversion Formula
Here is the basic idea:
Total Volume Needed (in cubic feet) / Volume per Bag (in cubic feet) = Number of Bags
If you need one cubic yard of material, you know the “Total Volume Needed” in cubic feet is 27.
Let’s use our example: bags that hold 2 cubic feet each.
Total Volume Needed (27 cubic feet) / Volume per Bag (2 cubic feet) = Number of Bags
27 / 2 = 13.5
So, you need 13.5 bags that each hold 2 cubic feet to get one cubic yard.
Why You Always Round Up
You calculated that you need 13.5 bags. Can you go to the store and buy half a bag? No, stores only sell full bags.
This means you cannot buy exactly 13.5 bags. You must buy 14 bags.
Even if you only need a tiny bit more than 13 bags, you still have to buy the 14th bag to get that extra bit.
So, for any project using bags of material, you always round the number of bags needed up to the next whole number.
- If the math gives you 10.1 bags, you buy 11.
- If the math gives you 13.5 bags, you buy 14.
- If the math gives you 26.9 bags, you buy 27.
This is a key tip for figuring out how many bags make a yard and planning your purchase.
Digging Deeper: Calculations for Different Bag Sizes
The calculation method is the same no matter the bag size. You just change the “Volume per Bag” number in your formula.
Let’s look at other common bag sizes.
How many 1 cubic foot bags in a yard?
Some bags hold 1 cubic foot of material. Using our formula:
Total Volume Needed (27 cubic feet) / Volume per Bag (1 cubic foot) = Number of Bags
27 / 1 = 27
You need 27 bags that hold 1 cubic foot each to get one cubic yard.
Since the math came out to a whole number (27), you don’t technically need to round up, but for practical purposes, buying 27 bags is the direct result.
How many 3 cubic foot bags in a yard?
Other bags hold 3 cubic feet of material. Using our formula:
Total Volume Needed (27 cubic feet) / Volume per Bag (3 cubic feet) = Number of Bags
27 / 3 = 9
You need 9 bags that hold 3 cubic feet each to get one cubic yard.
Again, the math resulted in a whole number, so you buy exactly 9 bags.
Simple Table: Bags Per Cubic Yard by Size
This table helps you see the difference easily:
| Bag Size (Cubic Feet) | Calculation (27 / Bag Size) | Number of Bags Needed for 1 Cubic Yard (Round Up) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cu ft | 27 / 1 | 27 bags |
| 2 cu ft | 27 / 2 | 14 bags (13.5 rounded up) |
| 3 cu ft | 27 / 3 | 9 bags |
This table shows the number of bags of mulch per cubic yard or soil bags per yard, depending on the bag size. The material type doesn’t change the volume math.
Going Beyond One Yard: Calculating for Specific Project Sizes
Most projects don’t need exactly one cubic yard. You might need material for a garden bed, a playground area, or a path. To figure out how many bags you need for a specific area, you first need to find the total volume of material required for your project.
Step 1: Measure Your Area
You need to know the size of the space you want to cover.
Measure the length and the width of the area in feet.
- Example: Your garden bed is 10 feet long and 5 feet wide.
Step 2: Decide on the Depth
You also need to know how deep you want the material to be. This is often measured in inches.
- Example: You want 3 inches of mulch.
Step 3: Convert Everything to Feet
Our main calculation uses cubic feet. So, we need all our measurements in feet.
Length and width are already in feet (10 ft and 5 ft).
Depth is in inches (3 inches). We need to change inches to feet.
There are 12 inches in 1 foot. To convert inches to feet, divide the number of inches by 12.
- Example: 3 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.25 feet.
So, a depth of 3 inches is the same as 0.25 feet.
Step 4: Calculate the Total Volume Needed (in Cubic Feet)
Now you can find the volume of material needed. It’s like finding the volume of a box: Length * Width * Depth.
- Total Volume Needed = Length (feet) * Width (feet) * Depth (feet)
- Example: 10 ft * 5 ft * 0.25 ft = 50 * 0.25 = 12.5 cubic feet.
So, your garden bed needs 12.5 cubic feet of material.
Step 5: Calculate the Number of Bags
Now we use our simple bag formula:
Number of Bags = Total Volume Needed (in cubic feet) / Volume per Bag (in cubic feet)
Let’s use our example of 2 cubic feet bags.
Number of Bags = 12.5 cubic feet / 2 cubic feet per bag = 6.25 bags.
Step 6: Round Up!
You can’t buy 6.25 bags. You must buy 7 bags.
So, for a 10 ft by 5 ft garden bed needing 3 inches of material, you would need 7 bags of 2 cubic feet mulch or soil. This is part of the yardage calculation for bagged materials.
Alternative Calculation Path: Using Cubic Yards First
Some people prefer to work with cubic yards earlier in the process. You can calculate the total volume needed in cubic yards and then convert that to the number of bags. This involves the volume conversion cubic feet to cubic yards step earlier.
Step 1-4 (Same as above): Calculate Total Volume Needed in Cubic Feet.
- Example: We found the garden bed needed 12.5 cubic feet.
Step 5 (Alternative): Convert Total Volume to Cubic Yards
To change cubic feet into cubic yards, you divide the number of cubic feet by 27 (since there are 27 cubic feet in a yard).
- Total Volume Needed (in cubic yards) = Total Volume Needed (in cubic feet) / 27
- Example: 12.5 cubic feet / 27 cubic feet/yard = 0.463 cubic yards (approximately).
So, your garden bed needs about 0.463 cubic yards of material.
Step 6 (Alternative): Calculate Number of Bags from Cubic Yards
Now you know the volume needed in cubic yards. You also know how many bags of your size make one cubic yard (from our table above or calculating 27 / bag size).
Number of Bags = Total Volume Needed (in cubic yards) * Number of Bags per Cubic Yard
For 2 cubic feet bags, we know 13.5 bags make a cubic yard (before rounding).
- Number of Bags = 0.463 cubic yards * 13.5 bags/cubic yard = 6.2505 bags (approximately).
Step 7 (Same as above): Round Up!
- 6.2505 bags rounds up to 7 bags.
Both calculation paths give you the same answer (7 bags). Choose the one that feels easier for you. The first method keeps everything in cubic feet until the final step, which can feel simpler for some.
Practical Tips and Real-World Factors
The math gives you a perfect number, but the real world isn’t always perfect. Here are some things to think about when buying bagged materials like bags of mulch per cubic yard or soil bags per yard:
Compaction and Fullness of Bags
Bags of material are not always packed perfectly to their stated volume. Soil can settle in the bag. Mulch pieces can be bigger or smaller, affecting how densely they pack. While manufacturers aim for accuracy, there can be slight variations.
Also, when you spread the material, especially mulch, it will settle over time. A layer that is exactly 3 inches deep when first laid might become 2.5 inches deep after a few weeks of rain and foot traffic.
Because of possible slight under-filling of bags or future settling, it’s often wise to buy one extra bag, especially for smaller projects, just to be safe. For larger projects, the small variations might average out.
Project Waste
Think about spilling a little here and there, or having uneven edges. You might lose a small amount of material during the spreading process. This is another reason having a little extra is helpful.
Uneven Surfaces
If you are spreading material on an uneven surface, you will need more material to achieve a consistent depth across the whole area compared to a perfectly flat surface.
Comparing Bag Sizes and Costs
We calculated how many 1, 2, and 3 cubic foot bags are in a yard.
- 27 bags of 1 cu ft
- 14 bags of 2 cu ft
- 9 bags of 3 cu ft
When shopping, don’t just look at the price per bag. Look at the price per cubic foot or per cubic yard.
To find the price per cubic foot:
Bag Price / Bag Size (in cubic feet) = Price per Cubic Foot
- Example: A 2 cu ft bag costs $8. $8 / 2 cu ft = $4 per cubic foot.
- Example: A 3 cu ft bag costs $10. $10 / 3 cu ft = $3.33 per cubic foot.
In this example, the 3 cu ft bag is a better deal per amount of material.
To find the price per cubic yard (this helps compare directly to bulk prices too):
Number of Bags per Yard * Bag Price = Price per Cubic Yard
- Example (2 cu ft bags): 14 bags * $8/bag = $112 per cubic yard.
- Example (3 cu ft bags): 9 bags * $10/bag = $90 per cubic yard.
This shows clearly that the 3 cu ft bags are more cost-effective per yard in this example. Doing this comparison helps you save money, especially on bigger jobs.
Bags vs. Bulk
For very large projects, buying material in bulk (dumped from a truck, sold by the cubic yard) is almost always cheaper per cubic yard than buying bags.
- Example: Bulk mulch might cost $40-$60 per cubic yard.
- Our bagged examples cost $90-$112 per cubic yard.
However, bags are easier to handle for small jobs, easier to transport in a car, and create less mess than a pile of bulk material dumped in your driveway. Bags are great for touching up small areas or for projects where you don’t need a full yard.
Using a Cubic Yard Calculator
Many websites offer a cubic yard calculator (or a volume calculator). These tools can be very helpful and save you from doing the math by hand.
How a Cubic Yard Calculator Works for Bags
Most simple calculators ask for:
- Length of area (in feet)
- Width of area (in feet)
- Depth of material (in inches)
- Size of bag (in cubic feet)
Here’s what the calculator does behind the scenes:
- It converts the depth from inches to feet (Depth in inches / 12).
- It calculates the total volume needed in cubic feet (Length * Width * Depth in feet).
- It divides the total volume needed by the bag size (Total Volume / Bag Size).
- It rounds the result up to the nearest whole number to tell you how many bags to buy.
Some advanced calculators might also ask for the price per bag and tell you the total cost, or let you compare different bag sizes.
Using a cubic yard calculator can be a quick way to get the number of bags you need, but knowing how to do the calculation yourself helps you understand the result and double-check it.
Step-by-Step Example Projects
Let’s walk through a couple more examples to make sure the calculating how many bags make a yard process is clear.
Example 1: A Small Flower Bed
You have a flower bed that is 8 feet long and 3 feet wide. You want to add 4 inches of topsoil using 2 cubic feet bags of soil. How many bags do you need?
- Measure Area: Length = 8 ft, Width = 3 ft.
- Decide Depth: 4 inches.
- Convert Depth to Feet: 4 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.333 feet (approximately).
- Calculate Total Volume (Cubic Feet): 8 ft * 3 ft * 0.333 ft = 24 ft * 0.333 ft = 7.992 cubic feet. Let’s call it 8 cubic feet for simplicity.
- Calculate Number of Bags: Total Volume (8 cu ft) / Bag Size (2 cu ft) = 4 bags.
- Round Up: The math gave a whole number (4), so you need 4 bags.
In this case, you would need 4 soil bags per yard equivalent for that specific area, which is less than a full yard.
Example 2: Covering a Play Area
You want to cover a rectangular play area that is 15 feet by 20 feet with wood chips to a depth of 6 inches using 3 cubic feet bags. How many bags do you need?
- Measure Area: Length = 15 ft, Width = 20 ft.
- Decide Depth: 6 inches.
- Convert Depth to Feet: 6 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.5 feet.
- Calculate Total Volume (Cubic Feet): 15 ft * 20 ft * 0.5 ft = 300 ft * 0.5 ft = 150 cubic feet.
- Calculate Number of Bags: Total Volume (150 cu ft) / Bag Size (3 cu ft) = 50 bags.
- Round Up: The math gave a whole number (50), so you need 50 bags.
This project needs 150 cubic feet of material. To see this in cubic yards (using volume conversion cubic feet to cubic yards): 150 cu ft / 27 cu ft/yard = 5.55 cubic yards. So you need about 5.5 cubic yards of material, which requires 50 bags of the 3 cu ft size.
Example 3: Comparing Bag Sizes for a Medium Job
You need 40 cubic feet of mulch for a planting bed. Let’s see how many bags you need if you use 1 cu ft, 2 cu ft, or 3 cu ft bags. This shows calculating how many bags make a yard amount within a project calculation.
- Using 1 cu ft bags:
- Number of Bags = 40 cu ft / 1 cu ft/bag = 40 bags.
- Round Up: 40 bags.
- Using 2 cu ft bags:
- Number of Bags = 40 cu ft / 2 cu ft/bag = 20 bags.
- Round Up: 20 bags.
- Using 3 cu ft bags:
- Number of Bags = 40 cu ft / 3 cu ft/bag = 13.33 bags.
- Round Up: 14 bags.
This shows you would need 40 bags of 1 cu ft, 20 bags of 2 cu ft, or 14 bags of 3 cu ft for the same amount of material (40 cubic feet). This volume is a little less than 1.5 cubic yards (40 cu ft / 27 cu ft/yard = 1.48 cubic yards).
Comparing prices for these numbers of bags is the next step to figure out the cheapest option for your 40 cubic foot need.
Yardage Calculation for Bagged Materials: Knowing What Area Your Bags Cover
Sometimes you have a certain number of bags and want to know how much area they will cover at a specific depth. This is another useful type of yardage calculation for bagged materials.
Step 1: Find the Total Volume from Your Bags (in Cubic Feet)
Multiply the number of bags you have by the volume of each bag.
-
Total Volume (cu ft) = Number of Bags * Bag Size (cu ft)
-
Example: You bought 10 bags of mulch, and each bag is 2 cubic feet.
- Total Volume = 10 bags * 2 cu ft/bag = 20 cubic feet.
Step 2: Decide on the Desired Depth (in Feet)
You need to know how deep you plan to spread the material. Remember to convert inches to feet by dividing by 12.
- Example: You want to spread the mulch 2 inches deep.
- Depth in feet = 2 inches / 12 inches/foot = 0.167 feet (approximately).
Step 3: Calculate the Area Covered
The volume formula is Length * Width * Depth = Volume. If you know the volume and the depth, you can find the area (Length * Width).
-
Area Covered (sq ft) = Total Volume (cu ft) / Desired Depth (ft)
-
Example: Using our 20 cubic feet of mulch at a depth of 0.167 feet.
- Area Covered = 20 cu ft / 0.167 ft = 119.76 square feet (approximately). Let’s round this to about 120 square feet.
So, your 10 bags of 2 cubic feet mulch will cover an area of about 120 square feet at a depth of 2 inches.
Example Yardage Calculation
You have 5 bags of 3 cubic feet soil. How much area can you cover at a depth of 3 inches?
- Total Volume: 5 bags * 3 cu ft/bag = 15 cubic feet.
- Depth in Feet: 3 inches / 12 = 0.25 feet.
- Area Covered: 15 cu ft / 0.25 ft = 60 square feet.
Your 5 bags will cover about 60 square feet at a 3-inch depth.
This type of calculation is helpful for planning how much material you need to buy for future steps or understanding what you can do with leftover bags.
Deciphering Volume Conversion Formulae Summary
We’ve used a few related formulas based on the core idea of volume calculation (Length * Width * Depth = Volume) and the fact that 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet.
Here’s a simple look at the volume conversion formula ideas we used:
- Basic Volume: Length (ft) * Width (ft) * Depth (ft) = Volume (cu ft)
- Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards: Volume (cu ft) / 27 = Volume (cu yd)
- Cubic Yards to Cubic Feet: Volume (cu yd) * 27 = Volume (cu ft)
- Number of Bags Needed: Total Volume Needed (cu ft) / Bag Size (cu ft) = Raw Number of Bags (always round up)
- Total Volume from Bags: Number of Bags * Bag Size (cu ft) = Total Volume (cu ft)
- Area Covered by Bags: Total Volume from Bags (cu ft) / Desired Depth (ft) = Area Covered (sq ft)
Keeping these simple formulas in mind, along with the key number 27, will help you figure out your needs for any project involving bagged materials.
Putting It All Together: From Idea to Project Completion
Let’s revisit the original question: How many 2 cubic feet bags in a yard? The direct answer is 13.5 bags mathematically, but you need to buy 14 bags because you can’t buy half a bag.
We’ve seen how this simple calculation is the starting point for figuring out material needs for projects of any size.
- Know the Basic Unit: 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet. This is your anchor number for volume conversion cubic feet to cubic yards and bag calculations.
- Calculate Total Volume: Figure out how much material you need for your specific project area and depth. Do this in cubic feet.
- Divide by Bag Size: Take your total volume (in cubic feet) and divide it by the size of the bags you want to use (in cubic feet).
- Always Round Up: Buy the next whole number of bags.
- Consider Real-World Factors: Remember that settling, waste, and slight bag variations might mean buying one extra bag is a good idea.
- Compare Bag Sizes/Prices: Don’t just grab the first bag you see. Calculate the cost per cubic foot or per cubic yard to find the best value, especially if you have a choice between how many 1 cubic foot bags in a yard, how many 2 cubic feet bags in a yard, or how many 3 cubic feet bags in a yard.
Whether you’re spreading bags of mulch per cubic yard on your garden or using soil bags per yard for a new lawn area, taking a few moments to do the math will help you buy the right amount, avoid extra trips to the store, and manage your project costs effectively. A cubic yard calculator can speed up the process once you understand the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How many cubic feet are in a standard wheelbarrow?
A: A standard homeowner’s wheelbarrow holds about 3 cubic feet of material. Larger contractor wheelbarrows can hold 6 cubic feet or more.
Q: Is the volume listed on the bag always exact?
A: Manufacturers aim for accuracy, but slight variations can occur due to how the material settles inside the bag. For most home projects, these variations are minor and rounding up your bag count usually covers any small shortage.
Q: Is it cheaper to buy bagged material or bulk?
A: Generally, buying material in bulk (by the cubic yard from a landscape supplier) is cheaper per cubic foot or per cubic yard than buying bags, especially for larger projects needing multiple yards. Bags are more convenient for small amounts and easier transport.
Q: Does the type of material (mulch, soil, gravel) change how many bags are in a yard?
A: No. The calculation (27 cubic feet / bag size) only depends on the volume of the bag, not the weight or type of material inside. A 2 cubic foot bag of mulch and a 2 cubic foot bag of soil both count as 2 cubic feet towards your total. However, they will weigh very differently!
Q: Why do I need to round up the number of bags?
A: You must round up because you cannot buy partial bags from the store. Even if your calculation shows you need slightly more than a whole number of bags (like 13.5), you have to purchase the next full bag to get the needed amount of material.
Q: How many bags of 2 cubic feet material do I need for half a cubic yard?
A: One cubic yard is 27 cubic feet. Half a cubic yard is 27 / 2 = 13.5 cubic feet.
To find the number of 2 cubic feet bags needed: 13.5 cubic feet / 2 cubic feet per bag = 6.75 bags.
You would need to round up and buy 7 bags.