Calculate cubic yards easily by entering length, width, and height in feet, meters, or inches. Perfect for construction, landscaping, and material estimation projects.
Calculate cubic yards instantly with our free cubic yard calculator. This essential volume calculator helps contractors, landscapers, and DIY enthusiasts determine exact material quantities for construction projects, preventing waste and saving money.
A cubic yard is the standard unit of volume measurement in construction and landscaping industries. Our cubic yard calculator converts your measurements into precise volume calculations, ensuring you order exactly the right amount of concrete, mulch, topsoil, gravel, or sand for any project.
This professional volume calculator accepts measurements in feet, meters, or inches and instantly provides cubic yard calculations with mathematical precision. Whether you're a contractor estimating concrete needs or a homeowner planning a landscaping project, accurate cubic yard measurements prevent costly material overordering and project delays.
Key measurement facts:
This standardized measurement system ensures clear communication between suppliers and customers, making our cubic yard calculator indispensable for professional project planning and accurate material estimation.
The basic formula for calculating cubic yards is:
The conversion factor depends on your input unit of measurement:
For dimensions in feet:
For dimensions in meters:
For dimensions in inches:
Follow these simple steps to calculate the volume in cubic yards:
Select your preferred unit of measurement:
Enter the dimensions:
View the result:
Copy the result (optional):
Visualize the dimensions (optional):
Let's walk through a simple example:
This means you would need approximately 11.11 cubic yards of material to fill this space.
Cubic yard calculations are essential for various landscaping projects:
Mulch Application:
Topsoil for New Lawn:
Gravel for Driveways:
Cubic yards are the standard unit for construction materials:
Concrete for Foundation:
Excavation Volume:
Sand for Playground:
Calculating cubic yards for swimming pools helps determine water requirements and chemical treatments:
Rectangular Pool:
Circular Pool:
While cubic yards are standard in many industries, alternative volume units may be preferred in certain contexts:
Cubic Feet: Often used for smaller projects or when greater precision is needed
Cubic Meters: The standard volume unit in countries using the metric system
Gallons: Used for liquid volume, especially for pools and water features
Tons: Some materials are sold by weight rather than volume
The cubic yard as a volume measurement has deep historical roots in the imperial measurement system, which originated in the British Empire and continues to be used in the United States and a few other countries.
The yard as a linear measurement dates back to early medieval England. One popular legend suggests that the yard was standardized in the 12th century by King Henry I of England as the distance from the tip of his nose to the end of his outstretched thumb. By the 13th century, the yard was officially defined and used throughout England for cloth measurement.
The cubic yard—a volume measurement derived from the yard—naturally evolved as people needed to measure three-dimensional spaces and quantities of materials. As construction techniques advanced, the need for standardized volume measurements became increasingly important.
In 1824, the British Weights and Measures Act standardized the imperial yard throughout the British Empire. The United States, having already gained independence, continued using the yard measurement but developed its own standards.
In the construction and landscaping industries, the cubic yard became the preferred unit for measuring bulk materials during the industrial revolution of the 19th century. As mechanized equipment replaced manual labor, precise volume calculations became essential for efficient project planning and material ordering.
Today, despite the global shift toward the metric system, the cubic yard remains the standard unit of volume measurement in the U.S. construction and landscaping industries. Modern technology, including digital calculators like this one, has made cubic yard calculations more accessible and accurate than ever before.
Here are implementations of cubic yard calculations in various programming languages:
1// JavaScript function to calculate cubic yards
2function calculateCubicYards(length, width, height, unit = 'feet') {
3 // Ensure positive values
4 length = Math.max(0, length);
5 width = Math.max(0, width);
6 height = Math.max(0, height);
7
8 // Calculate based on unit
9 switch(unit) {
10 case 'feet':
11 return (length * width * height) / 27;
12 case 'meters':
13 return (length * width * height) * 1.30795;
14 case 'inches':
15 return (length * width * height) / 46656;
16 default:
17 throw new Error('Unsupported unit');
18 }
19}
20
21// Example usage
22console.log(calculateCubicYards(10, 10, 3, 'feet')); // 11.11 cubic yards
231def calculate_cubic_yards(length, width, height, unit='feet'):
2 """
3 Calculate volume in cubic yards from given dimensions.
4
5 Parameters:
6 length (float): The length dimension
7 width (float): The width dimension
8 height (float): The height dimension
9 unit (str): Unit of measurement ('feet', 'meters', or 'inches')
10
11 Returns:
12 float: Volume in cubic yards
13 """
14 # Ensure positive values
15 length = max(0, length)
16 width = max(0, width)
17 height = max(0, height)
18
19 # Calculate based on unit
20 if unit == 'feet':
21 return (length * width * height) / 27
22 elif unit == 'meters':
23 return (length * width * height) * 1.30795
24 elif unit == 'inches':
25 return (length * width * height) / 46656
26 else:
27 raise ValueError("Unit must be 'feet', 'meters', or 'inches'")
28
29# Example usage
30print(f"{calculate_cubic_yards(10, 10, 3, 'feet'):.2f} cubic yards") # 11.11 cubic yards
311public class CubicYardCalculator {
2 public static double calculateCubicYards(double length, double width, double height, String unit) {
3 // Ensure positive values
4 length = Math.max(0, length);
5 width = Math.max(0, width);
6 height = Math.max(0, height);
7
8 // Calculate based on unit
9 switch (unit.toLowerCase()) {
10 case "feet":
11 return (length * width * height) / 27;
12 case "meters":
13 return (length * width * height) * 1.30795;
14 case "inches":
15 return (length * width * height) / 46656;
16 default:
17 throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported unit: " + unit);
18 }
19 }
20
21 public static void main(String[] args) {
22 double cubicYards = calculateCubicYards(10, 10, 3, "feet");
23 System.out.printf("%.2f cubic yards%n", cubicYards); // 11.11 cubic yards
24 }
25}
261' Excel formula for cubic yards from feet
2=IF(A1>0,IF(B1>0,IF(C1>0,(A1*B1*C1)/27,0),0),0)
3
4' Excel VBA function for cubic yards with unit conversion
5Function CubicYards(length As Double, width As Double, height As Double, Optional unit As String = "feet") As Double
6 ' Ensure positive values
7 length = IIf(length < 0, 0, length)
8 width = IIf(width < 0, 0, width)
9 height = IIf(height < 0, 0, height)
10
11 ' Calculate based on unit
12 Select Case LCase(unit)
13 Case "feet"
14 CubicYards = (length * width * height) / 27
15 Case "meters"
16 CubicYards = (length * width * height) * 1.30795
17 Case "inches"
18 CubicYards = (length * width * height) / 46656
19 Case Else
20 CubicYards = 0
21 MsgBox "Unsupported unit. Please use 'feet', 'meters', or 'inches'."
22 End Select
23End Function
241public static class VolumeCalculator
2{
3 public static double CalculateCubicYards(double length, double width, double height, string unit = "feet")
4 {
5 // Ensure positive values
6 length = Math.Max(0, length);
7 width = Math.Max(0, width);
8 height = Math.Max(0, height);
9
10 // Calculate based on unit
11 switch (unit.ToLower())
12 {
13 case "feet":
14 return (length * width * height) / 27;
15 case "meters":
16 return (length * width * height) * 1.30795;
17 case "inches":
18 return (length * width * height) / 46656;
19 default:
20 throw new ArgumentException($"Unsupported unit: {unit}");
21 }
22 }
23}
24
25// Example usage
26double cubicYards = VolumeCalculator.CalculateCubicYards(10, 10, 3, "feet");
27Console.WriteLine($"{cubicYards:F2} cubic yards"); // 11.11 cubic yards
281<?php
2function calculateCubicYards($length, $width, $height, $unit = 'feet') {
3 // Ensure positive values
4 $length = max(0, $length);
5 $width = max(0, $width);
6 $height = max(0, $height);
7
8 // Calculate based on unit
9 switch (strtolower($unit)) {
10 case 'feet':
11 return ($length * $width * $height) / 27;
12 case 'meters':
13 return ($length * $width * $height) * 1.30795;
14 case 'inches':
15 return ($length * $width * $height) / 46656;
16 default:
17 throw new Exception("Unsupported unit: $unit");
18 }
19}
20
21// Example usage
22$cubicYards = calculateCubicYards(10, 10, 3, 'feet');
23printf("%.2f cubic yards\n", $cubicYards); // 11.11 cubic yards
24?>
25To calculate cubic yards: Multiply length × width × height (in feet), then divide by 27. The cubic yard formula is: (L × W × H) ÷ 27. Example: A 10 ft × 10 ft × 3 ft space = (10 × 10 × 3) ÷ 27 = 11.11 cubic yards.
Exactly 27 cubic feet equal one cubic yard. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, a cubic yard equals 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. This conversion factor is essential for all cubic yard calculations.
One cubic yard is a cube measuring 3 feet on each side - roughly the size of a standard washing machine or dryer. It's equivalent to 27 cubic feet or about 202 gallons of material.
Multiply cubic meters by 1.30795 to get cubic yards. Formula: Cubic Yards = Cubic Meters × 1.30795. Example: 10 cubic meters = 10 × 1.30795 = 13.08 cubic yards.
Cubic yard weight varies by material:
For concrete slabs: Calculate length × width × thickness (in feet) ÷ 27. Add 10% extra for waste. Example: 20 ft × 20 ft × 0.5 ft slab = (20 × 20 × 0.5) ÷ 27 = 7.4 cubic yards + 10% = 8.1 cubic yards total.
13-14 standard bags (2 cubic feet each) equal one cubic yard of mulch. Calculation: 27 cubic feet ÷ 2 cubic feet per bag = 13.5 bags. Bulk cubic yard purchases are typically more economical than bagged mulch.
Standard pickup trucks hold:
For new lawns: Calculate area (length × width) × desired soil depth ÷ 27. Recommended depth: 4-6 inches (0.33-0.5 feet). Example: 1,000 sq ft lawn with 6-inch topsoil = (1,000 × 0.5) ÷ 27 = 18.5 cubic yards.
Yes, divide irregular areas into rectangular sections, calculate cubic yards for each section separately, then add totals together. For curved areas, use multiple rectangular approximations for reasonable accuracy.
Results are accurate to 2 decimal places - sufficient for all practical applications. Add 5-10% extra material to account for compaction, waste, and uneven surfaces in real-world projects.
No difference - in construction and landscaping, "yard" is industry shorthand for "cubic yard." When ordering "10 yards of topsoil," you're ordering 10 cubic yards of material.
Digital cubic yard calculators eliminate calculation errors and save time. Manual calculations risk mistakes with conversion factors, while our calculator instantly provides accurate results with proper unit conversions for feet, meters, and inches.
Add 5-10% extra material to account for compaction, spillage, and uneven surfaces. For loose materials like mulch, add 10%. For compact materials like concrete, 5% extra is typically sufficient for most projects.
National Institute of Standards and Technology. "General Tables of Units of Measurement." NIST Handbook 44
American Society of Civil Engineers. "Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods." McGraw-Hill Education, 2018.
Landscape Contractors Association. "Landscape Estimating and Contract Administration." Landscape Contractors Association, 2020.
Portland Cement Association. "Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures." Portland Cement Association, 2016.
National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. "The Aggregates Handbook." National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, 2019.
Use our free cubic yard calculator to instantly determine exact material volumes for construction, landscaping, or DIY projects. This professional-grade volume calculator helps you order the perfect amount of concrete, mulch, topsoil, gravel, or sand - eliminating waste and preventing costly overordering.
Benefits of our cubic yard calculator:
Whether you're a professional contractor, landscaper, or weekend DIY enthusiast, accurate cubic yard calculations save time and money on every project. Start calculating now!
Meta Title: Free Cubic Yard Calculator - Instant Volume Calculator Tool
Meta Description: Calculate cubic yards instantly with our free calculator. Convert feet, meters, inches to cubic yards for accurate material ordering. Perfect for construction & landscaping projects.
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