How many cubic yards do I need?
Bulk landscaping and building materials — topsoil, mulch, gravel, sand, and concrete — are almost always sold by the cubic yard. A cubic yard is the volume of a cube three feet on each side, which works out to 27 cubic feet. To order the right amount you just need the area you're covering and how deep you want the material, and then a single conversion. This calculator does that conversion for you and shows the answer in cubic yards, cubic feet, and cubic meters at once.
How to use this calculator
- Pick Imperial (feet and inches) or Metric (meters and centimeters).
- Enter the length and width of the area, and the depth of material you want.
- Use quantity if you have several identical areas or beds.
- Add a small waste allowance if the ground is uneven or you want a buffer.
The cubic yard formula
Cubic yards = (Length × Width × Depth in feet) ÷ 27. If your depth is in inches, divide it by 12 first to get feet.
Worked example: spreading mulch 3 inches deep over a 10 ft × 10 ft bed. Convert the depth: 3 in ÷ 12 = 0.25 ft. Then 10 × 10 × 0.25 = 25 cubic feet, and 25 ÷ 27 ≈ 0.93 cubic yards.
Common depths by material
- Mulch: 2–3 inches to suppress weeds and hold moisture.
- Topsoil / garden beds: 4–6 inches for planting and new lawns.
- Gravel paths: 2–3 inches; driveways closer to 4 inches (often in layers).
- Concrete slabs: 4 inches for patios and walkways, 5–6 inches for driveways.
Materials settle and compact, so ordering a little extra is usually wise — round up to the nearest quarter or half yard.