Cubic Yards Calculator
Enter length, width and depth to convert instantly to cubic yards, cubic feet, and tons of gravel.
What Is a Cubic Yard?
A cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on every side — 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft, or 27 cubic feet. It's the standard unit suppliers use to quote and deliver bulk landscaping material like gravel, mulch, sand, and topsoil, because it scales naturally with dump-truck and loader bucket capacities. As a rough visual reference, a cubic yard of loose material is about the size of a large washing machine, or roughly nine standard 5-gallon buckets. To find cubic yards for a rectangular area, multiply length by width by depth (all in feet), then divide by 27.
cubic yards = cubic feet ÷ 27
tons = cubic yards × material density
Conversion Reference Table
Quick conversions between the units gravel is measured, priced, and delivered in:
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Cubic feet | Cubic yards | ÷ 27 |
| Cubic yards | Cubic feet | × 27 |
| Cubic yards | Cubic meters | × 0.7646 |
| Cubic meters | Cubic yards | × 1.308 |
| Sq ft × depth (ft) | Cubic yards | ÷ 27 |
Cubic Yards to Tons by Material
Weight per cubic yard depends on the material — the calculator's material dropdown switches this automatically, but here's the reference if you're converting by hand:
| Material | Tons per cubic yard |
|---|---|
| Pea gravel / decorative gravel | ~1.4 tons |
| Crushed stone / river rock / road base | ~1.5 tons |
| Sand & gravel mix | ~1.5 tons |
| Topsoil | ~1.0–1.2 tons |
| Mulch | ~0.4–0.5 tons |
Square Feet to Cubic Yards
If you already know your area in square feet, you don't need the length and width fields — just multiply that area by your depth in feet, then divide by 27. A 300 sq ft patio at 3 inches (0.25 ft) deep is 300 × 0.25 ÷ 27 ≈ 2.78 cubic yards. Scale that up and a 1,000 sq ft driveway at 4 inches (0.33 ft) deep works out to 1,000 × 0.33 ÷ 27 ≈ 12.3 cubic yards. For a dedicated version of this shortcut with a reference table, use the square feet to cubic yards calculator.
How Many Yards in a Ton of Gravel?
This is the conversion in reverse — useful when a supplier quotes you a tonnage and you need to know how much space it'll cover. Divide 1 by the material's density: a ton of pea gravel (1.4 tons/yd³) is about 0.71 cubic yards, while a ton of crushed stone or river rock (1.5 tons/yd³) is about 0.67 cubic yards. In practical terms, a 10-ton delivery of crushed stone covers roughly 6.7 cubic yards — enough for about 240 sq ft at a 6-inch depth.
Frequently asked questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
There are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard (3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft).
How do I convert square feet to cubic yards?
Multiply your area in square feet by your depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. Try our dedicated square feet to cubic yards calculator for a quick converter.
How much does a cubic yard of gravel weigh?
A cubic yard of gravel typically weighs 1.4 to 1.5 tons (2,800–3,000 lbs), depending on the material.
How many yards are in a ton of gravel?
About 0.67–0.71 cubic yards, depending on material density. Pea gravel (1.4 tons/yd³) works out to roughly 0.71 yd³ per ton; crushed stone (1.5 tons/yd³) is closer to 0.67 yd³ per ton.
Is a cubic yard the same for every material?
The volume is always the same — 27 cubic feet — but the weight isn't. Gravel and stone weigh 1.4–1.5 tons per cubic yard, topsoil around 1–1.2 tons, and mulch as little as 0.4–0.5 tons, since it's much less dense.
How many wheelbarrow loads are in a cubic yard?
A standard 2 cubic foot contractor wheelbarrow takes about 13–14 level loads to move a full cubic yard; a larger 3 cubic foot wheelbarrow takes about 9. In practice, gravel is heavy enough that most people fill wheelbarrows only half to two-thirds full, so budget more loads than the math suggests.